Posted on 01/12/2007 2:09:16 PM PST by Dysart
National Weather Service has upgraded its severe weather predictions for this weekend, with expectations that parts of Tarrant County could see accumulations of a quarter- to a half-inch of ice.
Forecasters with the weather service's office in Fort Worth began the day with a severe weather watch, but new data received early Friday afternoon indicate that dangerous ice is probable for some areas of Tarrant County.
"We're not saying it's going to be all over the place,"' said Jennifer Dunn, a meteorologist for the weather service. "But, at this time, it appears some places will definitely have it."
At 2 p.m., an Arctic front stretched from near Cisco to just south of Bridgeport and on over to Gainesville, the weather service reported. Temperatures south of the front were in the 60s, but readings north of there, in southwestern Oklahoma, had plunged to the 20s and 30s.
Meanwhile, a wide band of eastbound rain showers was developing over West Texas and pushing toward the Metroplex, Dunn said.
The rain and cold air was expected to converge around midnight in Tarrant County, but areas further west were expected to see it a lot sooner, and they were expected to see more of the ice.
For example, Dunn said, predictions call for possible accumulations of a half-inch to an inch of ice in Palo Pinto and Wise Counties as early as 6 p.m.
And it's not expected to let up until about 6 p.m. Sunday, Dunn said.
"It will be one wave of precipitation after another," she said. "That's why we're calling it a weekend event."
Projections indicate that Tarrant County will be on the edge of the severe weather warning area, while Dallas County was only expected to be in a severe weather watch this weekend.
But that could change suddenly, Dunn said.
Roads and bridges become especially treacherous when coated with ice, so motorists should be extremely cautious, Dunn said.
Saturday's high is expected to be 31 degrees. The nighttime low will be 28, and it won't get much warmer than that during the day on Sunday, when the forecast calls for a high of 29 and a low of 24.
The freezing rain will let up Sunday night, and the Martin Luther King holiday forecast for Monday calls for partly cloudy skies, with a high of 31 and a low of 24.
But Dunn said the region will remain cold for a few days.
"We won't get above 35 degrees until mid next week," she said. "This mass of cold air will be stretching across all of the United States, with high pressure pushing it to the south. So, it will be socked in here for awhile."
Guess I better see what's in store for me in San Antonio......
Well, driving on ice is no mystery, as long as one maintains speed in 5-10 mph range.
Rut Roh
Hard to believe it was 63 degrees at 6 AM in Tulsa. We've been getting drizzle since about 8 AM and the rain began freezing to objects at about 12. West of Tulsa is much worse at this point.
If you're in Tulsa, I can imagine it's about to get dicey pretty soon. You have more experience up there than we do with this, but I don't care what anyone says, ice storms are brutal.
Driving in Tulsa is not as crazy as DFW but it is filled with its share of maniacs that believe their 4X4 is capable of stopping on a dime after speeding at 80 mph
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Be sure to stock up on beer and toilet paper! We had a tornado warning in the Waco suburbs this evening.
How big a circle do you find to be ideal?
You should be okay if the freezing rain moves through quickly, but if it hangs around and keeps building up on things, then there could be some difficulty.
Batten the hatches, make a trip to your favorite mercantile if necessary for some batteries, candles and a Coleman lantern and cook stove. Ya never know how long those power lines may be on the ground.
It's 9 degrees here (Minnesota) right now, so freezing rain isn't a worry. They say we may get some snow though. We have nary a flake on the ground right now and have only had about ten inches all winter so far, which came in two doses and promptly melted.
Good luck!
Maybe this cold temps are freezing me brain, not sure what you mean here? Anyway, we here in the south don't adapt or cotton to winter weather much. With all the northerners that have transplanted here you'd think we'd learn a thing or two from them-- at least in this regard. For some reason we always get freezing rain, sleet rather than snow. Couple times a yr.
We've already gotten plenty of provisions and just hope we don't lose power due to falling power lines. Another thing about our winter weather forecasts, they are only accurate about 50% of the time. Hope they're wrong this time.
Update from Oklahoma 5AM (CST)
Apparently there are three storms that will hit. The first wave passed a few hours ago and dumped over an inch of ice on everything. It's beautiful but it's knocking out power all over the state. The TV reports tree limbs hitting houses and fatalities on the roadway. Typical fair.
I-44 is hit pretty hard because the storm waves seems to be lining up and running the path from TX/NM, through OK into MO and beyonf--sorta the same path as the March 2006 tornadoes. Reports have speeds crawling with many accidents.
The second and third waves will hit sometime this morning and late evening respectively with fresh ice, sleet and snow.
We lost power and just came back online 1/2 hour ago. The temp in the house fell but not that bad. Electric company is earning its keep maintaining service throughout OK, especially since some crews went out west to help Denver, etc. and just came home.
In post #1, you said that running around in circles and screaming works for you.
I was wondering how big a circle you made while running. I'm also curious as to any particular incantations you may have used in your screaming.
Just a feeble attempt at humor. No biggie. :-)
Oh I see. Actually that was funny! I frequently and quickly forget what I post, esp off-the-cuff remarks.
Just so you know: I make graduating larger circles, while chanting, Ohm,Ohm. It seems to calm me in a crisis. :)
Update #3 Electric down for about four hours again. Trees are buckling everywhere, You can hear the transformer pop all over.
We have a tree leaning over our roof now so we moved all the valuable stuff to the other side of the house so the precip doesn't destroy it.
Tulsa is experiencing snow/sleet/ and rain turning to ice as it hits the ground. Second storm will be followed by the third storm this evening. The third storm is the coup de gras that will dump an additional inch on ice on top of the 1-3 inches of ice hanging on all the lines/trees/roofs.
Temps expected to be around 10 tonight. So we're running the heat in the house at about 80 to get some warmth inside. I expect the electricity to be gone in a few hours.
NWS Update for Oklahoma/NW Arkansas/SW Missouri from Tulsa region
... Ice Storm Warning now in effect until 6 am CST Monday...
The Ice Storm Warning is in effect through Sunday night for
the following counties...
In Arkansas...
Benton... Carroll... Washington... and Madison.
In Oklahoma...
Pushmataha... Choctaw... Osage... Washington... Nowata... Craig...
Ottawa... Pawnee... Tulsa... Rogers... Mayes... Delaware... creek...
Okfuskee... Okmulgee... Wagoner... Cherokee... Adair... Muskogee...
McIntosh... Sequoyah... Pittsburg... Haskell... Latimer... and Le Flore.
Dangerous... and potentially devastating... ice accumulations will
occur through this evening... and again on Sunday over far eastern
Oklahoma and spreading into extreme northwest Arkansas. Locations
along a Siloam Springs Arkansas to McAlester Oklahoma line have
already sustained serious damage due to ice accumulations... and
forecast additional ice accumulations from one half to one inch
will create widespread tree and power line damage. The power
supply across far eastern Oklahoma into southeast Oklahoma... and
possibly extreme northwest Arkansas will sustain heavy damage and
prolonged power outages should be anticipated. Travel may become
near impossible by late Sunday.
Precipitation continues to be a mix of freezing rain and sleet
for areas west of the primary ice band... which is generally along
and north of Interstate 44. Additional ice accumulations of up to
one half inch will be possible across this area... especially where
isolated thunderstorms are observed. This area includes the Tulsa
Metro area. The forecast accumulations will strain power lines and
trees... with power outages possible. Travel will continue to be
dangerous.
Surface temperatures across northwest Arkansas and far southeast
Oklahoma have remained very near freezing... which has limited ice
accumulations. The Ice Storm Warning remains in effect as
temperatures will approach freezing tonight... and again late
Sunday afternoon... with accumulations approaching an inch once
surface temperatures are sustained below freezing.
State and local officials should note and be prepared to house
many people in locations where the power supply is interrupted for
a significant amount of time given the very cold temperatures that
will continue through middle of next week. Supplemental heat
sources will be required for areas where power is interrupted and
all relevant safety precautions should be closely followed.
At 3 PM... counties where it was reported that roads were slick in
spots... Wagoner... Cherokee... Adair... Muskogee... McIntosh... Sequoyah...
Pittsburg... Haskell... Latimer... and Le Flore.
At 3 PM... counties where slick bridges and overpasses were
reported... Okfuskee.
At 3 PM... counties where slick and hazardous roads were reported...
Osage... Washington... Nowata... Craig... Ottawa... Pawnee... Tulsa...
Rogers... Mayes... Delaware... creek... and Okmulgee.
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio... commercial radio or television
for the latest information concerning this dangerous ice storm.
Additional weather information can also be found at:
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/Tulsa.
Local Storm Report
01/13/2007 0430 PM
Bixby, Tulsa County.
Ice storm, reported by NWS employee.
1/4 inch of ice accumulation on trees and bushes.
01/13/2007 0252 PM
Tulsa, Tulsa County.
Ice storm, reported by public.
2 inches sleet/ice
01/13/2007 0252 PM
Broken Arrow, Tulsa County.
Ice storm, reported by public.
2 inches sleet/ice
01/12/2007 0300 PM
Tulsa, Tulsa County.
Heavy sleet m0.50 inch, reported by official NWS obs.
1/2 inch of sleet at the NWS office
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