February 1-5, 2011 Arctic Blast/Winter Storm Discussion

[Texashawk]

Is this last line of precip actually snow, or should I just finally give it up and go to bed?

[wxman57]

Is this last line of precip actually snow, or should I just finally give it up and go to bed?

It's probably snow. The low in the Gulf is moving off to the east now. As it does so, cold air is spilling in across southeast Texas at the surface AND aloft. That means future precip will very likely be snow.

[jeff]

are any of the major freeways - espesically I-10 East going thru downtown up to 610 loop and 290 - is any of that open or I should say driveable?

Road closures are on the link I posted above, ticka. Here's the direct list. It's growing fast. I wouldn't drive that route if it wasn't an emergency, and then I'd probably still not drive it:

http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/road ... x?show=IOR

10 car accident US 290 at HWY 6, Jersey Village PD closing the freeway again

[jeff]

Brenham 4 miles in lgight snow, Caldwell 1.75 miles in light snow

[don]

The GFS almost looks identical next week,could we have another icing event 2 weeks in a row? only time will tell...

[ticka1]

Luckily I decided to shine a flashlight on my backdeck before stepping off onto it - its frozen solid. My hubby's work truck is coverd in a thick sheet of ice.

The grass and driveway are not frozen...but since I drive major freeways to work and go over lots of overpasses/bridges and connectors - I'm staying home because I can not drive in this stuff. Saving my truck/my life and others around me

Will it warm up enough today to melt this?

What about next week?

[wxman57]

As for next week, models continue to indicate another surge of Arctic air next Tue/Wed. Current GFS predicting low 30s and precip next Wednesday morning, reaching the low 20s next Thursday morning. Euro and Canadian are similar and have been for 2-3 days. We'll see...

[sm040480]

Luckily I decided to shine a flashlight on my backdeck before stepping off onto it - its frozen solid. My hubby's work truck is coverd in a thick sheet of ice.

The grass and driveway are not frozen...but since I drive major freeways to work and go over lots of overpasses/bridges and connectors - I'm staying home because I can not drive in this stuff. Saving my truck/my life and others around me

Will it warm up enough today to melt this?

What about next week?

Warms up tp 35 midday today but then is just going to re-freeze tonight. As far as next week, my head hurts too much from this non-snow storm to even think about it.

[djmike]

Ok, do you think that snow line will make it into SETX (Houston/Beaumont) area? It looks like it is drying up. Our met here in Beaumont says the closer it gets it will begin to pull moisture in from the Gulf...With it already being 6am, it's hard for me to believe we will see ANY flakes or flurries from this event...whats ya'lls opinion? Thx

[wxman57]

Ok, do you think that snow line will make it into SETX (Houston/Beaumont) area? It looks like it is drying up. Our met here in Beaumont says the closer it gets it will begin to pull moisture in from the Gulf...With it already being 6am, it's hard for me to believe we will see ANY flakes or flurries from this event...whats ya'lls opinion? Thx

Hard to say. You could see a few flakes, but that precip line is weakening as it moves east. I'm hoping it at least makes it to Houston.

[Mr. T]

I saw 3 accidents and a car spin on 59 around the Kingwood

A small car had completely smashed his front end on the Business 1960 bridge...

You guys need to be careful out there

[redneckweather]

The line coming through is not going to amount to anything exept some light flurries (proabably not even a dusting). The convection associated with it is dieing off very very quickly.

[ticka1]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Hubby is staying home for now. My job finally got notification the office is now closed.

Everyone stay safe out there and warm! For those of you that stayed awake all night and kept us updated (JEFF LINDNER) and members of this forum (SM040480 especially and Vbhoutex) - a BIG THANK YOU.

[jeff]

I saw 3 accidents and a car spin on 59 around the Kingwood

A small car had completely smashed his front end on the Business 1960 bridge...

You guys need to be careful out there

NO, you need to stay off the roads

[biggerbyte]

As I mentioned earlier. I thought it might happen. Our snowband is falling apart on its southern end. Don't expect anything here folks. We've had our event now, this go round. Just enough freezing rain to cause some problems. Mainly unexpecting drivers not driving carefully. This is NOT a major icing event. No down power lines or trees, and no people with no power. Closings of roadways are purely precautionary. Actually, getting anything at all over inland areas was a fluke after things began to fall apart. We did not need this unexpected inland freezing rain event.


Let's just take it for what it is and move on. We look to next week for the possibility of doing this all over again.

[redneckweather]

What a week of model watching. Y'all can have next week. I'm heading for the deep hill country Wednesday for 5 days. Man, this was nothing but a sick joke...or should I say slick joke. haha!!

[sean]

As I mentioned earlier. I thought it might happen. Our snowband is falling apart on its southern end. Don't expect anything here folks. We've had our event now, this go round. Just enough freezing rain to cause some problems. Mainly unexpecting drivers not driving carefully. This is NOT a major icing event. No down power lines or trees, and no people with no power. Closings of roadways are purely precautionary. Actually, getting anything at all over inland areas was a fluke after things began to fall apart. We did not need this unexpected inland freezing rain event.


Let's just take it for what it is and move on. We look to next week for the possibility of doing this all over again.

Maybe it's just me, but for the past week or so your posts come across like you are talking to children instead of adults.

BTW, ~6000 houses on Galveston Island without power. There are outages, and as the sun is coming up and people get out of bed the downed tree reports are starting to come in.


Back to lurk mode for me...

[ticka1]

As I mentioned earlier. I thought it might happen. Our snowband is falling apart on its southern end. Don't expect anything here folks. We've had our event now, this go round. Just enough freezing rain to cause some problems. Mainly unexpecting drivers not driving carefully. This is NOT a major icing event. No down power lines or trees, and no people with no power. Closings of roadways are purely precautionary. Actually, getting anything at all over inland areas was a fluke after things began to fall apart. We did not need this unexpected inland freezing rain event.


Let's just take it for what it is and move on. We look to next week for the possibility of doing this all over again.

Now my opinion - this was a major icing event - it has closed schools and busineses. There have been 2 deaths that I have read and heard. Folks are being told not to drive. I'm not sure why this caustic in your face opinion you keep posting....I really liked posting with you here at KHOU but .... I will leave it at that and just say - this will go down in my books as a major icing event here in SE Texas. Snow - no it hasn't but then again it was said by the mets that this could be ice...in which that forecast has happened.

[djmike]

As I mentioned earlier. I thought it might happen. Our snowband is falling apart on its southern end. Don't expect anything here folks. We've had our event now, this go round. Just enough freezing rain to cause some problems. Mainly unexpecting drivers not driving carefully. This is NOT a major icing event. No down power lines or trees, and no people with no power. Closings of roadways are purely precautionary. Actually, getting anything at all over inland areas was a fluke after things began to fall apart. We did not need this unexpected inland freezing rain event.


Let's just take it for what it is and move on. We look to next week for the possibility of doing this all over again.

Well said! ...There is going to be some very dissapointed folks today (me being one of them), but mother nature is going to do what she wants to do, and unfortunatley it was only ice, just enough to cause problems! I dont think we even had sleet during the night, now nothing but mist...Us in Beaumont had more excitement during the day yesterday with sleet falling...oh well, lets take it for what its worth and move on to the next..I for one am not expecting any "suprises" to pop up today!

[TxMomof2]

As I mentioned earlier. I thought it might happen. Our snowband is falling apart on its southern end. Don't expect anything here folks. We've had our event now, this go round. Just enough freezing rain to cause some problems. Mainly unexpecting drivers not driving carefully. This is NOT a major icing event. No down power lines or trees, and no people with no power. Closings of roadways are purely precautionary. Actually, getting anything at all over inland areas was a fluke after things began to fall apart. We did not need this unexpected inland freezing rain event.


Let's just take it for what it is and move on. We look to next week for the possibility of doing this all over again.

Maybe it's just me, but for the past week or so your posts come across like you are talking to children instead of adults. BTW, ~6000 houses on Galveston Island without power. There are outages, and as the sun is coming up and people get out of bed the downed tree reports are starting to come in.


Back to lurk mode for me...

I've been lurking for years (and participated some during hurricane seasons), and I have to say that I agree. Also, I feel it is somewhat derogatory when you use the word "newbies" to address the forum. (I'm sorry to take this off topic.)

My husband just left to go to work since his boss made it to the office. We live off of 249 near Louetta, and he is driving to North Shepherd. We have ice coating cars and other surfaces (like everyone else, I'm sure), so I'm nervous about his drive.