February 2021: Arctic Outbreak/Warmup Begins

[Texaspirate11]

Ptarmigan - WOW thank you for that research
I always believed snow came after the hurricane season -
and we had such a bad one this year
so thank you for putting that up
I am hoping for a boring summer - we shall see

[txbear]

The disaster claims are also expected to surpass Harvey, becoming the costliest natural disaster in Texas history.

Hopefully, the applied science lessons from COVID-19 and the Texas Winter storms is prevention. Winterizing. Preventing and minimizing pandemics.

Particularly because places like the piedmont of NC sees this weather every other year or some. The NC mountains every year. MIssouris experiences this every year. Chicago and Minneapolis for about half the winter! Preventative steps for winter weather reduces summer A/C bills.

Insulate walls. This was a major issue for homes, businesses, and universities. I'm going to get serious about using blown insulation in walls this spring.

We were lucky. I used towels and blankets to insulate our (metal) garage door. When power was on, I used space heaters to warm the garage and thus the attic. Covered and insulated all outdoor pipes and faucets, and evacuated hoses, etc. I ran water for 30-60 sec every hour in pipes I had replaced all the door frame gaskets. Place a thermistor sensor in the attic and dripped water if temp in the attic fell into the 20s. We have a gas fireplace to heat the house when the power was out. We have a gas stove/range. I had shut down the sprinklers and let the snow and ice "insulate" (air pockets) at ground level do the rest.

Some will invest in generators, if they can afford it. Insulation is a lot cheaper for starters.

Dealing with the state gov, ERCOT etc. is going to be problematic...so we have to do all that we can to help ourselves and our neighboring Texas. "Winterize" becomes part of the SETX lexicon.

Having lived in Texas for 30 years, here are my observations about climate change in Texas.

1. The average temperature hasn't changed. This is the consensus of temperature recordings as well.

2. Summers aren't hotter. But they are drier.

3. Rain and drought extremes have always been extreme, but the variance has increased further. More "record" rainfall events. Longer periods of little or no rain.

4. Winters on average aren't any colder or warmer, but the variance has increased. Some winters are warmer, some colder. Extreme events are more frequent. In my first 17 years in College Station we had 3 ice storms, a few snowflakes. No nights in the teens. It snowed once in the 1980s. The only snow my kids ever saw was the Christmas. Even 2004 snow miracle in Houston and the Gulf Coast. However, from 2008 - today we've had 8 snow events. Nights in the teens, and just had 2 single digit nights this week.



Like the Boy Scout motto, we're going to have to be prepared in the future for weeks like this. Because there will be more.

Thanks for posting this. Could not agree more. I’ve gone through a fair share of snow/sleet/ice storms in other parts of texas and never recall these kinds of issues. Preparedness and planning make a world of difference.

[TxLady]

Thank You, Ptarmigan! That is very interesting data!

[Katdaddy]

Excellent info Ptarmigan! Now onward to nice mild weather week across SE TX.

[christinac2016]

A coworker mentioned there’s another system in a couple of weeks. Thoughts? I hope not.

[jasons2k]

A co-worker of mine lives on a couple of acres outside of Magnolia. No power for 36 hours and when the power & water came-on he had 6 different busted pipes! Yikes!

The Space City Weather guys say probably not another freeze south of I-10. Probably true but a bit early to make that call in my opinion. This pattern favors a surprise late season cold snap.

[Kingwood36]

A co-worker of mine lives on a couple of acres outside of Magnolia. No power for 36 hours and when the power & water came-on he had 6 different busted pipes! Yikes!

The Space City Weather guys say probably not another freeze south of I-10. Probably true but a bit early to make that call in my opinion. This pattern favors a surprise late season cold snap.

Space city is like Dr Jim...

[BlueJay]

It feels good to thaw out!

[Cpv17]

It feels good to thaw out!

Feels a bit on the too warm side to me. If I didn’t know any better I’d say it was borderline hot out there today.

[Cpv17]

A co-worker of mine lives on a couple of acres outside of Magnolia. No power for 36 hours and when the power & water came-on he had 6 different busted pipes! Yikes!

The Space City Weather guys say probably not another freeze south of I-10. Probably true but a bit early to make that call in my opinion. This pattern favors a surprise late season cold snap.

Space city is like Dr Jim...

Dr Jim is just a lazy forecaster. He puts no effort into it. Most of us could come up with a better forecast than him.

[jasons2k]

I’ll take the job.

[Katdaddy]

One more mostly sunny day with highs in the mid to upper 70s across SE TX. Temps will remain mild with highs in the mid 60s to low 70s through the weekend however get ready an extended period of clouds and showers through the weekend beginning tomorrow. I will take the mild temps, clouds, and showers over cold temps, no power, or water.

[jasons2k]

A few of our cold weather cheerleaders have suddenly gone quiet

[cperk]

A few of our cold weather cheerleaders have suddenly gone quiet

Yeah I don’t think anyone wants to see another of we we got last week. .

[txbear]

I really think that had energy generation not been an issue (not starting political talk here; just pointing at that piece of the puzzle), we would probably be having a much different talk about the super chill of last week. Not to say that the warm weather lovers wouldn't still be happy with the current weather

Heck, I'm a cold weather cheerleader, and didn't even allow for real enjoyment of the snow because the power was out and no real way to warm up; much less the in-and-out of the house letting more cold air in. There would still be some pipe bursts and the tropicals would be torched, but much more would be avoidable because water pressures would've stayed up and warmth would still be directed to sensitive areas of homes. I believe everyone is going to have a cost of the freeze, but I really feel for those that suffered the worst of the worst.

ETA: I have my share of pipe repairs and landscaping to complete as well; we were certainly not unscathed here.

[DoctorMu]

A few of our cold weather cheerleaders have suddenly gone quiet

Yeah I don’t think anyone wants to see another of we we got last week. .

I like cold weather. I like electric power, too. "Winterize" and "preparation" have to be in the Texas lexicon.

Greensboro, NC sees last week's weather every other year. Arkansas had 20 inches of snow and near zero°F readings. No problem. My wife's parents in the Hot Spring area were stuck insides, but no issues with electricity, water, etc.

[DoctorMu]

I really think that had energy generation not been an issue (not starting political talk here; just pointing at that piece of the puzzle), we would probably be having a much different talk about the super chill of last week. Not to say that the warm weather lovers wouldn't still be happy with the current weather

Heck, I'm a cold weather cheerleader, and didn't even allow for real enjoyment of the snow because the power was out and no real way to warm up; much less the in-and-out of the house letting more cold air in. There would still be some pipe bursts and the tropicals would be torched, but much more would be avoidable because water pressures would've stayed up and warmth would still be directed to sensitive areas of homes. I believe everyone is going to have a cost of the freeze, but I really feel for those that suffered the worst of the worst.

Agreed. We were lucky. I finished repairs yesterday of some minor water damage that occured when snow and ice were blown into the attic by blizzard conditions. Insulating the garage, gas fireplace, etc. helped keep temps in the house at least 60°F and the pipes avoided freezing.

[Cromagnum]

Have to repair a pvb that was damaged despite winterizing it and by the signs of my flower beds, I will be doing a lot of landscaping this spring.

[Cpv17]

I’d like another week of winter weather but without all the problems lol unfortunately for whatever reason we can’t have winter weather here and not have major problems.

[TxLady]

Week before last, I was about to call a plumber for a minor plumbing issue, that has been ongoing for a few months. Nothing serious, more of an annoyance. I guess that call will wait! I have some Pampas Grass that my late husband had planted, just prior to his passing. I'm not sure if those plants will survive. They are huge plants. I certainly hope they do! My oldest StepGrand-Daughter is getting married in May, and hopes to use some of the "fronds" for her decor. Who would have thought that Pampas Grass would become a "thing"?!