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

[helloitsb]

eh flurries/snow grains falling here nothin to much, have to use the fence as a back drop to see it but its there

[weatherguy425]

Ceilings lowered here in kingwood. getting small, but obvious snow flurries. Mr. T..you see um?

[biggerbyte]

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!!

Yes, I am afraid it was a big old bust all the way around. I'm disappointed, but not an emotional wreck about it. When you make up your mind that either way is fine, it makes the let down so much more easy to deal with. I bet folks take next weeks event with a grain of salt. You can bet there will be a lot less hype too, although I'm sure some will still try. I'd like to also add that the models were about as far off on this event as they could possibly be, which played a huge roll in some of the busted forecasts.

[clute28]

Ughhh..I don't even wanna think about the next system ..honestly this drives me boonkers..I do t think I have it n Mr again to to be up all night following models and trends..but I probably will lol..bring on the next one!..who's with me?!?!?

[srainhoutx]

Email from Jeff

Sanding operations unable to keep up with widespread nature of this ice event, as TXDOT trucks continue to be involved in accidents on slick roads and sand supplies are starting to run low

Numerous vehicles including law enforcement are becoming stranded on area freeways with flyovers completely shut down along with nearly all bridges showing heavy icing.

Roadways have about 1/10th to 1/4th of an inch of glaze on them and temperatures are in the mid to upper 20’s rendering the anti-icing agent ineffective.

There are so many accidents that law enforcement is overwhelmed. Once sanding operations are completed, the pavement refreezes almost instantly

Precipitation appears to be ending rapidly from west to east across SE TX and satellite images are starting to show breaks in the clouds to our SW and this may start to work on pavement in the next 3-4 hours and help with some melting.

Numerous injuries have been reported from multiple vehicle accidents and 3 fatalities (1 in S TX, 1 in Jefferson County, and 1 in Live Oak County)

Driving is nearly impossible and life threatening. DO NOT DRIVE!

[Poltracker]

Very, very light snow flurry in north Pasadena right now

[JulieC]

[quote="srainhoutx"]Anyone ready to do this all again next week? If guidance is correct, Wednesday/Thursday could get interesting all over again and more Arctic air. I think I'm about ready for Spring. This is SE TX after all...



I don't want to do this all over again. Can you say MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT? NO SNOW

[Mr. T]

Yes, I am afraid it was a big old bust all the way around. I'm disappointed, but not an emotional wreck about it. When you make up your mind that either way is fine, it makes the let down so much more easy to deal with. I bet folks take next weeks event with a grain of salt. You can bet there will be a lot less hype too, although I'm sure some will still try. I'd like to also add that the models were about as far off on this event as they could possibly be, which played a huge roll in some of the busted forecasts.

It wasn't a big ol bust all the way around. Snow didn't work out. The ice accumulations verified and then some...

We haven't had a winter storm impact Houston this much since 1997

This glaze event is one we'll remember for a while

[sambucol]

David Paul has been mentioning next week and sleet next Wednesday.

[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.

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.

Hi Ticka,

I have to disagree. Schools and Businesses were closed before the ice came. They had planned closings the day before in anticipation of a big winter event that never came. It just so happened they got an unplanned weather event instead. We were not forecasted to have freezing rain over most inland areas. Only the coastal counties was to get that. It was supposed to be either sleet and snow, or just snow. We had enough ice to cause some problems, but I will say it again... The accidents and deaths were due to people not expecting the ice problem in the area, and driving too fast. This was not a major event.

Now, I am not trying to be "caustic", but I will be factual. If anyone would like transcripts of the official forecasts from the past few days, I will be glad to provide them.

Have a good day, Ticka. Sorry it did not snow for ya.

[wxman57]

As you saw yesterday, it's difficult to predict winter weather types/amounts here without good data of air temps aloft. We just have no upper air obs anywhere near Houston, so the models don't know what is really happening aloft as far as temps. We cannot even predict precip type a few hours out much less next Wednesday. It does look cold though, and there could be precip involved.

[wxman57]

This is quite a significant winter event which was predicted to cause travel issues many days ago. Freezing rain is winter weather. Far worse than if we'd had 3-4" of snow overnight. Businesses and schools closed because roads were predicted to be icy today. That certainly verified.

[cisa]

Ceilings lowered here in kingwood. getting small, but obvious snow flurries. Mr. T..you see um?

You're right. I'm in Porter and it has now decided to snow. Just tiny flakes, but they're there.

[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.

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.

Is it just you?? I have no way of knowing. Was it my intention??? No!

Was I including coastal counties in my statement? No! They were forecasted to get what they got. I'm sure there were some bigger issues further south. My statements were about the event that transpired overnight, folks. That should have been obvious. Come on now. We are not going to make this a big old beat up on BB day. Not going to happen. For the record.. I'm done defending my statements.


Back to lurk mode for me...

[Ptarmigan]

I am disappointed that we got frozen rain because it is cripping the Houston area. It is a "bust" because people are getting hurt and killed due to the ice on the road. If it was snow, it would be as bad. Ice is a different story. Frozen rain is just as bad as a flood and hurricane hitting Southeast Texas.

[biggerbyte]

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. End Quote:

Huh? A bit reaching, don't you think? The term newbies just means people new to the board, and those who a learning about weather. I've been a member of this forum for years, and we have used that term without issue long before you became a member. It means nothing derogatory. That is just pure absurd. I swear, some people with chips on their shoulder.

[cisa]

bb, are you in Porter now? We're actually having a little Flurry now. Kind of ironic I thought. Hey, I just wanted to know that your normally one of my fav's on the board. I too thought you were a little harsh last night, but we're all tired and everyone is allowed to have their opinion. Don't feel bashed. We love ya. Hope you get to see a furry too. I'm near Community Dr. and it's been coming down about 20 min.(tiny flakes)

[rnmm]

Ok so we did not get snow and I know it is a disappointment, but should we truly still be talking about not getting snow? In my opinion...NO we shouldn't be, we should be talking and praying for those who HAD to get out on the roads today and those who have been hurt/killed in accidents all over the metro and surrounding areas last night into this morning. We should be thinking about those who have no electricity and therefore cannot heat their homes.

Thank you to all who stayed up with us last night trying to explain what was happening and what we might get to see or not see. Please everyone stay safe and stay warm.

[Stormrider]

A few flakes are falling in Galveston on the east end.

[biggerbyte]

That why I said SICK joke. We were joyous thinking we were goiong to get snow and then we get hit with ice which really sucks anyway you cut it. Pretty sick joke if you ask me. Are y'all with me here?

It is okay, redneck. Some people are just wanting to pick a fight, so they read/see what they want out of your post. I know what you meant, and agree. There is no disrespect to the injuries and deaths. Give me a break.