8:40pm Ice Storm Update

Right now, the above looks like a faithful depiction of additional freezing rain. The amounts may be a bit high in places, but overall, pretty good. 

The NWS's forecasts, before the above model came out, translated into the values (below) on the Sperry-Piltz Ice Storm Index. 

A detailed explanation of the Index is here. 

The NWS warnings, etc., in the posting below are unchanged. 

Comment on Ice Storm

• Deep purple: ice storm warning
• Pink: winter storm warning (ice)
• Dark cyan: winter storm watch
• Purple: winter weather advisory
• Green: flood warning
• Gray: dense fog advisory

The ice storm warnings are in areas where the NWS believes there is an enhanced chance of power failures. Otherwise, the forecast (two below this) looks good.

What Dallas Drivers are Dealing With

Driving is not recommended -- at all. 

Ice Storm Update: 9:30am Tuesday

Above are the NWS's latest "headlines."

• Deep purple: ice storm warning
• Pink: winter storm warning (ice)
• Dark cyan: winter storm watch
• Purple: winter weather advisory
• Green: flood warning
• Gray: dense fog advisory

9:30am radar. I put highways on so you could see which highways are being affected. Remember, freezing drizzle does not show up well or at all on radar. Current temperature in Dallas is 26°F.

Here is the forecast radar for 4pm today. 

Here is the forecast radar for 4pm Wednesday. 

I'll update again this afternoon. 

The Offerings of Mike Smith Enterprises

If you enjoy reading this blog and the comprehensive coverage of storms, we'd appreciate it if you would consider the other offerings from Mike Smith Enterprises. 

Stock Photography 

While much of the nation is shivering and suffering from icy conditions, we are approaching spring. If you need stock photography, I hope you will consider my collection at Adobe Stock Photography.  

If you are looking for editorial photography, my Shutterstock collection is here. 

Books

With spring storms in the future, it is a great time of year to read Warnings and When the Sirens Were Silent. Warnings is the exciting, true story (told in novel form) of the development of the storm warning system and how some of the worst storms in recent history evolved. 

How was it that a train, going 70 mph, was stopped from going over this washout? Modern meteorology is the answer. That's the story told in Warnings. 

When the Sirens Were Silent is the story of the 2011 Joplin Tornado. It was the most expensive in US history. It killed 161 on a Sunday afternoon.

Live Presentations

Weather, when transformed into useful information for an industry or for entertainment, is fascinating. For more information on my live presentations, please contact Ms. Mindy East at Baron Ridge Productions. 

This blog's content is © 2023, Mike Smith Enterprises, LLC

Comprehensive Ice Storm Update, 5:30pm Monday

Unfortunately, the south central ice storm is going to be a prolonged event. Keeping in mind that drizzle and freezing drizzle -- which can cause major roadway problems -- are not depicted, here are the forecast radars for the next 55 hours.

4pm Tuesday

4pm Wednesday

11:59pm Wednesday

Greens are rain. Yellows are possible thunderstorms. Pinks are freezing rain. 

DFW Area Storm Timing

Below is an overview of the amount of freezing rain with a closeup of Texas. 

If these forecasts are correct, not only will road travel be virtually impossible, there will be power failures. Below is the Sperry-Piltz Ice Accumulation Index which forecasts the extent of power issues.

The worst of this is forecast by the NWS to be in the New Braunfels - Austin - Kyle areas. There could be power failures that last days if the forecast is correct. Please prepare accordingly. 

Below are the National Weather Service's warnings, et cetera. 

Finally, here is the radar (remember, freezing drizzle and drizzle are not detected by radar) as of 5:21pm. 

Salmon color is freezing rain. Blue is snow. Greens are rain. Yellow is sleet with possible thunderstorms. 

12:30pm Ice Storm Update

Above are the NWS's latest "headlines."

• Deep purple: ice storm warning
• Pink: winter storm warning (ice)
• Dark cyan: winter storm watch
• Purple: winter weather advisory
• Green: flood warning

Above is the radar at 12:28pm. Salmon color is freezing rain with darker shades = heavier rates of rainfall. Freezing drizzle does not show up. 

Ice Storm Warning!

Color codes:

• Deep purple: ice storm warning
• Pink: winter storm warning for ice 
• Dark cyan: winter storm watch 
• Purple: winter weather advisory 
• Green: flood warning

There is no difference between an ice storm warning and a winter storm warning for ice. It is an unfortunate quirk of today's National Weather Service. Back in the day, they issued separate "heavy snow warnings" and "ice storm warnings."

Here is a NWS map forecasting the amounts of ice.

Throughout the area with accumulating ice, travel will be nearly impossible. In the areas in orange and red, there could be power failures. 

Please prepare accordingly!

Heads Up: Texas and DFW

National Weather Service "headlines" as of midnight. 

Color code:

• Pink = winter storm warning (ice)
• Dark cyan = winter storm warning (ice)
• Green = flood warning 
• Purple = winter weather advisory (ice). An advisory is a lesser condition than a warning. 

However, 

The model I trust most in this situation is indicating a heavy accumulation of freezing rain in the DFW Metroplex. The amount of ice will 1) cripple the city in terms of traffic and 2) may cause power failures if I am correct. Therefore, I would make sure I can hold out a few days if the power goes out. 

"You Will Eat Crickets and Like It!!"

While Al Gore and John Kerry fly around on private jets, increasingly the global warming crowd wants you and I to eat crickets. Really.

More here. 

Ice Storm Update

While this will not be a massive ice storm, it will cover a large area and will cause major traffic difficulties. The forecast is valid from now until 6pm Wednesday.

The worst ice accumulation will be near and west of the Abilene - Sweetwater area and may affect I-20.

At this point, I do not expect major areas of power outages but there is always the possibility of isolated power issues. 

UPDATE: Here are the National Weather Services storm headlines as of 4:35pm.

Color code:

• Dark cyan:  winter storm watch for the freezing rain.
• Purple; winter weather advisory (lesser condition).
• Green and maroon: flood warnings. 

Happy Kansas Day!!

Today is "Kansas Day." Celebrated since 1877, it is the anniversary of when our state was admitted to the Union. 

Kathleen and I absolutely love living in Kansas. We have a great lifestyle with a lot cost of living. One issue Kansas has is that none of the interstate highways go through the most scenic areas of the state (with the possible exception of the Kansas Turnpike/I-35 in the Flint Hills).  The above shot was taken in the Gypsum Hills of south central Kansas. It looks like the terrain you see in movies about the "old west." 

In any case, happy Kansas Day. And, we hope the Missouri-based Kansas City Chiefs have a great victory against the Bengals!

Sunday Fun

MMMmmmmm, cake. 

Ice Storm and Cold Wave Updates

Cold Wave Forecast

Above are the forecast temperatures for 6am Sunday. Double-digit below zero temperatures (these are not wind chills) in the northern Great Plains. 

If you are one of the 76,000+ going to the Bengals - Chiefs game, the 6pm temperature (top) and wind chill maps are below. I've circled the forecast that is technically for the Lee's Summit (suburb) airport but it is near Arrowhead. The forecast temperature in the first half should be 17°F with a wind chill of 

5°F.

For Monday, incredible cold in the central United States. 

At my house, the predicted low is -10°F!

By Tuesday at 6am, the Arctic cold air mass will have reached the Gulf and the below zero low temperatures will have pushed as far east as Indiana. 

Ice Storm

While I am pretty good at forecasting ice storms without models at about 24-30 hours, beyond that, it is important to use the models. And, there is an extraordinary spread in their forecasts, still. So, what I am doing is taking a pretty reliable blend of models and presenting them here so that people in the affected areas can prepare.

Noon Monday

The freezing rain and freezing drizzle is just starting. 

By noon Tuesday, here are the forecast ice accumulations. The heaviest will be in the Ozarks and south of I-44 in Texas and Oklahoma. Note: these areas have poor quality ice/snow removal, so there will be terrible road conditions if this forecast, let alone anything worse, is correct. 

Of course, I will continue to update the blog and I always have updated info on Twitter @usweatherexpert. 

And, By Wearing a Mask When Alone in Your Car!

Note to Readers

While I see an Arctic cold front moving south, I do not see a major ice storm between now and 6pm Monday. 

There is some chance of ice in southern Oklahoma and Texas after that time but it is still highly uncertain. 

Northern Plains Winter Storm

Winter storm is starting from the northern Rockies across the northern Great Plains to Lake Michigan

Pink is a winter storm warning. Purple is a winter weather advisory (lesser condition). 

The radar shows the storm in the easiest stages. 

Tonight, I will begin forecasting the potential winter storm in the southern Great Plains. 

Another Blast of Cold Air Moving In!

As this is being written, another blast of Arctic air is moving south. 

Below is the temperature forecast and the location of the cold front at noon tomorrow (Saturday) from the Canadian Global model. 

By Tuesday morning, the coldest of the air will bring below zero temperatures to much of the nation. Single digits will extend from Ohio to Texas. 

Please prepare accordingly, including caring for your pets. 

While on the subject of extreme temperatures, I often talk about how wind energy fails when needed the most. Below is a closeup of forecast temperatures Tuesday morning for Kansas and southern Nebraska. Note Lincoln and Omaha forecast to be -13°F (circled). 

The wind forecast is below with Lincoln and Omaha circled. Their forecast wind speed? Just 3 mph!

Numerals are wind speed. Arrows are wind direction.

Since wind turbines do not turn with wind speeds of less than 6 mph, virtually the entire area of below zero temperatures will have winds too light to generate electricity from wind. 

What makes this especially significant is that Kansas is the #2 state for wind energy. Northwest of U.S. 56 the wind will be too light to produce any appreciable amount of electricity during a period when demand for electric heat will be extremely high. 

Addition: AccuWeather has a nice graphic of the forecast snow in the northern Great Plains.

More on the snow, here. 

Note: Lots of blogs are talking about an ice and snow storm next week somewhere in the southern half of the Great Plains. That is still quite speculative at this point. Hopefully, the situation will clarify tomorrow as to whether an ice storm will occur and, if so, where. Check back, please.

Elderly Woman Stands in Middle of Dessert Talking to Herself

I wonder how much energy was expended in hauling furniture to the middle of nowhere for someone named Jennifer Granholm to speak to no one? I'm also curious, from where did the power come to run the microphone, speakers and teleprompters?