❗️DANGEROUS TEXAS WINTER STORM.
Update, 2/13.
⚠️WINTER STORM WARNING now for all of us, from Sunday at 3pm lasting through Monday 6pm.
Read>>>>>
________
The NWS is mentioning that a potentially “very dangerous winter event” could unfold in the next 48 hours. I agree, but a lot depends on icing and amount of ice.
TIMING:
▪️ Tonight-Sunday Midday: light freezing drizzle will overspread southeast Texas and will remain ‘spotty’ at best. However, even if spots don’t see excessive amounts or don’t freeze, this will likely add to problems tomorrow night as heavier precip falls. Please STILL be very careful with bridges and overpasses/elevated ramps.
▪️ Sunday afternoon-evening: temperatures begin to fall and more precipitation is forced out of the atmosphere from the approaching strong upper-level storm system. I expect areas to the north to see freezing rain and freezing drizzle, but then transition faster over to snow. Areas to the north could actually see higher snow accumulations!
Farther south, including the Houston metro, freezing rain could occur for longer and and in heavier amounts, before possibly switching to graupel pellets and eventually even snow. This even includes the beaches, and thus they’ve been added to the winter storm warning as well.
Note: areas farther south won’t see as much snowfall, but numbers are still all over the place and impossible to predict at this point. Houston could see 1/2” or even 2-3”! A lot will depend on the ‘tightness’ of the gradient, and how soon a changeover occurs.
▪️Overnight Sunday into Monday AM:
Ice could accumulate farther south, including the metro before any changeover occurs. *If* this happens, ice accumulations could approach a quarter of an inch or slightly higher. This could start to cause power outages and serious slick spots on the roads. Anything wet will likely freeze overnight, whether rain or ice that accumulates.
Pipes could be subject to bursting if NOT adequately covered and insulated, and hypothermia is possible if outside and exposed for a prolonged period.
▪️Monday PM-Tuesday:
A hard freeze and very low wind chills will set in and be dangerous to anyone outside not protected. Please remember pets too!
This will also solidify and maintain any frozen precipitation and/or snow on the ground.
🔺Confidence: high.
🔺Snow totals: 1-2” possible along and north of i10. Some spots could see less, if more ice forms. Montgomery county north to the Sam Houston national forest could see much higher totals. Some amounts could near 4-5” or more if rain changes over to snow quickly Sunday.
🔺What could change? A lot. Totals of snow. Totals of ice. Timing of the changeover. Event timing WON’T likely change.
BOTTOM LINE:
⚠️Be prepared. Make preparations now. You have about 24 hours, to play it safely.
⚠️Have a way to provide heat if you lose power.
⚠️Matches, gas if needed, food basics.
⚠️FULL CHARGES on any and all devices.
⚠️A way to refrigerate items if you LOSE power.
⚠️PETS, PETS, PETS! Bring them inside. I beg you.
⚠️Let a slow drip run in larger faucets to main water pipes. Insulate out door pipes. Even using insulation from a basic home store works, if you tape and cover it from getting wet.
⚠️Cover plants. More than once if you can.
⚠️Of course, help anyone who can’t get warmth.
⚠️⚠️⚠️Be VERY careful in deciding whether to drive or not. No matter what the size/build of your vehicle and 4x4, ice with snow on top is deadly. We already saw it earlier this week in north Texas.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Ask.
I’ll be active in these comments. I’ll do my best to get to you.
_______
Addendum: another winter storm is looking more likely mid-next week.
Please SHARE, spread the word, and stay safe!
I’ll be posting more.
(Posted 4:45pm, Sat, 2/13).
