SW LA/SE TX Winter 2013-2014

[Jagno]

OMG, 40% chance of freezing rain on Fat Tuesday. This is going to create some lost revenue across the state. What's worse is that this is going to affect/delay the crawfish production greatly. Our suppliers are struggling because the crawfish bury themselves deeper during these freezes. I think we may have to delay the opening of our boiled crawfish platters another week or so.

[vbhoutex]

Icing has begun at my house. Some sleet has fallen also. I thought this was March. March is springtime!! 29f

[CYCLONE MIKE]

32 degrees and according to the hourly forecast we were supposed to have a low of 33 around 3 am this morning. Haha

We're already down to 32 as well. Doesn't matter though because the precip isnt supposed to move in til later tomorrow morning and the warm up will have already started.

[BigB0882]

I don't know. These temps are colder than forecast. I could see there being a small window for freezing rain and sleet since temps have more climbing to do than forecast. This winter tells me anything is possible!

[CYCLONE MIKE]

Think we've already hit our low at 30. Actually bumped up to 31 just a few minutes ago just as forecast. Only way I think we will see any kind of winter precip is if it moves in stronger and faster than forecast. The 00z gfs runs shows sw LA getting some decent freezing rain. But by the time it gets here its just all rain as temps rise.

[BigB0882]

Freezing rain going on right now. Icing beginning on patio furniture and other metal surfaces. Hopefully we get above freezing soon so this doesn't become a problem.

[JSDS]

It's already a problem. They just closed another section of interstate in BR (i-10 west at College). Part of I-110 is already closed, and there is no way to get from BR to Lafayette without going down toward NO and over. My home thermometer just dropped from 29 to 28 since the rain started coming down a little harder. I'm glad I don't have to get out today - this is a good day to stay in. I just pulled some gumbo out of the freezer to start thawing, because this is definitely a gumbo kind of day!!!

[BigB0882]

You are right, I had just woken up and did not check roads. I also was thinking about power issues if the trees take on too much ice before it begins melting. There is no ice hanging from my roof, probably because of heat from the last few days but the bushes and trees are getting icicles and with this steady rain it should collect quickly.

[CYCLONE MIKE]

Well bigb I have to admit I was wrong and you were right last night. Never thought we would see any ice today but we sure are. Number 4 this winter, pretty amazing. This is a pretty big bust all around by everybody because no one gave SE LA a chance of seeing anything but maybe a few sleet pellets mixed in sw ms. All the models were wrong as well.

[JSDS]

Everyone being so far off on our temps yesterday really had me wondering, so I'm not totally surprised.

[vbhoutex]

Tree man coming by to check our trees since they just trimmed them Friday. If we hadn't had 3 taken out along the driveway we might have some damaged vehicles. Already lost the mailbox to falling limbs. Still raining and 31f here in W. Houston. Ice, ice baby!!! UGH!!!

[northjaxpro]

Well bigb I have to admit I was wrong and you were right last night. Never thought we would see any ice today but we sure are. Number 4 this winter, pretty amazing. This is a pretty big bust all around by everybody because no one gave SE LA a chance of seeing anything but maybe a few sleet pellets mixed in sw ms. All the models were wrong as well.

One thing in winter weather events I have learned greatly over the years is to never, ever underestimate the strength of a shallow, arctic airmass which many times the models have a hard time handling.

You all are having another dreary, cold day down in the Bayou with freezing rain and sleet in BR and Lafayette. Definitely not good for Fat Tuesday in NOLA either.

[CYCLONE MIKE]

Just went out to take the garbage to the street and still sitting at 31. Ice is starting to accumulate on the trees, cars, and fences. Shouldn't see any road problems since its been so warm lately. Had completely blown this system off for giving us any kind of winter weather, boy was I wrong.

[CYCLONE MIKE]

No you're right about that northjax. Can't see many people hanging out doing the Mardi gras thing today, except maybe some hardcore drunks. Wouldn't catch my butt out there walking around in the rain with temps in the 30's.

[Kennethb]

In the past few years, looking ahead to Mardi Gras 2014 you would have thought that this would have been one of the warmer Mardi Gras. I usually head to New Orleans at 5:30 am and make the walk, in costume, from Napoleon to Jackson and back. But opted not to do that today. Hopefully February 17, 2015 will offer a better Mardi Gras Day.

Here in Baton Rouge it is about 31 degrees with moderate rain/freezing rain. What has been out saving grace for large ice accumulation is a warm wedge of 55 degrees about 5,000 ft up that warms the rain as it fall to the surface, allowing for much of the precip to fall off.

[BigB0882]

I love how my weather app says we are getting "snow." No, it is a nasty rain that is freezing on most surfaces.

Kenneth, thanks for the info about the warm layer aloft. 55 is unusually warm so that probably explain why this rain isn't causing many icicles on the roof. It is taking longer to freeze the warmer liquid and it drips off. Some icicles are forming on certain parts of the roof now but mostly on one side of my house. Most of the ice is on our bushes, trees, mailboxes, garbage cans, etc. This is a pretty moderate amount of rain, it really could have been bad.

[PTrackerLA]

Heavy icing occurring at 32 degrees here in Lafayette but the temp should be getting above freezing soon. What was left of my Queen Palms fronds have all snapped from the weight of the ice. I get it mother nature, they don't belong here! Amazing this is the 4th bonafide winter weather event of the season!

[vbhoutex]

It is our 7th event this year in Houston. I've been here in Houston 43 years and have never seen a winter like this. I've seen colder and I've seen snowier, but never this much cold and ice!! Fortunately we just got up to freezing in some areas so ice is beginning to melt.

[CajunMama]

I'm glad it's a holiday here in south Louisiana. The kids are out of school all week for Mardi Gras and most businesses close so we didn't have to deal with any cancellations. They did close down the big MG fair but the parades still rolled. I went out last night and was so cold. I stayed home today as I wasn't about to be cold and WET!

[PTrackerLA]

It was bitterly cold last night with the windchill. Had the precipitation set in heavy before midnight things would have been really bad around here as we were below freezing by 9pm. I'd estimate about .25" of ice accumulation at the peak around 10:30am. The taller trees still have quite a bit of ice on them as temperatures being to fall again. Only reached a high of 34 today! Amazing for March.