Midwest Icestorm 12/8-12/11

[CrazyC83]

I heard some areas could get up to 3 inches of ice...

[RL3AO]

I heard some areas could get up to 3 inches of ice...

Thats insane.

[snoopj]

Still getting estimations in the 0.5" to 1" range around the KC metro area with localized readings approaching 1.5+" depending upon where the heavier rain bands go.

It also seems that the freezing line may reach the southern part of the metro area. Expect the major ice accumulations over night to be north of the Missouri River and approaching places like St. Joesph.

Yuck.

--snoopj

[simplykristi]

Things will just get progressively worst once the precip starts here.

Kristi

[snoopj]

This won't have the staying power like the 2002 storm, but it could be just as bad. At least the winds are going to be less than 10mph. Otherwise, we'd have an even bigger mess with 1" of ice over everything.

[simplykristi]

I live in the southern part of the metro area. Our temps have not risen above 30 degrees.

Kristi

[wall_cloud]

I heard some areas could get up to 3 inches of ice...

that happened across portions of OK/TX/AR in 2000.

[wall_cloud]

why do people think that meteorologists do road conditions? just curious.

[angelwing]

Please pass on to anyone in Oklamhoma (got this info forwarded on to me):

The Oklahoma Section of ARRL is activated and assisting with emergency management efforts statewide as a devastating ice storm continues on Dec. 10. Below is the latest from the State Department of Emergency Management.

Thanks for all your effort to care for one another during this crisis...we need each of you!

Blessings

73, John-WB5SYT
__________________________________________

Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Situation Update 6
12-10-07, 4:30 p.m.

WINTER STORM CONTINUES TO IMPACT STATE

Twelve fatalities reported; Power outages top 500,000

STATE ASSISTANCE

A State of Emergency remains in effect for all 77 Oklahoma counties.

The declaration provides a formal mechanism for local governments to seek reimbursement for recovery costs through the state's disaster public assistance program if conditions warrant. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas.

Oklahoma is also awaiting word on a request to President George Bush for an emergency declaration covering all 77 counties. If approved, the declaration would provide cities, towns and counties financial assistance to cover the cost of debris removal and emergency protective measures like overtime for fire and police as well as road clearing, sanding and salting costs. The emergency declaration would also provide generators, bottled water, cots, blankets and meals ready to eat (MREs) which Oklahoma has requested of the federal government. Please note these generators are industrial-size and NOT for residential use.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

An ice storm warning continues until 6 a.m. Tuesday for an area north of a line from Hollis to Mangum to Oklahoma City to Vinita. Additional rainfall is expected across the state tonight as a storm system moves toward the area from California. Temperatures have warmed above freezing across the southeast half of Oklahoma and a cold rain is expected in this area. The freezing line will continue to move slowly north during the overnight hours and areas south of this line will transition to a cold rain. In the ice storm warning area additional ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-half inches are possible. Northwest Oklahoma may receive more ice with this round of precipitation than other areas as the region remains below freezing longer.

INJURIES AND FATALITIES

The number of Ice Storm-related fatalities remains at 12, according to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office. All died in motor vehicle accidents.
Two people died in separate wrecks in Oklahoma County.
One died in a crash in Canadian County.
Two people died in separate accidents in Beckham County.
One died in a crash in Tillman County.
Four died in an accident in Okfuskee County.
Two people died in accidents in Tulsa County (This includes a man who died today in Tulsa when a utility pole fell on his vehicle.)

Additionally, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has worked more than 150 injury and non-injury collisions since Saturday night. OHP continues to discourage travel due to hazardous road conditions.

POWER OUTAGES

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports statewide more than 513,000 homes and businesses are without electric service.
- AEP-PSO reports 218,915 customers without power, including 194,303 in the Tulsa metro area, 7,977 in Bartlesville and 6,827 in Vinita.
- OG&E reports 237,306 customers without power, including 217,500 in the Oklahoma City metro area.
- Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives reports about 57,250 rural electric customers without power.

SHELTERS

Shelters are open at the following locations for those displaced by the ice storm.

Beggs -- High School, 1111 W. Ninth

Bixby -- New Beginnings Church, 4104 E. 151st Bristow -- First Baptist Church, 266 E. Sixth Broken Arrow -- Arrow Heights Church, 3201 S. Elm Place Carney -- Community Center, 701 S. Highway 177 Chandler -- First Baptist Church, 912 W. First Chickasha -- Bible Baptist Church, 1828 S. 13th Street Claremore -- First United Methodist Church, 1615 N. Highway 88 Collinsville -- First Baptist Church, 1301 W. Main Commerce -- Southeast Baptist Church, 103 East B Street Del City -- Community Center, 4505 SE 15th Ketchum -- Methodist Church, 206 Amarillo Drive Meeker -- City Hall Miami -- Assembly of God Church, 1815 E. Steve Owens Blvd.

Midwest City -- Reed Center, 5800 Will Rogers Moore -- Community Center, 301 S. Howard Oklahoma City -- Trinity Baptist Church, 1329 NW 23rd Okmulgee -- Okmulgee High School, 415 W. Third Street Owasso -- Freedom Church, 96th Street N. and 177 E. Ave.

Pitcher -- 100 Deville Creek

Prague -- 1500 Bluebell

Sand Springs -- Olive Baptist Church, 155 N. 65th West Ave.

Sapulpa -- First Baptist Church, 200 S. Elm Shawnee -- Expo Center, 1700 W. Independence Street Sperry -- First Baptist Church, 115 N. Cincinnati Stroud -- Senior Citizens Building, 212 W. Main Street Tulsa -- First Baptist Church, 403 S. Cincinnati Tulsa -- Asbury United Methodist Church, 6767 S. Mingo Vinita -- Emmanuel Temple, 437551 East Highway 60

ROAD CONDITIONS

- Travel is discouraged across many areas of the state where tonight's refreeze may deliver black ice. Motorists are also reminded to watch for downed tree limbs and low lying electric lines on roadways. For information regarding Oklahoma road conditions call 888-425-2385. For road conditions in neighboring states call: Texas, 800-452-9292; Kansas, 866-511-5368; Arkansas, 800-245-1672; and Missouri, 800-222-6400.

[CrazyC83]

Now being described as the worst power outage in Oklahoma history.

Could this be worse than the ice storm early in 2007, and be the worst since 1998? (It's got a ways to go to reach that - it needs to continue with freezing rain for a good 48-72 more hours)

[Ed Mahmoud]

why do people think that meteorologists do road conditions? just curious.

I've seen AFDs where NWS mets discuss calls to local extension service for soil temps and soil freezing level, as basis for predicting weather or not ground will freeze.

I'd almost bet some state DOTs have met on staff just for that purpose.

[Ed Mahmoud]

0Z WRF MOS shows 1.78 inches liquid equivalent for MCI next through tomorrow night, most as frzng rain, the last tenth as snow.


That'd snap some serious power lines.

[simplykristi]

The temps are warming up here in the KC area. We are approaching 32 degrees in some areas. We may have dodged a bullet in the KC area.

Kristi

[Ed Mahmoud]

0.3 inches frz rain in TOP last hour. Temps are creeping up, now 31ºF (-1ºC) but the tree/powerline damage will be starting soon at this rate.

[CrazyC83]

0.3 inches frz rain in TOP last hour. Temps are creeping up, now 31ºF (-1ºC) but the tree/powerline damage will be starting soon at this rate.

You need to hope and pray it gets to 33 fast...

About 650,000 now powerless, and 17 dead.

[simplykristi]

There are sporadic power outages throughout the KC area. Our power has not flickered once. :: KNOCK ON WOOD ::

Kristi

[CrazyC83]

There are sporadic power outages throughout the KC area. Our power has not flickered once. :: KNOCK ON WOOD ::

Kristi

Hopefully it will turn to rain soon to prevent such damage...

[simplykristi]

It looks like service is being restored fairly quickly in the area. I hope that nothing happens with the power overnight. I shall see what tomorrow brings and take some pics.

Kristi

[CrazyC83]

It looks like service is being restored fairly quickly in the area. I hope that nothing happens with the power overnight. I shall see what tomorrow brings and take some pics.

Kristi

CNN showing it is going back and forth to rain there...which significantly reduce damage potential as melting can take place.

[CrazyC83]

23 dead now, 650,000 without power at this moment...