Texas Winter 2014-2015

[Brent]

The thing that amazes me is where I come from in Alabama(and they average an inch of snow a year just like Dallas does), warning criteria is 2 inches... and many times I had a warning for only an inch or inch and a half... this would be a warning no doubt. January 28th 2014 went to a warning when all hell broke loose, not because the amounts verified in the cities(they did for me but I wasn't in the cities)

[Texas Snowman]

So I'm seeing a lot of debate here about whether or not the NWSFO Fort Worth should have issued a Winter Storm Warning instead of a Winter Weather Advisory. It's probably time to review the actual definitions which go beyond simple amounts of precip. Furthermore, forecasters do have discretion to "think outside the box" in these situations. Seems to me that the WWA was probably right but it sounds awfully close up there to WSW criteria. Maybe on the cusp. Here are the definitions per the NWS Southern Region HQ:

Winter Storm Warnings are issued when hazardous winter weather is occurring, imminent, or highly likely over part or all of the County Warning Forecast Area. Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued in the period of 12 to 24 hours before the storm starts, and occasionally beyond that as much as 36 hours before the storm moves into the region. WSWs can be issued for blizzard conditions, heavy snow (3+ inches in 12 hrs or 4+ inches in 24 hrs), 1/4" or more of ice, one half inch more of sleet, or 2+ inches of a wintry mix.

"Note: Forecasters may consider the impacts of winter weather to the region and do have discretion to issues watches and warning for severe impacts to travel, commerce, or hazard to life and property even if not reaching the numerical criteria."

So if the event doesn't meet this category, it ends up being a WWA.

I thought there was some discretion allowed, especially for different regions of the country. Wonder if who the chief forecaster happens to be at each station makes any difference at all? As in his or her thoughts and/or criteria actually dictate some of the forecast products that come out of a particular office (where discretion is allowed)?

[Brent]

Latest from here in Collin County, around 2 inches

The street is actually pretty wet although there is a couple icy spots.

[Texas Snowman]

Probably 1.5 inches here in Denison. But the street in front of my house continues to be mostly wet. That's surprises me a little bit.

Didn't we hear some mentioning that Wednesday was the last chance for snow this winter?

I swore I read a couple of weeks ago there was nothing left for DFW in February but a couple minor freezes.

I think I heard that too. A rumor on the street kind of thing.

[Yukon Cornelius]

Thankful for snow days!

[TheProfessor]

Heaviest snow falling right now, This storm is almost reminding me of the one in 2007, big flakes causing fast accumulations, I haven't measured, but I might be between 3-4 inches now.

[orangeblood]

"Note: Forecasters may consider the impacts of winter weather to the region and do have discretion to issues watches and warning for severe impacts to travel, commerce, or hazard to life and property even if not reaching the numerical criteria."

So if the event doesn't meet this category, it ends up being a WWA.

Well obviously this is where the FW NWS missed the boat, this was a very severe disruption to residents of the DFW metroplex and the word never got out until it was too late. I've seen many winter storm warnings with much less impact than this...we have this debate every year and the nws continues to stay with the same criteria, it's time for a change

[SouthernMet]

Porta & Southernmet's revenge? http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_27.png

[downsouthman1]

Warm Air Advection appears to be commencing already along the I-35 corridor west of Temple down to San Antonio. I don't know what kind of precip that's falling or if it's even reaching the ground, but GRK & EWX radars are picking up on it.

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-rad ... le%2c%20TX

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-rad ... region=sat

[Ntxw]

Porta & Southernmet's revenge? http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_27.png

This cold blast has been signaled for awhile now to start the first week of March. Worth keeping one eye on.

[SouthernMet]

I've been watching it in the long term since it was 384 hours out
edit : okay this is just laughable though : http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_28.png

[JDawg512]

I'm just about over winter now.

[TheProfessor]

:uarrow: I've been watching it in the long term since it was 384 hours out
edit : okay this is just laughable though : http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_28.png

Probably the Fresh snow pack?

[SouthernMet]

Right, exactly, but that -1 reading is pretty extreme.

[Portastorm]

Porta & Southernmet's revenge? http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_27.png

This cold blast has been signaled for awhile now to start the first week of March. Worth keeping one eye on.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when some of us were saying the CONUS pattern would retrograde placing a deep and cold trough over the central CONUS and some others here said it wouldn't happen and the pattern Great Lakes-East Coast trough pattern would continue instead?! I do.

By the way, that 12z GFS run is just pure weather stuff.

[Ntxw]

Porta & Southernmet's revenge? http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_27.png

This cold blast has been signaled for awhile now to start the first week of March. Worth keeping one eye on.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when some of us were saying the CONUS pattern would retrograde placing a deep and cold trough over the central CONUS and some others here said it wouldn't happen and the pattern Great Lakes-East Coast trough pattern would continue instead?! I do.

By the way, that 12z GFS run is just pure weather stuff.

Yes sir, yes you did, Nailed it. More freezing drizzle cometh.

[Texas Snowman]

Porta & Southernmet's revenge? http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis ... cus_27.png

If that happened - IN MARCH - we'd party all night long on this thread!

And beg someone every year to declare that winter is over in Texas for all practical purposes!

[weatherdude1108]

Warm Air Advection appears to be commencing already along the I-35 corridor west of Temple down to San Antonio. I don't know what kind of precip that's falling or if it's even reaching the ground, but GRK & EWX radars are picking up on it.

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-rad ... le%2c%20TX

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-rad ... region=sat

I just saw that. It is a mix of green, pink, and blue just to our west and southwest. Dewpoints are in the mid-20s in Austin area, temps in the low 30s, so not too dry.

[Wthrlvrmom]

In my neck of the woods we have received at least 3 inches in only a 6 hour time period, so that seems to be pretty hazardous to me. All roads have been covered since about 9 this morning, and it continues to snow moderately at this moment.

Large flakes, too!

[Texas Snowman]

All I know is that I work from home and my office is upstairs looking out into my backyard.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching my backyard get covered with a blanket of white today.

While the stuffing gets kicked out of that football that Lucy has been holding.