Texas Winter 2020-2021

[EnnisTx]

Genuine question: does DFW even own snowplows? I’ve seen them around in the north but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a snowplow in Dallas. If the next week were to verify, their availability would be extremely vital.

TXDOT has snow plows across the FTW and Dallas Districts which include most of the forecast area. I'm not certain on the numbers, but I would say somewhere around 10-15 maybe.

[Ralph's Weather]

Genuine question: does DFW even own snowplows? I’ve seen them around in the north but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a snowplow in Dallas. If the next week were to verify, their availability would be extremely vital.

TXDOT has snow plows across the FTW and Dallas Districts which include most of the forecast area. I'm not certain on the numbers, but I would say somewhere around 10-15 maybe.

I recall seeing snow plows stuck in the ditch in 2000 haha, so hopefully the plow drivers are better trained now.

[EnnisTx]

Genuine question: does DFW even own snowplows? I’ve seen them around in the north but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a snowplow in Dallas. If the next week were to verify, their availability would be extremely vital.

There are a few (handful) after the super bowl incident in 2011. With the extreme cold conditions and snow that could happen no one should be leaving their home Sun-Tues as wxman57 mention. A few plows won't help much. Plan to be stuck for a few days, get your supplies (safely) as soon as you can if you haven't already.

Yes, they bought additional plows after the Cobblestone ice event years ago. They will also use motor graders if needed and there are many of those across North Texas.

[bubba hotep]

12z hi-res are showing a tight qpf gradient across DFW for tonight - 0.10 - 0.25" for NW portions to near an inch for eastern portions. With some 1.5"+ totals just SW of DFW. This could end up being a significant icing event.

[gpsnowman]

Patches of freezing mist continue across north Texas this morning, and every now and then a very light spot of freezing rain/drizzle shows up on the radar display.

We should be able to creep above freezing this afternoon, but another round of freezing drizzle and light freezing rain is expected tonight and will be more significant.

Latest data continue to show the full brunt of the Arctic Air arrives Sunday through early next week as we plunge into the single digits and teens across north Texas. We will be staying below freezing for several days. Shades of 1983 I am told!

Stay tuned for updates

The latest from Steve McCauley

[BigB0882]

I see the GFS shows continued cold. I get back into town on Wednesday of next week and it shows highs barely above freezing on Thursday and Friday. I know that is over a week out but it has been consistent and the cold and any previous snow pack to the north will be in place. It also shows .30 QPF with temps right at or below freezing. Not sure if ice or snow, 500 and 850 temps at or below freezing, so snow?

[Captmorg70]

As Bubba Hotep just mentioned:

3km Nam 12z run. Freezing rain amounts

[EnnisTx]

Genuine question: does DFW even own snowplows? I’ve seen them around in the north but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a snowplow in Dallas. If the next week were to verify, their availability would be extremely vital.

TXDOT has snow plows across the FTW and Dallas Districts which include most of the forecast area. I'm not certain on the numbers, but I would say somewhere around 10-15 maybe.

I recall seeing snow plows stuck in the ditch in 2000 haha, so hopefully the plow drivers are better trained now.

It's hard to do that, but very possible to have an accident while operating a plow. I actually investigated an accident with one that was crossing a bridge and caught the decking. It knocked the whole front end out of the dump truck it was attached to.

[cheezyWXguy]

As Bubba Hotep just mentioned:

3km Nam 12z run. Freezing rain amounts

https://m2.pivotalweather.com/maps/models/nam4km/2021021012/048/zr_acc.us_sc.png

And those totals may be understated in tarrant, nw dallas, and sw collin counties. Nam is currently running a couple degrees warm on initialization, which may delay the depiction of transition to frozen in these areas

[ThunderSleetDreams]

Temps are busting upstream.

We may have to start dealing with the reality that thre colder solutions could verify.

[rwfromkansas]

12z hi-res are showing a tight qpf gradient across DFW for tonight - 0.10 - 0.25" for NW portions to near an inch for eastern portions. With some 1.5"+ totals just SW of DFW. This could end up being a significant icing event.

Typically the areas with highest QPF would be mostly liquid rain, but in a situation like this, they may get decent icing too.

[Parker_County1]

Snow grains falling here in Weatherford. At least that is what I call them; I don't know the technical term. Frozen before it hits the surface, but not sleet or snow.

[gboudx]

Snow grains falling here in Weatherford. At least that is what I call them; I don't know the technical term. Frozen before it hits the surface, but not sleet or snow.

Maybe graupel.

[gpsnowman]

Snow grains falling here in Weatherford. At least that is what I call them; I don't know the technical term. Frozen before it hits the surface, but not sleet or snow.

Graupel more than likely. Similar to little styrofoam balls. We may see every form of frozen precip before it is all said and done.

[Portastorm]

Temps are busting upstream.

We may have to start dealing with the reality that thre colder solutions could verify.

At least as far as the NAM goes, it has done well here in the south central Texas region. The 0z run has been spot on. Interestingly enough the 12z run just out initialized a few degrees too warm here. I haven't looked at the other hi-res models. I do know the HRRR is almost always too warm in winter.

[Parker_County1]

No, it is not graupel. This is like drizzle that is already frozen before it hits. Long thin frozen particles like a nowflake, but without the elaborate crystal formation. Looking it up, looks like they are actually called snow grains.

[gpsnowman]

No, it is not graupel. This is like drizzle that is already frozen before it hits. Long thin frozen particles like a nowflake, but without the elaborate crystal formation. Looking it up, looks like they are actually called snow grains.

Interesting. I've heard the term snow grains before but always thought the phrase was used to describe graupel. Well, check another form of frozen precip off the list.

[cctxhurricanewatcher]

[Tweet]Joe Bastardi
@BigJoeBastardi
·
2m
quite frankly. if the GFS is right and I think it has a shot, in terms of extremes meteorologically. this is the winter equal to a cat 5 hurricane hit in the hurricane season for Texas and the deep south.[/Tweet]

[rwfromkansas]

Snow grains are apparently the equivalent of drizzle but in solid form.

[dhweather]

That's a Karl Malden warm nose right there.

Classic freezing rain setup. The QPF >1/2" could lead to some icing issues.