Texas Winter 2020-2021

[Iceresistance]

Uh oh

https://www.news9.com/story/602ab8aa254df40bc1f5ffe3/southwest-power-pool-declares-energy-emergency-alert-level-3-rolling-blackouts-possible-

[EnnisTx]

Unfortunately it looks like it may not get better for days!

Texas' power grid experienced a systemwide failure Monday morning as demand surged due to the historic winter conditions across the state.

Grid managers declared an emergency after the record-breaking energy use strained utilities beyond capacity.

Outages across Texas could last for hours due to multiple power generation plants that are offline, according to officials. An estimated 75% of Texas power generation capacity is impacted.

The failures could last into at least Tuesday as crews work to bring plants back online.

[storm_in_a_teacup]

Mostly I am just worried about the power outage hurting my poor fishies...they’re adapted to the Amazon and Borneo rainforests not this...

[TheAustinMan]

After taking a bunch of snowfall measurements and averaging them out, it looks like I received 5.3" of snow, with various snowdrifts getting close to a foot in the face of the 20-35 mph gusts from the snow event. I would have never expected to submit such a report to the NWS, but last night was quite the spectacle. This is slightly on the lower side of some of the totals I've seen in Austin, but is way, way, more than enough to satisfy me as a native Austinite. I'm looking forward to the public information statement from NWS Austin/San Antonio recapping the overnight snowfall totals. For Austin, this was probably the biggest snowfall event in at least 55 years, if not 72 years or perhaps even further than that. Historic is certainly an apt term.

With clear skies and the full force of the winter sun today, it looks like we won't be breaking our all-time record-low max temp, and temperatures are already pushing into the 20s. Unfortunately this is probably the only silver lining for roughly 40% of Austin currently without power. As many posters on here have mentioned in the leadup to this event, this cold wave and winter storm—while at times beautiful—takes a massive toll on life and property. The enormous strain on Texas's electrical grid looks to continue with ERCOT losing about 30% of its electricity capacity judging by the current 50 GW capacity. Hopefully those suffering from power outages and loss of gas supply can stay safe as temperatures remain below freezing.

[Shoshana]

Just heard from family in Midlothian. They've been without power since 4 in the morning. Temp is down to around 59/60 inside.

Hopefully they can figure out these outages soon. If it's like this at night, I can't imagine how cold it would get inside the house.

I’ve got a friend in Sherman who has been off since nearly midnight. Said it’s 50 degrees inside.

Sister's house in Houston has been out all night as well. 51F inside.

Ours has been out close to 12 hours now and it’s in the 40s in the house

[bubba hotep]

10F IMBY at 1:00 pm with mostly sunny skies. Crazy.

[Ntxw]

10F IMBY at 1:00 pm with mostly sunny skies. Crazy.

Slight solar insolation melt in some places but snow pack largely intact. Roads and all.

[Shoshana]

Welp. I would have posted pics of the beautiful powder this morning but My power has been out since 2 AM. It’s now noon. No end in sight.

Yours must have goon out soon after ours

[Ntxw]

For our friends without power just a reminder graphic the NWS put out tips of how to stay warm.

[txtwister78]

Measured 5.5 inches of snow in my area in San Antonio. Other areas around the city/county received up to 7 inches of snow. Unbelievable. Euro won the "war" with the snow projections further south and east (obviously did horrible with temps). The HRRR was great in the short range...it did well also showing the snow band setup across San Antonio and Austin metros.

[Texas Snow]

After taking a bunch of snowfall measurements and averaging them out, it looks like I received 5.3" of snow, with various snowdrifts getting close to a foot in the face of the 20-35 mph gusts from the snow event. I would have never expected to submit such a report to the NWS, but last night was quite the spectacle. This is slightly on the lower side of some of the totals I've seen in Austin, but is way, way, more than enough to satisfy me as a native Austinite. I'm looking forward to the public information statement from NWS Austin/San Antonio recapping the overnight snowfall totals. For Austin, this was probably the biggest snowfall event in at least 55 years, if not 72 years or perhaps even further than that. Historic is certainly an apt term.

With clear skies and the full force of the winter sun today, it looks like we won't be breaking our all-time record-low max temp, and temperatures are already pushing into the 20s. Unfortunately this is probably the only silver lining for roughly 40% of Austin currently without power. As many posters on here have mentioned in the leadup to this event, this cold wave and winter storm—while at times beautiful—takes a massive toll on life and property. The enormous strain on Texas's electrical grid looks to continue with ERCOT losing about 30% of its electricity capacity judging by the current 50 GW capacity. Hopefully those suffering from power outages and loss of gas supply can stay safe as temperatures remain below freezing.

Also keep in mind you are measuring the right way, not looking to find the biggest total which is what many of the bigger totals near you possibly are. Definitely report it.

[nathanc1969]

Lots of records out in West Central Texas. San Angelo officially ended up with 10.1 inches of snow. That is an all time record 24 hour snowfall. Our low this morning was -1 which is the second coldest temperature on record. We have bright BRIGHT sunshine now, but not much melting as we are holding around 15.

[Tammie]

Statement from Governor Abbott at 1:35
“ The Texas power grid has not been compromised.

The ability of some companies that generate the power has been frozen.

This includes the natural gas & coal generators.

They are working to get generation back on line.

ERCOT & PUC are prioritizing residential consumers.”

[aggiecutter]

image upload

[JDawg512]

Seeing snow flurries from the passing clouds. At first I thought it was just blowing snow but it's definitely falling. I think I saw this mentioned in previous posts. Haven't been able to keep up with all the posts but I'll pop in here and there throughout the day. Gonna go work on a snowman soon so getting bundled up to go do that.

[Iceresistance]

Heard anything from Canadian Valley (CVEC)?

That is my Electric Co-op

[fendie]

8” in flat open areas with drifts over 16” in Dripping Springs, TX.

[rwfromkansas]

Winter storm warning up 1-3 widespread, some 2-6 especially north.

[Brent]

10F IMBY at 1:00 pm with mostly sunny skies. Crazy.

Slight solar insolation melt in some places but snow pack largely intact. Roads and all.

This is insane i just took a drive that was pretty harrowing at times lol

It actually didn't seem too bad at first but coming back the opposite side was awful

[cctxhurricanewatcher]

Can’t they buy power from Mexico like in the past?

Or the rest of the US . I know it's an unusual circumstance. We all knew this for at least a week (in some cases almost two for the board!). Just a lot of questions all around and little answers.

Seemed extreme talking about back up generators and such back then but boy are they handy now. Writing was on the wall it wasn't going to be a simple run of the mill cold snap.

Northern Mexico has their own demand issues I'm sure. This cold airmass went several hundreds miles deep into Mexico. They had snow and record breaking stuff just south of the River in some areas and for sure in the higher elevations in the mountains towards Monterrey.

If I had to roll the dice and guess why the grid is overwhelmed , I think much of our residential demand for electricity is due to more of the newer homes in cookie cutter type of developments being all electric because it's less expensive for the the larger or familiar home builders to build them this way, especially in the booming populations centers. Your more custom type homes tend to utilize gas more in part thanks to gourmet style kitchens which require gas stoves and ovens. So usually that means the gas is extended to the heat source and water heaters. That's just my opinion from doing some recent shopping in the Hill Country. All i know if we decide to build a new custom home up in the Hill Country in a few years ( I hope) I will be going with gas for my appliances and installing a generator. By that time they will probably be more affordable and might as well throw it in to my construction budget.