Texas Winter 2020-2021

[Portastorm]

Checking in from the frozen Portastorm Weather Center where it currently is six degrees! Some parts of Travis County in the NW, more rural areas are near zero right now. I am one of the fortunate few who has power. I live next to a water treatment plant so I think my "grid" was considered essential by Austin Energy and not shut off. Lots of people I know do not have power and have not had power for 15+ hours. I did salvage my tankless water heater yesterday and have hot water as I ran a steady stream of cold/hot water all night. That is what the plumbers recommended and it worked.

To be honest, my enthusiasm for this once-in-a-lifetime event has been tempered by the misery and damage it has caused to so many people.

[NDG]

Message from my niece who lives in Pearland with her young family, really sad what's happening in Texas.

51 in our house. We cuddled on mattresses on the floor together in the living room near the fireplace.
We slept fine but it was freezing waking up.
Only a couple stores and a few gas stations are open today because they’re out of power too.
We are about to put fridge/freezer items outside in shade because colder out there then in the fridge right now.

[Texas Snowman]

From Wichita Falls YESTERDAY...

————-

@NWSNorman — The high temperature in Wichita Falls, Texas only reached 9 degrees today. What's the big deal? This sets a new all-time record for the lowest high temperature. Temperature records date back to the early 1920s. More record cold tomorrow with increasing snow chances. #texomawx

[BigD938]

Has the models showed anything new? Timing? What precip?
Out here in forney this morning it’s 3 currently and rolling black outs.

[gboudx]

I hope that all of you are enjoying this fun winter weather. Freezing cold, no electricity for millions, no water for many. Fun, fun, fun! This never happens in July.

July can have its own weather that not only causes millions to lose power, and possibly have water disruptions, but also flood thousands of homes and/or completely destroy them. I forget what those things are called. Cat something in the gulf?

Hurricane

LOL. I was messing with wxman57. I grew up in NOLA, believe me I know what those counter-clockwise spinning, destructive storm systems are called.

So sorry to read about so many not having power and having to deal with this cold in very unconventional ways. We've had rolling power outages since about noon yesterday and went through the night. It must've been off for a while overnight because the cold woke me up and it was 63 in the house. This doesn't compare with what others of you experienced so I'm not complaining. I did stay up in case I needed to get the fireplace going, but fortunately the power came back on. My guess it's been on since about 6am with no interrruption(knock on wood). The ERCOT website shows they have substantially more capacity than yesterday so hopefully these outages end soon.

[gboudx]

From Lindner:

Bitter cold arctic air mass in place over the region

Freezing rain likely north of US 59 tonight into early Wednesday with accumulations of ice

Travel conditions will deteriorate this evening into Wednesday morning

Winter Storm Warning in effect from 600pm this evening along and north of US 59

Discussion:
Very cold arctic air mass in place over the region with temperatures in the low to mid 10’s. Next upper level storm system will quickly approach from the west today with rapidly increasing clouds as a coastal low begins to form over the middle TX coast. Moisture will once again be forced northward into the cold air mass and this will result in freezing rain likely for areas north of the freezing line. Expect the freezing line to extend from Matagorda Bay to Downtown Houston to Winnie tonight and then slowly move northward on Wednesday. Where exactly the freezing line will be during various time periods in uncertain and precipitation types will be changeable throughout this event. Expect ice accumulations tonight along and north of US 59 of .05 to .15 of an inch…with most significant impacts on bridges and overpasses, but cannot rule out impacts to trees and power lines…especially for those areas that get closer to the .10-.15 amounts.

As the freezing lines move north on Wednesday during the day…likely reaching a Columbus to The Woodlands to Liberty line, freezing rain will likely change to rain for the metro area. Areas along and north of HWY 105 may remain below freezing for the entire event and expect significant and potentially extremely damaging ice accumulations of ¼ to ¾ of an inch.

Freezing line moves back southward Wednesday evening and much of the area, except for the coastal counties will likely fall back below freezing. Yet another disturbance will approach and could produce a final round of light sleet or snow over portions of the area Wednesday night/early Thursday. Any left over water on roads from the Wednesday rains will likely refreeze Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

[rwfromkansas]

Still haven’t lost power once. Must be something “essential” on my grid, but since I can’t find maps of that for obvious reasons not sure what. The only thing I can think of is BNSF maybe.

I feel guilty.

Can’t imagine people trying to sleep with their house at 40.

My PWS says zero, but there’s no way I didn’t hit below zero if FW did. I am declaring I hit -1. I haven’t seen a temp that low here or Kansas in at least 20 years.

[HockeyTx82]

Still haven’t lost power once. Must be something “essential” on my grid, but since I can’t find maps of that for obvious reasons not sure what. The only thing I can think of is BNSF.

Can’t imagine people trying to sleep with their house at 40.

My PWS says zero, but there’s no way I didn’t hit below zero if FW did. I am declaring I hit -1. I haven’t seen a temp that low here or Kansas in at least 20 years.

Based of your location that underground military bunker is not too far away......

[utpmg]

going on 31 hours without power now. Got down to 7 on my porch this morning. I have a gas range so cooking and boiling water (coffee!!) is simple. Otherwise, just hanging out. Stays between 40-45 through most of the house, I can get the kitchen up to almost 60 if i run all four burners, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that while I slept. Water is still running in all inside taps. Honestly, I've camped in much worse.

[Iceresistance]

Just woke up

How low did OKC go? My house got down to -12°F

[cstrunk]

Luckily I have managed to keep my pipes unfrozen overnight and have kept power.

I'm worried about this upcoming ice storm. Freezing rain is going to put a lot of weight on tree limbs covered in snow.

[HouTXmetro]

Can someone post model runs for the incoming storm?

[InfernoFlameCat]

Where is Wxman57? I haven't seen him post since this storm hit.

[high_lander]

Seeing a very light snow here in Flower Mound. I split my time here at my wife's place and my house in Aubrey. Checked out my house up there had no power but still had water dripping. Feeling blessed we haven't lost power here in FM though.

The wisps of snow have seemed to have dwindled now though.

Stay safe everyone.

[InfernoFlameCat]

I hope that all of you are enjoying this fun winter weather. Freezing cold, no electricity for millions, no water for many. Fun, fun, fun! This never happens in July.

Nevermind, I see he is still burning a hole through winter. Anyhow, freezing weather still beats July with all the ticks, deerflies, and stifling heat. At least in moderation.

[Iceresistance]

Can someone post model runs for the incoming storm?

I got NAMed (Snowfall)

[Texas Snowman]

@NWSFortWorth — The low temperature at DFW Airport was -2 F at 6:28 a.m. CST. This breaks the previous DAILY record of 12 F set in 1903, and is the coldest temperature recorded at the official Dallas/Fort Worth climate site since January 31, 1949. (1/3)

This ties for the second coldest minimum temperature in city history, with records extending back to 1898. The only colder minimum temperature to be recorded is the all-time record low of -8 F on February 12, 1899. (2/3)

History of the official DFW climate site (since obviously DFW Airport wasn't there in 1903):
1898-1934: Fort Worth federal building
1935-1939: Federal courthouse Fort Worth
1940-1952: Fort Worth Meacham Field
1953-1973: Amon Carter Field
1974-present: DFW Airport. (3/3)

[Iceresistance]

@NWSFortWorth — The low temperature at DFW Airport was -2 F at 6:28 a.m. CST. This breaks the previous DAILY record of 12 F set in 1903, and is the coldest temperature recorded at the official Dallas/Fort Worth climate site since January 31, 1949. (1/3)

This ties for the second coldest minimum temperature in city history, with records extending back to 1898. The only colder minimum temperature to be recorded is the all-time record low of -8 F on February 12, 1899. (2/3)

History of the official DFW climate site (since obviously DFW Airport wasn't there in 1903):
1898-1934: Fort Worth federal building
1935-1939: Federal courthouse Fort Worth
1940-1952: Fort Worth Meacham Field
1953-1973: Amon Carter Field
1974-present: DFW Airport. (3/3)

JEEZ! How cold did it get in OKC?

My house got down to -12°F

[Texas Snowman]

@JimCantore — -2F official low per NWSChat. Coldest in 72 years in Dallas.

@JimCantore — Only 5th time below zero in DFW history.

[Texas Snowman]

@NWSFortWorth — The low temperature at DFW Airport was -2 F at 6:28 a.m. CST. This breaks the previous DAILY record of 12 F set in 1903, and is the coldest temperature recorded at the official Dallas/Fort Worth climate site since January 31, 1949. (1/3)

This ties for the second coldest minimum temperature in city history, with records extending back to 1898. The only colder minimum temperature to be recorded is the all-time record low of -8 F on February 12, 1899. (2/3)

History of the official DFW climate site (since obviously DFW Airport wasn't there in 1903):
1898-1934: Fort Worth federal building
1935-1939: Federal courthouse Fort Worth
1940-1952: Fort Worth Meacham Field
1953-1973: Amon Carter Field
1974-present: DFW Airport. (3/3)

JEEZ! How cold did it get in OKC?

My house got down to -12°F

@NWSNorman — The official Oklahoma City temperatures at Will Rogers World Airport has fallen to -14. This is the coldest official OKC temperature recorded since February 12, 1899.
#okwx