01/17/2024
Stay safe and warm on 1/21-1/22. Keep those water pipes warm as well.
Ice Storm Update:
For 4 days I've been talking about the upcoming ice storm. If you don't read my Sunday blogs or watch my lives, you miss out on the details. If you follow other weather sources, you're flying blind and probably think it's going to be in the 40s with rain and no ice.
The NWS finally mentioned the ice last night and issued an updated graphic this afternoon highlighting the higher probabilities.
So here's the deal. Nothing has changed in the setup I outlined on Sunday. Expect a large area of freezing rain/drizzle from the DFW area and N TX stretching through OK/AR/MO starting late Sunday afternoon. By Friday I'll be able to provide you with much more specific details as our short-term models will finally get in the game.
The good news with this ice storm is that it looks to be about a 6 to 12-hour event. Meaning N TX stays below freezing during Sunday evening but warms slowly after midnight. OK stays below freezing Sunday night and warms above freezing by midday Monday. So any ice accumulations will melt and be replaced by a chilly rain. This does mean a lot of slick and hazardous travel over a large area Sunday night and Monday morning.
How much ice? Way too early, but don't be surprised if we're talking about 1/4-3/4" of ice accumulations. The boundary appears to be the I-44 corridor in OK and the bullseye of heavy ice is in SE OK / W AR. If we get the higher amounts expect some power outages. The wind won't be strong, so that will help keep those down to a minimum.
So be sure to tell your friends and family what is expected (tag them below) and to join me live daily just before noon and around 9:30pm. 🙏 -AT
