Freezing rain, sleet likely in North Texas
Posted on 02/24/2003 12:11:56 PM PST by MeekOneGOP
Freezing rain, sleet likely in North Texas
02/24/2003
As sleet pushed its way toward North Texas on Monday afternoon, meteorologists were predicting the weather would pack a wallop for commuters during the evening rush-hour crush and the Tuesday morning drive to work.
With freezing rain and sleet expected, "we will have some serious driving conditions to deal with as the afternoon wears on," particularly on bridges and overpasses, WFAA-TV (Channel 8) meteorologist Greg Fields said.
Monday's temperatures were expected to range from a low of 23 degrees to a high of 29 degrees in North Texas. Normal conditions would call for a high of 63 degrees and a low of 43 degrees.
| Also Online | ||||||||||
|
"We aren't going to be anywhere close to that over the next couple of days," Mr. Fields said.
Experts predicted even worse weather for the region southeast of Dallas/Fort Worth. A winter storm watch for that swath of the state was to be in effect from 3 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday.
As of midday, sleet was traveling eastward through Jacksboro, Graham and Breckenridge, west of Fort Worth. The NWS said freezing rain, sleet or even snow was likely in those areas, although accumulation was expected to be less than a quarter inch.
At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the temperature was 27 degrees, with the wind chill making it feel like 13 degrees.
Weather fears were affecting Tuesday's scheduled debut of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, the state's new standardized test for schoolchildren. School districts already were calling state officials early Monday to ask what to do if weather forced a school closure on test day.
Texas Education Agency spokesperson Adrienne Sobolak said TEA officials were meeting to determine a plan of action.
"There's such a great amount of concentration and anticipation for this test," Ms. Sobolak said.
On Sunday, temperatures plummeted from the 70s to below freezing after nightfall as a blast of arctic air reached the state. The front ignited some thunderstorms in Southeast Texas, with marble-sized hail reported near Lake Livingston.
In Tyler, gusts measured at up to 46 mph toppled trees and caused widespread power outages that had repair crews scrambling Sunday.
It will be a bleak week for weather, National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Bucklew said. "This is the coldest air of the season," he said.
Tuesday's high temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing mark in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Wednesday should warm up to a high of 45 and bring showers and thunderstorms to North Texas, Ms. Snell said. Thursday should be drier with a high of 45 and Friday is expected to be cloudy with a high of 52.
West Texas and the Panhandle will see a chance of sleet or snow Monday night and early Tuesday, with patchy drizzle later Tuesday. Lows Monday night will be in the teens in the Panhandle to the 20s elsewhere; far West Texas expects temperatures in the 30s. Highs Tuesday will be in the 30s, with 50s and lower 60s in far West Texas.
South Texas will see a chance of a wintry mix of precipitation from the Hill Country to the northern Piney Woods, with rain scattered elsewhere. Lows Monday night will range from the 20s in the Hill Country to the 30s and 40s elsewhere, with 50s along the coast.
Here are some useful links, etc...
Intellicast Radar Loop for North Texas
..
| Weather Update | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Currently | |
|
|
WFAA 5-Day outlook (Watch the video forecast) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
There's no driver in the world more dangerous than a Texas on ice.
Truly said, brother. There's nothing funnier to this native Texan (who lived in Maine for 4 years) than watching my fellow Texicans fall into a blind panic when a heavy frost descends on our fair vale.
Having said that, wish I had bought that Hummer H2 instead of my little econo box to get home from work tonight ...
Tell your son to drive carefully and watch other drivers closely if he must drive ...
TXBec suggested picking your brain for local info...care to help out a couple itinerant Kansans (dd5339 & me)?
Sure, just send me FReep mail with you concerns and I'll see what I can do.
I told him I forgot he's a veteran driver having lived in Chicago.....but he said it was actually tougher driving the Texas streets.
He knows to take the back roads....he learned that in Chicago....and said the bridges were iced, and they don't salt the streets like they do in Chicagoland.
But he's a good and careful driver.
He was surprised to see snow on the ground.
He's a Florida boy...homegrown...and had never seen snow until his first job out of college took him to Chicago.
He had to learn fast!
..and hasn't seen it since.
Hence, he as yet, has no warm coat!
I bet he wished he did today!
I expect we'll see some snow/sleet before this is over with.
I didn't look at the panhandle when I opened the radar loop, but expect you have snow on the ground to go with that 10 degree weather ...
Allow me to pass on a few good words about Valley Ranch (Irving). We're fairly centrally located in relation to Dallas and Fort Worth. Minutes from Las Colinas, about 1/2 hour from Six Flags (Arlington). My kids go to Coppell schools, which is a pretty good district. At the end of this week, we'll be celebrating 6 years at our current address.
Liberals are VERY quiet in Valley Ranch, and outnumbered by at least 3 to 1, judging by ballots and voting results.
From what I've seen, the larger religious denominations in the Valley Ranch/Coppell area have enjoyed significant growth these past few years. A nearby Baptist church just started a major expansion, while St. Ann Catholic Parish (where we go) completed a new 1500+ capacity church about 18 months ago.
02/24/2003
As sleet pushed its way toward North Texas on Monday afternoon, meteorologists were predicting the weather would pack a wallop for commuters during the evening rush-hour crush and the Tuesday morning drive to work.
With freezing rain and sleet falling across the area, from Fort Worth and Midlothian to Lewisville, traffic backed up particularly on bridges and overpasses.
At 6 p.m. the temperature registered 24 degrees, with a wind chill of 11 degrees.
AP Heavy ice pulls down tree limbs in West Amarillo on Monday. |
"It was expected to come from the north but it's jumped around," transportation department spokesman Darien Ball said about the icy conditions. "Every interstate within the Dallas or Fort Worth area has the potential to be affected."
He said minor accidents were reported by mid-afternoon Monday.
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, 59 flights were canceled as of 4 p.m. Monday, with many other flights experiencing delays, said spokesman Ken Capps. Some airlines were preparing to begin de-icing planes.
Monday's temperatures were expected to range from a low of 23 degrees to a high of 29 degrees in North Texas. Normal conditions would call for a high of 63 degrees and a low of 43 degrees.
| Also Online | ||||||
|
"We aren't going to be anywhere close to that over the next couple of days," Mr. Fields said.
Experts predicted even worse weather for the region southeast of Dallas/Fort Worth. A winter storm watch for that swath of the state was to be in effect from 3 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday.
As of midday, sleet was traveling eastward through Jacksboro, Graham and Breckenridge, west of Fort Worth. The NWS said freezing rain, sleet or even snow was likely in those areas, although accumulation was expected to be less than a quarter inch.
In Lewisville, Krysha Scott said Monday afternoon she planned to leave work early because of the slick roads.
"It's pure ice on the car windshields," said Scott, a receptionist for the city's chamber of commerce. "The rooftops are white."
In Jacksboro, 60 miles west of Denton, Darlene Maxwell said the ice pellets already were accumulating.
"It's covering the sidewalk pretty good, and the streets too. And it's coming down really quite a bit out there," she said. "There's some slick spots on the streets. I've seen a couple of people fishtail."
The secretary/manager for the Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Maxwell said she made the seven-mile trip home for lunch peering through a hole in the ice sticking to her windshield. But she didn't plan to leave early Monday afternoon because she's preparing for a board of directors' meeting Tuesday and a Friday banquet.
"Probably anybody that has any sense should go home," she said, laughing.
Wise County sheriff's dispatcher Cindy Pettigrew said deputies had responded to "several accidents," all minor. U.S. 380 seemed to be "the worst," she said.
"The roads are kind of icy. Nothing major," Ms. Pettigrew said. "No road closings."
Weather fears were affecting Tuesday's scheduled debut of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, the state's new standardized test for schoolchildren. A Texas Education Agency spokesperson said today that the test will be given as planned on Tuesday, but said if schools in a particular area are cancelled because of bad weather, tests in that area only will be rescheduled.
Denton and Dallas campuses of Texas Women's University closed early Monday. The University of North Texas also cancelled classes at all campuses.
On Sunday, temperatures plummeted from the 70s to below freezing after nightfall as a blast of arctic air reached the state. The front ignited some thunderstorms in Southeast Texas, with marble-sized hail reported near Lake Livingston.
In Tyler, gusts measured at up to 46 mph toppled trees and caused widespread power outages that had repair crews scrambling Sunday.
It will be a bleak week for weather, National Weather Service meteorologist Lance Bucklew said. "This is the coldest air of the season," he said.
Tuesday's high temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing mark in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Wednesday should warm up to a high of 45 and bring showers and thunderstorms to North Texas, Ms. Snell said. Thursday should be drier with a high of 45 and Friday is expected to be cloudy with a high of 52.
West Texas and the Panhandle will see a chance of sleet or snow Monday night and early Tuesday, with patchy drizzle later Tuesday. Lows Monday night will be in the teens in the Panhandle to the 20s elsewhere; far West Texas expects temperatures in the 30s. Highs Tuesday will be in the 30s, with 50s and lower 60s in far West Texas.
South Texas will see a chance of a wintry mix of precipitation from the Hill Country to the northern Piney Woods, with rain scattered elsewhere. Lows Monday night will range from the 20s in the Hill Country to the 30s and 40s elsewhere, with 50s along the coast.
I just got a call from my boss; I've got to go to work. Although it was announced that the company is shut down for the day due to the icy roads, five of our supplier reps didn't make it to the airport on time, so they're stuck here and on their way back out to my workplace. The rest of my staff is iced in too, so its only me, the boss, and our "guests." Lovely, just lovely.
Damn it all, and I was going to clean out my tackle box and put new line in my fishing reels today too :(
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
D-FW forecast
Temp: 27 
Hi 33 
Hi 44 
Hi 46 
Hi 52 