Texas winter weather thread #2 - winter weather on Friday?

Extremeweatherguy · #81 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:11 am

Portastorm wrote:At this point, I'd rather the weather behave since we're all at work or school! I don't know if its like this in Houston or Dallas, but when everyone lets out in Austin due to bad weather ... the roads become gridlocked, regardless of weather conditions and then a normal 45-minute drive home becomes a 3-hour ordeal!

very true. It would be great if we could put everything on pause until this evening.

Kelarie · #82 Postby **Kelarie** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:12 am

That is true Porta. If the weather looks like it is about to turn, I wish employers and schools would go ahead and let people and kids go now. Roads will get worse and people will get hurt. I know where I work they don't call it until it is way too late.

Extremeweatherguy · #83 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:15 am

I just saw on the khou.com weather forum that someone in Buda (in the Austin area) said they had some sleet this morning.

#84 Postby **gboudx** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:18 am

Portastorm wrote:At this point, I'd rather the weather behave since we're all at work or school! I don't know if its like this in Houston or Dallas, but when everyone lets out in Austin due to bad weather ... the roads become gridlocked, regardless of weather conditions and then a normal 45-minute drive home becomes a 3-hour ordeal!

Dallas can get pretty bad. Fortunately for me, I don't have to drive any of the interstates; it's all back roads. I think a lot of people either stayed home, or are waiting to head to work because the commute was much lighter than normal. I'm gonna see how it goes, but might head home around lunch time if it looks too bad. So far, nothing but rain on my side of town.

double D · #85 Postby **double D** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:18 am

I'm not so sure how fast we clear out either. Points west of the hill country are still overcast and Midland/Odesa are reporting snow. We might be locked in these clouds for a good part of the day.

double D · #86 Postby **double D** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:21 am

Kelarie wrote:That is true Porta. If the weather looks like it is about to turn, I wish employers and schools would go ahead and let people and kids go now. Roads will get worse and people will get hurt. I know where I work they don't call it until it is way too late.

This was a very difficult forecast for the NWS. The models were showing no precip for Central Texas until yesterday. Hopefully if anything falls it does so in sleet/snow compared to freezing rain as it will cause major problems.

#87 Postby **Portastorm** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:24 am

double D wrote:
Kelarie wrote:That is true Porta. If the weather looks like it is about to turn, I wish employers and schools would go ahead and let people and kids go now. Roads will get worse and people will get hurt. I know where I work they don't call it until it is way too late.

This was a very difficult forecast for the NWS. The models were showing no precip for Central Texas until yesterday. Hopefully if anything falls it does so in sleet/snow compared to freezing rain as it will cause major problems.

No argument from me on this. Despite my digs at them, the local NWS folks have their work cut out for them. I'm sure the last 24 hours (and the next 12) will be difficult and challenging.

Extremeweatherguy · #88 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:32 am

Check out this webcam from downtown Houston:

http://wwc.instacam.com/instacamimg/KHO ... 3020061002

What a nasty day out there

#89 Postby **jasons2k** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:39 am

Portastorm wrote:At this point, I'd rather the weather behave since we're all at work or school! I don't know if its like this in Houston or Dallas, but when everyone lets out in Austin due to bad weather ... the roads become gridlocked, regardless of weather conditions and then a normal 45-minute drive home becomes a 3-hour ordeal!

I have yet to experience ice./snow in Houston but I imagine it's the same story. In Dallas it can be a disaster. Back in 2003 in Feb or March we had an ice storm that came in during business hours and I know several people took 4-6 hours just to get home. I-35 was gridlocked - took people 4 hours just to get across the Lake Lewisville bridge. I left very early - before the precip really came in - and it still took me almost 3 hours to get from Las Colinas to Frisco.

JenBayles · #90 Postby **JenBayles** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:43 am

I see HGX has Houston clear tonight through Sunday. How is that happening when points west stay in the clouds? Not bashing NWS, just want to understand the mechanisms at work here. thanks!

#91 Postby **jasons2k** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:51 am

Still plenty of precip west of DFW:

This shows temps for the SE 1/3 of TX:

Extremeweatherguy · #92 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:08 am

10am temps:

Brenham = 31F
College Station = 35F
Huntsville = 39F
Hooks airport (Tomball) = 41F
IAH = 45F
Hobby = 49F

#93 Postby **Portastorm** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:11 am

Temps have steadied around these parts. Haven't heard any reports of icing or problems on the roadways, although I wouldn't rule out a few patches of ice here or there ... especially north and west of the city proper.

Temps are supposed to slowly rise after lunch into the upper 30s ... so I think we're going to be just fine here. No worries.

But gosh, it is downright blustery outside!! :jacket:

#94 Postby **jasons2k** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:16 am

Temps and front position (in white):

Extremeweatherguy · #95 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:26 am

Latest Houston area forecast is calling for temps. in the middle 30s by 1pm:

Today: A 50 percent chance of rain before 4pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 36 by 1pm. Windy, with a northwest wind between 20 and 25 mph.

#96 Postby **jasons2k** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:27 am

I'm curious about what is going on in the DFW area. It looks like sleet/snow is in store for most of the day. With most of the schools open I wonder what the crazies (the school admins) will think this afternoon. You'd think people in Texas would know by now just because the roads are OK in the AM does NOT guarantee they'll be OK in the PM. I guess some people never learn :roll:

#97 Postby **CaptinCrunch** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:32 am

jschlitz wrote:I'm curious about what is going on in the DFW area. It looks like sleet/snow is in store for most of the day. With most of the schools open I wonder what the crazies (the school admins) will think this afternoon. You'd think people in Texas would know by now just because the roads are OK in the AM does NOT guarantee they'll be OK in the PM. I guess some people never learn

Man it's 28 right now in DT FTW but roads are still in good shape. Have seen periods of sleet mixed with snow, heavy at times but still very little accumulation. :cry:

#98 Postby **jasons2k** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:42 am

Thanks Captin.

I just went to WFAA.com to see streaming coverage. Not too bad so far.

#99 Postby **gboudx** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:42 am

We still have rain on this side of town. I just went outside and it's not freezing to surfaces yet, and there is no sleet either.

As for the schools, they will close early if it starts to look bad enough. Problem is, that could create problems with people leaving work to go get their kids.

TexasStooge · #100 Postby **TexasStooge** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:43 am

We got some freezing drizzzle and snow at this hour with a temp of 32*F in DFW.

Texas winter weather thread #2 - winter weather on Friday?

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