Wow.

Sounds like an aerial tsunami

Keep your camera ready...still can't imagine what thunder snow is like.

Barb

Good graphic here...

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=10386.0

Jim,
that is awful. We've seen the snow damage to palm huts from our friends back east; I trust yours is stronger.

I'm at the the southern tip of this thing--on the snow/ice divide. I'm hoping for snow vs. ice, as ice will bring down the power lines I count on to keep palms (et alia...) warm.

Here is my corresponding bulletin, focusing on the threat of ice vs. snow:

MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
January 31, 2011 January 31, 2011 January 31, 2011 January 31, 2011

The OCS/Mesonet Ticker: Let's talk about the weather.

Wind, ice...never the twain should meet

Just a reminder as the big storm draws near. Even though ice accumulations are
not forecast (for now) to be as significant as we've seen in some past winter
storms around here (pause for dramatic picture, ice accumulation on a powerline
from Altus during last January's ice storm)

it's not only the ice that can create mayhem with the power utility
infrastructure. Winds are also forecast to be gusting at over 25 mph. According
to the Sperry-Piltz Ice Accumulation Index (SPIA), it doesn't take much to cause
plenty of damage and leave folks without electrical power for days:

If you can follow along on the algorithm diagrams, a quarter-inch of ice with
wind gusts of 25-35 mph can lead to an Ice Damage Index of 3:

"Numerous utility interruptions with some damage to main feeder lines and
equipment expected. Tree limb damage is excessive. Outages lasting 1-5 days."

Those ice damage estimates are based on the experiences of Sid Sperry of the
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives over the last decade. Over that
period, Oklahoma has seen just about every type of ice storm damage imaginable,
totaling over $2 billion and leaving close to 1.5 million customers (many more
actual people) without power for varying lengths of time.

And should a quarter-inch of ice still be on power lines (or trees!) when the
forecasted 40-50 mph winds hit the following couple of days ... well, you can
look at the grim outcomes on the diagrams themselves.

As a final note, here's a look behind the curtain: winter precipitation type
is difficult to forecast. So much is dependent on the vertical structure of the
atmosphere, and the sites that gather that information are not exactly a
Mesonet as you can see from this map of weather balloon launch sites:

A slight change in the temperature profile as you go up into the atmosphere
makes all the difference in whether you get rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow.
So for the most part, rain-sleet-snow are good. Falling snow-laden tree limbs
can cause some havoc, but nothing compared to the destruction and misery caused
by freezing rain. While most are glued to what their possible snow totals will be,
working with Sid and the fine folks at the electric cooperatives has caused me
to keep an eye on the ice accumulation forecasts.

Blizzards are much more pleasant when you have power.

Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service quadrant cities Iowa Illinois
704 am CST Tuesday Feb 1 2011

Update...
verification at 12z indicates storm system is rapidly intensifying
at a rate as fast or faster than projections. Comparing data...plus
using numerous techniques suggests the system may not only be
stronger...but could occlude or wrap up more than planned back
toward our area. If this occurs...this could result in even higher
snow totals...snow-fall rates and possible thunder-snow over at
least the southeast portions of the area. It also may result in
slightly higher wind speeds for more severe blizzard conditions.
This risk should be confirmed in the next 3 to 6 hours.

No changes are planned...but indications clearly support this will
not only be a major storm of near historic proportions...but may
be a bit stronger for at least our southeast 1/2 locations than is currently
forecasted.

Individuals should monitor this situation for possible updates on
this potentially dangerous situation. ..Nichols..

a major storm of near historic proportions....potentially dangerous situation

...and we've got an ice cube over us for another day or two.
Woke up to -14C 6.8F :confused2:

At least you'll get a blanket of insulation...take care!
Barb

And then there is this-

... BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY...

* SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES... WITH STRONG WINDS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. MEASURABLE SNOWFALL WILL END OVER MOST OF THE AREA BY 10 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOWFALL TOTALS TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 15 TO MORE THAN 20 INCHES.

* WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 30 MPH BY MIDDAY TODAY... INCREASING TO AS HIGH AS 45 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE WIND WILL INITIALLY BE FROM THE NORTHEAST... THEN BECOME NORTH TO NORTHWEST OVERNIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND FALLING POWDERY SNOW WILL RESULT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS... INCLUDING HEAVY SNOW... STRONG WINDS AND VISIBILITIES BELOW A QUARTER MILE TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY.

Jim,
might as well as make a pot of coffee and enjoy.
We'll likely set all-time snow fall records today from this thing. --Erik

This guy's injecting some humor...and doesn't recommend coffee.

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10386.0;attach=3569;image

...and the Tulsa OK casino roof collapsed? 😯

That is what I hear on the news.

I just noticed on accuweather.com.

The radar for my area shows so much wind rapping around this storm that
there is lake effect moisture/snow being dragged over a hundred miles inland!

...as long as your palm huts/cactus GH aren't also on the move.

They are seriously frozen to the ground!

seriously frozen to the ground

might be a good thing, considering the forecasted winds. :evil3: