February 1-5, 2011 Arctic Blast/Winter Storm Discussion

[jeff]

I am going to sleep for a bit before the potential snowband gets here. It is the white stuff I'm after.

Sleep...I have been going 24 hours

[Texashawk]

I am going to sleep for a bit before the potential snowband gets here. It is the white stuff I'm after.

Sleep...I have been going 24 hours

And somehow, Jeff, I think the event is far from over.

[helloitsb]

snow band coming out of SA and Austin looks pretty well positioned, and not trained to far NE yet

[Mr. T]

snow band coming out of SA and Austin looks pretty well positioned, and not trained to far NE yet

It's all the way down to Corpus.

Should be our grand finale

[helloitsb]

Jeff do you have any idea on how the regular streets in Spring are?? (Kuykendahl, Spring Cypress, Louetta etc)

[jeff]

Most bridges are iced

[djjordan]

from what I gather this morning ..... most freeways and bridges/overpasses are iced over ... the morning commuter (For those lucky enough to have to go to work) will have icy roads to contend with areawide.

[wxman57]

It would appear that the models were quite wrong about what the atmosphere looked like temperature-wise over Houston. We talked to the local NWS office about launching special soundings in Houston during times like these and they said the sounding unit was up at A&M. They did make a special sounding up there but that didn't help the forecast situation here - no data of the real temps aloft.

Turns out that there is a significant warm pocket aloft, probably around 5000-10,000 ft up. That's why we're getting freezing rain vs. snow here. It should still change over to snow before it ends around mid morning, so we'll see a light dusting. Doesn't look like I'm driving all the way across town to work this morning.

[jeff]

from what I gather this morning ..... most freeways and bridges/overpasses are iced over ... the morning commuter (For those lucky enough to have to go to work) will have icy roads to contend with areawide.

It is storngly advised to stay in place. Traveling in these conditions will put your life in danger

[WeatherGAGA]

From Downtown (45 north) to 249 lost of accidents on overpasses. Some are close down with barricades, police, the ones that are not are extremely ice over. Dont drive if u dont have too.

[djjordan]

the fact remains that most schools and businesses as well as Houston City Government are closed today ..... That was a real wise choice as roads are very slick and most of us do not know how to drive in these condiitions.

Be safe everyone and for those of you that have the day off ....... try and enjoy it.

[rain]

just cold rain in west columbia, no ice

[perk]

Anybody have any info on road closings in Fort Bend County.

[wxman57]

Anybody have any info on road closings in Fort Bend County.

Apparently, no one is updating their website for closures:
http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getSitePa ... ePage=5732

Temps across Ft. Bend are in the 27 degree range, so I suspect any elevated road/bridge is quite icy.

Plenty of issues across Houston:
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/laye ... ue&lc=true

[Poltracker]

Anybody have any info on road closings in Fort Bend County.

Look here: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions.htm

[ticka1]

are any of the major freeways - espesically I-10 East going thru downtown up to 610 loop and 290 - is any of that open or I should say driveable?

[randybpt]

Looks like a repeat of all this next week same time. Maybe colder

[jeff]

Anybody have any info on road closings in Fort Bend County.

Apparently, no one is updating their website for closures:
http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getSitePa ... ePage=5732

Temps across Ft. Bend are in the 27 degree range, so I suspect any elevated road/bridge is quite icy.

Plenty of issues across Houston:
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/laye ... ue&lc=true

all bridges are ice covered. US 59 in Wharton and Fort Bend counties is closed

[jeff]

are any of the major freeways - espesically I-10 East going thru downtown up to 610 loop and 290 - is any of that open or I should say driveable?

All freeways have major icing at various locations.

[wxman57]

are any of the major freeways - espesically I-10 East going thru downtown up to 610 loop and 290 - is any of that open or I should say driveable?

Road closures are on the link I posted above, ticka. Here's the direct list. It's growing fast. I wouldn't drive that route if it wasn't an emergency, and then I'd probably still not drive it:

http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/road ... x?show=IOR