JANUARY 2018 - Seasonal WX Week/Pacific Front Saturday

[dac]

Sorry if this was asked earlier, what is missing in the mix for the sleet/icy mix to turn to actual snow?

The reason we are seeing more of a sleet mix than snow is because there is a small warm nose aloft. Meaning the cold air is very dense here at the surface, but up a few thousand feet the temperature is above 32F so the snow is melting to liquid as it falls through that warm layer, then refreezes as it falls closer to the surface.
Looks like that warm nose is from 870mb - 750mb. I expect that warm nose to gradually erode away as we head into this afternoon, allowing for a possible all snow mix before the precipitation cuts off. Leading up to this event, HRRR did very well in this winter event for us here in SETX, but recent runs have not been handling the orientation of this band of moisture very well. New band of sleet/snow starting to fill in near San Antonio south of I-10 which should make a run for Houston by around 3PM.

Thanks for the explanation Blake!

[ronyan]

Looks like we are done with this from Pearland and points south. Unless of course something pops up. Radar looks silent.

Those bands are going to move towards the coast.

[tireman4]

Light to moderate sleet in Humble...27 degrees. Some light icing of the roads observed

[MontgomeryCoWx]

MODERATE SNOW in Magnolia! Big flakes.

[losmabies]

All snow in Brenham now. Beautiful sight...

[Katdaddy]

Just had a burst of small snowflakes which changed back to mostly sleet.

[BigNorthSide]

Been a long while since I last posted!! Big beautiful flakes here in Conroe (105 and 45)!

[AtascocitaWX]

Moderate Sleet In Atascocita, hoping we get some snowflakes soon. Ice on trees and cars.

[christinac2016]

Been a long while since I last posted!! Big beautiful flakes here in Conroe (105 and 45)!

It sounds like we still have sleet near Sawdust/Budde Rd./Oak Ridge. Wonder if we'll see snow?

[srainhoutx]

1:00 PM Winter Storm Update from Jeff:

Dangerous travel conditions along and NW of US 59. Travel across the region is strongly discouraged

Surface streets starting to accumulate sleet along and north of I-10 where surface temperatures have fallen into the 25-27 degree range.

Radar continues to show the formation of sleet at times some moderate to heavy along and north of I-10 from west of Columbus to central Liberty County. Accumulations of up to .50 of an inch are occurring on both elevated and ground surfaces in this region. South of I-10 ice accumulation continues to increase on mainly elevated surfaces with ice accumulation on elevated surfaces across portions of the coastal counties.

Given radar trends and almost at times convective look on some of the precipitation, bursts of moderate to at time heavy sleet will be possible through the afternoon hours. Reports from our NW counties indicates that some of the sleet is starting to mix or change to snow and some snow accumulation will be possible mainly N of HWY 105.

As the sun angle begins to lower this afternoon expect surface streets to begin to form ice where temperatures are at or below 26-27 degrees (generally NW of US 59).

Conditions will not improve much if at all overnight given extremely cold conditions in the low to mid 20’s and most bridges will remain ice covered and dangerous into mid morning Wednesday when temperatures will warm into the mid 30’s.

[snowman65]

We must be in the twilight zone here...lol...We've seen nothing but rain/drizzle. I guess that's a good thing....

[Waded]

Moderate to heavy sleet has given away to light snow in the Nassau Bay Area. Grass and small puddles starting to freeze. Ice (including icicles) accumulating on buildings, cars, and trees. Roofs taking on that "frosted/snowy" look. Roads look okay given they're are tons of cars on them at the present.

[srainhoutx]

San Antonio and Seguin have transitioned to all snow

[jasons2k]

Getting a mixture of sleet and snow here in Imperial Oaks.

[CrashTestDummy]

Been flipping back and forth between sleet and light snow, and back. The temp has dropped down to 28 deg. F here in northeast Brazoria County.

Heat pumps suk in this kind of weather!!

[DoctorMu]

All snow in Brenham now. Beautiful sight...

Missing out on the big flakes in CLL. Congrats. Still holding out some hope. Navasota evidently is receiving snow, although some may be verga.

[jasons2k]

And just like that - all snow now!!

It's 25F here.

[Cromagnum]

Employers said to plan on driving in tomorrow morning since not a lot happened at the office. I wonder how many others are up against that.

[BlueJay]

Let it snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

[DoctorMu]

145 accidents in San Antonio today; 35 of them were major accidents causing road closures.


Fingers crossed folks in the Houston area heeded warnings and limited accidents and potentially life threatening events.