While the recent cold snap didn’t set many all-time records, it will go down in the history books as one of the worst arctic blasts in Texas history. Especially when you consider how widespread the cold temps were. Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, compiled this list for us.
“Historic cold impacted the state and region on Monday (2-15) and Tuesday (2-16),” said Lindner. “Most areas fell below freezing on the afternoon and evening of the 14th and remained below freezing into Wednesday morning.”
“The entire state of Texas average temperature on 2-16-21 was 3.0 degrees the coldest it has been since 12-23-1989 when it was 1.3 degrees.”
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
BUSH IAH tied the record low of 13 from 1895
This is only the 5th time the City of Dallas has fallen below zero in recorded history
“BUSH IAH was below freezing from 6:00 pm (2-14) to 3:00 pm (2-16) or 45 straight hours,” said Lindner.
Paprika, my Spice Girl, found a good use for a beach towel in February.
The last freeze in this blast will happen tonight. Over the weekend, temperatures will start to climb back toward normal.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/19/2021with thanks to Jeff Lindner, HCFCD
1270 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Rika-In-Towel.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2021-02-19 11:25:272021-02-19 12:52:49For the Record: How Cold Did It Really Get?
Light precipitation in the form of snow flurries is ending over the northern portions of the area. Skies will slowly clear this evening and allow temperatures to fall well below freezing yet again across the area. According to Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, here’s what you can expect depending on how far inland you are.
Temperatures this low may result in additional threats to pipes tonight and Friday morning. Continue protective actions.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
Friday Outlook
Temperatures will warm into the upper 30’s to mid 40’s on Friday across the region under sunny skies. Another high pressure system will settle over the area Friday night. So expect another very cold night below freezing.
HWY 105 and north: low 20’s
HWY 105-I-10: 26-29
South of I-10: 27-32
After Saturday morning, a sustained warming trend will begin over the region. Lindner expects no additional freezes. This prolonged, extensive arctic outbreak should conclude.
Saturday and Beyond
The National Weather Service predicts the following for this weekend and next week.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 55. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 64.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Thoughts and Prayers
This outbreak gives a new meaning to the phrase “cold snap.” Many people DID snap under the prolonged stress of COVID, power outages, prolonged freezing temperatures, water shortages, broken pipes, school closures and more. Just when you ask, “How can it get any worse”, it does. Now more than ever, neighbors need each other for emotional and physical support.
Don’t Jump to Conclusions
Now is not the time to jump to conclusions about what caused this debacle.
Some brave souls are already blaming the crisis on global warming. I’m more inclined to examine the proximate causes. For example, why did so much generating capacity disappear so suddenly? I’m already working on an article with Chris Coulter of Texas Power Agents.
More news to follow.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/2021
1269 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/image1-2.png?fit=725%2C544&ssl=1544725adminadmin2021-02-18 17:46:452021-02-18 17:46:48Hard Freeze Warning for Tonight…Again
AWinter Storm Warning remains in effect along and north of US 59 through tonight
Cold temperatures – especially at night – will continue to result in infrastructure and human hardships
Anotherhard freeze is likely Friday morning
Abbott Dubs Storm “The Winter Version of Harvey”
Governor Greg Abbott is calling this “the winter version of Hurricane Harvey.” Back in 2017, Harvey ravaged various parts of Texas for five days. This series of storms will last just as long and affect even more people. Here’s what to expect for the second half of the week.
Two More Fronts Collide over Houston
A coastal low is forming south of Matagorda Bay and will progress NE toward Houston tonight into Wednesday. This will add moisture to the arctic cold dome over the region. As rain begins to fall, temperatures will also fall and dewpoints will rise.
According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, “A “freeze line” should set up along and north of a line from roughly Matagorda Bay to Wharton to Pearland to Winnie. During the night this freezing line will begin to move northward slowly as warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico attempts to move inland. How far north this freezing line progresses is important as to what areas receive freezing rain and ice accumulation and what areas see plain rain.”
Icicles formed in storms during last two days started to melt this afternoon. But temps will drop below freezing the the Lake Houston Area again tonight and more freezing precipitation is on the way.
The freezing line should slowly move north through the morning hours on Wednesday with freezing rain and ice transitioning to rain. “Expect the greatest ice accumulations to be found along and north of US 59/I-10 where temperatures will remain colder for the longest period of time,” says Lindner.
Minor ice accumulations will be possible generally south of US 59 with accumulations of .10 to .25 of an inch generally north of US 59.
“Isolated amounts of .25-.50 will be possible mainly far to the north of Houston where a devastating ice storm is looking likely.”
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
Ice on Lines Another Threat to Unstable Power
These ice accumulations will likely result in some tree damage and power line damage over the region and hamper efforts to restore power generation.
Temperatures on Wednesday after mid to late morning will rise above freezing and any ice should begin to melt. Temperatures will fall below freezing again Wednesday night and Thursday morning and any water left on roadways will likely freeze again.
Hard Freeze Likely Friday Morning with Temps in Teens Again
One final disturbance will cross the area early Thursday and there may be some light precipitation and will need to keep an eye on this feature on the next 24 hours. As this disturbance passes, another shot of cold arctic air will spread into the region resulting in another night of very cold temperatures on Friday morning. Temperatures will likely fall into the upper 10’s to mid-20’s yet again over the area.
This is bad news for people who have gone without power for days.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/16/2021 at 8 PM based on information provided by Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist.
1267 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Icicles.jpg?fit=1200%2C860&ssl=18601200adminadmin2021-02-16 20:02:032021-02-16 20:02:06Don’t Let Your Guard Down Yet: “Winter Version of Hurricane Harvey”
For the Record: How Cold Did It Really Get?
While the recent cold snap didn’t set many all-time records, it will go down in the history books as one of the worst arctic blasts in Texas history. Especially when you consider how widespread the cold temps were. Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, compiled this list for us.
“Historic cold impacted the state and region on Monday (2-15) and Tuesday (2-16),” said Lindner. “Most areas fell below freezing on the afternoon and evening of the 14th and remained below freezing into Wednesday morning.”
“BUSH IAH was below freezing from 6:00 pm (2-14) to 3:00 pm (2-16) or 45 straight hours,” said Lindner.
Low temperatures recorded for Tuesday (2-16):
The last freeze in this blast will happen tonight. Over the weekend, temperatures will start to climb back toward normal.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/19/2021 with thanks to Jeff Lindner, HCFCD
1270 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Hard Freeze Warning for Tonight…Again
Hard Freezing Warning in effect for tonight for much of the area
Another freeze is expected Friday night
Light precipitation in the form of snow flurries is ending over the northern portions of the area. Skies will slowly clear this evening and allow temperatures to fall well below freezing yet again across the area. According to Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, here’s what you can expect depending on how far inland you are.
Friday Outlook
Temperatures will warm into the upper 30’s to mid 40’s on Friday across the region under sunny skies. Another high pressure system will settle over the area Friday night. So expect another very cold night below freezing.
After Saturday morning, a sustained warming trend will begin over the region. Lindner expects no additional freezes. This prolonged, extensive arctic outbreak should conclude.
Saturday and Beyond
The National Weather Service predicts the following for this weekend and next week.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 55. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 64.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Thoughts and Prayers
This outbreak gives a new meaning to the phrase “cold snap.” Many people DID snap under the prolonged stress of COVID, power outages, prolonged freezing temperatures, water shortages, broken pipes, school closures and more. Just when you ask, “How can it get any worse”, it does. Now more than ever, neighbors need each other for emotional and physical support.
Don’t Jump to Conclusions
Now is not the time to jump to conclusions about what caused this debacle.
Some brave souls are already blaming the crisis on global warming. I’m more inclined to examine the proximate causes. For example, why did so much generating capacity disappear so suddenly? I’m already working on an article with Chris Coulter of Texas Power Agents.
More news to follow.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/2021
1269 Days after Hurricane Harvey
Don’t Let Your Guard Down Yet: “Winter Version of Hurricane Harvey”
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect along and north of US 59 through tonight
Cold temperatures – especially at night – will continue to result in infrastructure and human hardships
Another hard freeze is likely Friday morning
Abbott Dubs Storm “The Winter Version of Harvey”
Governor Greg Abbott is calling this “the winter version of Hurricane Harvey.” Back in 2017, Harvey ravaged various parts of Texas for five days. This series of storms will last just as long and affect even more people. Here’s what to expect for the second half of the week.
Two More Fronts Collide over Houston
A coastal low is forming south of Matagorda Bay and will progress NE toward Houston tonight into Wednesday. This will add moisture to the arctic cold dome over the region. As rain begins to fall, temperatures will also fall and dewpoints will rise.
Freeze Line Shifting Farther South That Previously Predicted
According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, “A “freeze line” should set up along and north of a line from roughly Matagorda Bay to Wharton to Pearland to Winnie. During the night this freezing line will begin to move northward slowly as warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico attempts to move inland. How far north this freezing line progresses is important as to what areas receive freezing rain and ice accumulation and what areas see plain rain.”
The freezing line should slowly move north through the morning hours on Wednesday with freezing rain and ice transitioning to rain. “Expect the greatest ice accumulations to be found along and north of US 59/I-10 where temperatures will remain colder for the longest period of time,” says Lindner.
Minor ice accumulations will be possible generally south of US 59 with accumulations of .10 to .25 of an inch generally north of US 59.
Ice on Lines Another Threat to Unstable Power
These ice accumulations will likely result in some tree damage and power line damage over the region and hamper efforts to restore power generation.
Temperatures on Wednesday after mid to late morning will rise above freezing and any ice should begin to melt. Temperatures will fall below freezing again Wednesday night and Thursday morning and any water left on roadways will likely freeze again.
Hard Freeze Likely Friday Morning with Temps in Teens Again
One final disturbance will cross the area early Thursday and there may be some light precipitation and will need to keep an eye on this feature on the next 24 hours. As this disturbance passes, another shot of cold arctic air will spread into the region resulting in another night of very cold temperatures on Friday morning. Temperatures will likely fall into the upper 10’s to mid-20’s yet again over the area.
This is bad news for people who have gone without power for days.
Abbott Calls For Investigation
More than 5 million people have suffered through temperatures in the low teens without power and Governor Greg Abbott is calling for ERCOT leadership to resign and for there to be an immediate investigation.
Centerpoint says it could be days longer before power is fully restored. So don’t let your guard up yet.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/16/2021 at 8 PM based on information provided by Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist.
1267 Days since Hurricane Harvey