January 31, 2023 Ice storm hits the South and central US (2023)

FAQs

When did ice storm hit Texas 2023? ›

An iced-over pedestrian walkway is lined by trees that are covered with ice from a few days of sleet and rain Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. An intense winter storm finally passed through Texas on Thursday, but residents will feel the impact of the storm for more time.

An ice storm is a winter weather event caused by significant accumulations of freezing rain on exposed surfaces – buildings, houses, cars, trees, roadways, etc.

I-10 shut down in Reeves County, Texas, after multi-vehicle pileup during ice storm. Vehicles were backed up at least 10 miles on I-10 eastbound in Reeves County, Texas, on Tuesday as the area was struck with severe winter weather.

Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees and topple utility poles and communication towers. Ice can disrupt communications and power for days while utility companies repair extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.

The freezing rain that causes an ice storm typically lasts for a period of several hours. But the ice and damage it leaves in its wake can take days, or even weeks, to clean up. Fallen trees can block roadways. Downed power lines can leave homes without power.

Hillsboro's 26-inch snowfall tally certified as all-time 24-hour snowfall record for the state of Texas!

Major ice storms are catastrophic dangers. This is especially true for those storms that are followed by gusty winds. Fortunately, these ice storms are rare in any given location, and occur 0-2 times per generation in any one spot.

Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves) and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

In early February 2021, Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and crippled the state as temperatures dropped to as low as six degrees.

What was the coldest temper in Texas? ›

Some of the coldest weather to ever hit Texas occurred on February 12th of that year. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state occurred at Tulia in Swisher County in the extreme southern Texas Panhandle. The thermometer dropped to 23 degrees below zero.

In North America, glaciers covered all of present-day Canada and the northern United States. Due to the warmer temperatures, glaciers never covered Texas.

A quarter inch of ice will glaze roads and seriously impact travel, result in some tree damage, and cause power outages. However, when ice accumulates to one half inch or more the major and crippling effects of ice storms occur.

Scientists have predicted that the global ice age temperature was around 46 degrees Fahrenheit (7.8 degrees Celsius), on average. However, the polar regions were far colder, around 25 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degree Celsius) colder than the global average.

On January 31, 1951, the costliest ice storm on record devastated an area of more than 100 miles wide from Louisiana to West Virginia. Twenty-five people lost their lives and approximately 500 more were injured in storm-related accidents.

Ice storms usually occur when the air temperature is at or just above freezing (32-38 degrees). During an ice storm, rain falls into a layer of subfreezing air near the surface of the earth, cooling the falling water to the point of freezing upon contact with the ground, trees, roofs, cars and other objects.

A daily weather map from Dec. 31, 1978, of the North Texas ice storm. There have been many ice storms in Texas history. New Year's Eve 1978 was the worst ice storm in North Texas in three decades, producing ice accumulations up to 2 inches thick in a 100-mile-wide swath from just west of Waco to Paris, Texas.

DALLAS – Texans don't need a reminder that the Great Texas Freeze from Feb. 10-20, 2021, was extremely cold, but they weren't alive to experience one of the coldest outbreaks to ever invade the Plains in February 1899.

According to the NCEI, Houston set a record with its first ever 'snowfall' on June 29 despite temperatures reaching the 90s. Although it did not technically snow, the NCEI site recorded hail which is documented through a snow variable.

What do you eat during an ice storm? ›

High-protein and non-perishable foods

Those include foods like energy bars and protein and fruit bars that don't need to be refrigerated or frozen, Sands said. Dry cereal, granola, peanut butter, dried fruit and non-perishable pasteurized milk are also good to have as you hunker down.

Yes, people just like us lived through the ice age. Since our species, Homo sapiens, emerged about 300,000 years ago in Africa, we have spread around the world. During the ice age, some populations remained in Africa and did not experience the full effects of the cold.

It's hard to believe that this week marks the 132nd anniversary of New York's—and America's—worst blizzard on record. Few storms are as iconic as the “Blizzard of '88”. It was the deadliest, snowiest, and most unusual winter storm in American annals.

The Worst Ice Storm on Record (December 4-5, 1964)

Freezing rain caused ice accumulations of up to 1.5 inches and crippled east central New York. Many residents were without power for up to two weeks and schools had to be shut down for a week. Damage was estimates approached 5 million dollars.

In 2018, ice VII was identified among inclusions found in natural diamonds. Due to this demonstration that ice VII exists in nature, the International Mineralogical Association duly classified ice VII as a distinct mineral.

As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest. This ice is formed from the lake water freezing.

Clear all snow from driveways and sidewalks before it turns to ice. Salt should only be used after the snow is removed and only in areas needed for safety.

The best time to treat the ground is before snowfall begins. Treating areas before snow (and freezing rain/ice) begins can help prevent ice from forming and prevent snow from settling. Because salt has a lower freezing point than water, it reduces the opportunities for moisture to freeze on treated surfaces.

The ball has dropped and the predictions are in. Most of Texas will be warmer than normal and nearly all of Texas will be drier than normal for the months of January, February and March in the Climate Prediction Center's seasonal outlook.

Can Texas freeze again? ›

Another Texas freeze and power outage in 2022? Unlikely. It is unlikely the state will see conditions as severe as the 2021 freeze that left hundreds of Texans dead and millions without power.

The temperature was a chilling 23 degrees below zero on February 12, 1899, and years later Seminole, in Gaines County in west Texas also reported a temperature of 23 degrees below zero on February 8, 1933.

Lubbock: 17 below zero set in 1933. Midland/Odessa: 11 below zero set in 1985. San Antonio: 0 degrees set in 1949. Waco: 5 below zero set in 1949 and 1899.

“Amarillo is undoubtedly the coldest (big) city in Texas. The coldest temperature on record is -12 back in 1986. However, just two years ago we came close to tying this dubious record with a low of -11 on Feb. 15, 2021,” said KAMR chief meteorologist John Harris.

Alaska has the coldest winters, the coldest summers, the longest winter, the most freezing degree days, etc.

Back when these life-forms were alive—265 million years ago or so—the Guadalupe Mountains were underwater, part of a flourishing reef that once stretched about 400 miles around the edge of a long-vanished sea. Reefs are a fascinating fusion of biology and geology.

Most U.S. glaciers are in Alaska; others can be found in Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada (Wheeler Peak Glacier in Great Basin National Park).

In North America, glaciers spread from the Hudson Bay area, covering most of Canada and going as far south as Illinois and Missouri. Glaciers also existed in the Southern Hemisphere in Antarctica.

At 4” the ice is suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking and can support about 200 pounds. At 5 inches of new clear ice should be enough to hold a single snowmobile or ATV or about 800 pounds. At 8-12 inches the ice should be suitable for a small car or a larger group of people.

General Ice Thickness Guidelines

4 inches thick It should be ok to stand, skate, and ice fish on the surface. 5 inches or greater The ice should be able to withstand most snowmobiles. 8 and 12 inches The ice should be able to withstand the weight of a small to medium sized car.

At what temperature is ice not slippery? ›

Thus, ice is most slippery when temperatures are near freezing (26-32F) and is much less slippery when temperatures reach the single digits and below.

Tightly close doors and windows to the outside. Make repairs to broken or drafty windows, doors, and walls. Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements. Winterize unheated spaces and close garage doors for the duration of the freeze.

Just because there is winter weather outside, it doesn't mean that planes will suddenly stop flying. As we've discussed above, snow, ice, and bad weather do not hinder a flight. It remains safe to fly as long as precautious and pilot training are both up to date.

The North American ice storm of January 1961 was a massive ice storm that struck areas of the Idaho Panhandle in the United States on January 1–3, 1961. The storm set a record for thickest recorded ice accumulation from a single storm in the United States, at eight inches.

Ice can disrupt communications and power for days while utility companies repair extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians. Bridges and overpasses are particularly dangerous because they freeze before other surfaces.

In early February 2021, Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and crippled the state as temperatures dropped to as low as six degrees.

The recovery cost the City of Austin nearly $1.6 million in crews and overtime. Finally, who could forget the Feb. 11 through Feb. 18, 2021 massive winter storm, sometimes known as "Snow-Vid"?

The historic cold snap and winter storm from Feb. 10-19 brought a gridlock of multiday societal impacts from road closures, power outages, loss of heat and busted pipes Here are seven facts from the Great Texas Freeze.

Overview. Extremely cold air mass shifted over Texas on December 22, 2022, causing temperatures to plummet across the state. Much of Texas endured temperatures below freezing - in some cases well below freezing - for dozens of hours.

What was the worst ice storm in Dallas history? ›

29, 1978-Jan. 4, 1979: It was considered the worst ice storm in Texas in 30 years. Thunderstorms rolled in and dumped freezing rain onto a giant swath of very cold Texas, and immediately the power lines began to give.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all 254 counties in the state.

Worth. A major winter storm gripped most of North and Central Texas from December 5th through the 10^th, 2013, severely impacting travel and power throughout the region.

Glaciers and snow covered the northern United States and Canada during the Ice Age, but never Texas. The technical scientific name for the Ice Age is the Pleistocene Epoch and it lasted from 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago.

Another Texas freeze and power outage in 2022? Unlikely. It is unlikely the state will see conditions as severe as the 2021 freeze that left hundreds of Texans dead and millions without power.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state occurred at Tulia in Swisher County in the extreme southern Texas Panhandle. The thermometer dropped to 23 degrees below zero.

January 2023 looks to be the stormiest for many areas including Texas and Oklahoma, where heavy snow is predicted during the first week. Conversely, a dry winter is predicted for the Southwest states, exacerbating the ongoing drought situation.

Infrared satellite loop valid from 5:56 am to 7:11 am on 22 December 2022. The lighter whites and purples spreading southward through northwest Texas is progressively colder air. The coldest air of the season invaded Texas on Thursday, December 22nd, 2022.

Areas which experienced blizzard conditions included parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York and Ontario, with the Buffalo area of New York and the Fort Erie and Kingston areas of Ontario experiencing almost two full days of blizzard/zero-visibility conditions on December 23 and 24.