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Here comes the latest winter blast

FORT WORTH, Tx. —  -  A huge storm is assaulting the country on an eastward path that has experts forecasting ice, sleet and snowfall in record amounts according to the Weather Channel. Some speculate that it will be the worst winter storm in some places since records began.

My friend Denise in Detroit told me they were expecting at least 17.5” of snow. Another friend Dawn who is outside Chicago says the oncoming blizzard may be worse than the all time record snowfall that hit in 1967. According to msnbc.msn.com Missouri Governor Jay Nixon already declared a state of emergency and called out the National Guard.

Here in north central Texas food and water is flying off the shelves. My husband went to pick up prescriptions and said there seemed to be at least 50 people waiting in line.

In other parts of the country snow shovels and de-icing salt is disappearing as well.  And as of 8:11 pm CST there is no precipitation in Fort Worth as yet but the snow and ice should be falling before first light.

Earlier myfoxdfw.com reported that the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport today for their Super Bowl XLV matchup in Arlington, Texas on Sunday.

By virtue of where these guys are from winter weather is usually no big deal to them. But it’s a good thing they got here when they did.

Winter weather in north central Texas usually means ice, sleet and more ice. If we’re lucky we get snow. And although it’s not uncommon to get our kind of precipitation once or twice a year it usually stays just a day and then it’s gone. This means people here don’t get the winter driving experience that our northern neighbors get.

And it doesn’t help that our overpasses are the height of a two or three story building or more depending on how many other roads and bridges intersect beneath. Can you imagine being a truck driver and jackknifing on one of those? My truck driving friend Jan calls our frozen overpasses, “Scary stuff” and she tries to stay away from them no matter what. Who could blame her? 

And although we may not have to shovel our roofs the pipes tend to break once the mercury hits the teens and below since they are only two feet beneath the ground surface.

Almost all older homes and many newer homes here have electric heat. So if the power goes out covering is the only way to keep warm unless you have a fireplace. Then you had better have enough fuel.

Bridges and overpasses are the only places that get any salt. Salt and sand together melt the ice and help with traction. Not to mention the many, many car accidents.

As awful as that is North Texans shouldn’t get it as bad as some of our friends to the north.

North and South Dakota are supposed to get temperatures in the minus forty range. Wisconsin, Illinois and northwestern Indiana will most likely see five to ten foot snow drifts and sixty mile an hour winds.

The Weather Channel reports, “In Idaho, an arctic air mass is expected to push wind chills to 20 below zero and colder Monday night and Tuesday.

Ranching communities in Upper Snake River Plain and Snake Highlands on the Montana border will be hardest hit with wind chills 45 degrees below zero. A similar winter freezing wind storm in 1989 killed hundreds of Idaho cattle in their tracks. Some ranchers are already double-feeding and taking what measures they can to protect livestock.”

This storm may affect approximately one hundred million people according to The Weather Channel.

This winter tempest will reach from the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies to the Ohio Valley to the coast of New England. And remember that New England is still digging out and enjoying newly returned power after a blizzard last week.

So if you have to get out make it a quick trip and if it’s long take precautions and prepare carefully. If you’ve lived in your area for any length of time you know what you need to do to prepare for bad storms. If you’re new to an area ask friend, co-workers or neighbors. What you learn just may save your life. Most state’s Department of Public Safety can tell you the best way to deal with winter weather according to your area.

When the storm is over dig out what you’re able and then go out with the kids and enjoy it if you can. Hopefully there will be no devastating aftereffects to make it easier and/or tolerable.

Until then keep as warm as you can, make and savor your comfort foods and remember that before you know it we’ll all wonder if  the thermometer can get any higher.

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