It's Snowing in Texas
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#txwx #snow
Along with the extreme cold and wind moving in Thursday morning, there could be some flurries with the storm system. And how about this? There's even a chance for pockets of lake-effect snow!
That's right. A very cold north-to-northwest wind (blue arrows) will be transporting much colder air over the relatively warmer lake waters.
Most of the area lakes have water temperatures in the 50s. With air temperatures quickly dropping into the teens and 20s Thursday, this could create the setup for lake-effect snow across parts of the Metroplex.
The limiting factor may be whether there's enough moisture in the air.
Areas that have a chance for the lake effect snow are "downwind" of the bodies of water. This means if you're south or southeast of a large lake (pockets of white on the map) you'll have a chance to see this rare phenomenon develop!
Since our lakes pale in comparison to The Great Lakes up north, there's unlikely to be accumulation, but flakes could certainly fly. So keep an eye out!
Before the cold, replace worn weatherstripping on doors and windows to ensure there is a good seal. This will make sure warm air stays inside and cold air stays outside. Most modern windows are sealed inside the frame, but older windows may be sealed with a glaze that can crack and need replacing. The glaze may need to be applied above a certain temperature and it'll need time to cure -- this maintenance is ideally done in the spring or fall. Lastly, check your gutters to make sure they are clear and allow for water to flow freely to the downspout. Blocked gutters can lead to water entering the home. The Texas Department of Insurance also recommends trimming trees away from power lines, homes, and cars and checking the insulation level in attics.
Protecting Your Pipes
Most North Texans know to insulate their outdoor faucets, but if the cold snap is prolonged it could be a good idea to also leave inside faucets on external walls dripping overnight so that they don't freeze. The drip, drip, drip from running faucets, if heard, can be annoying, so put a sponge or towel in the sink to silently catch each drop. If you're leaving town for a few days, the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends leaving cabinet doors open so that pipes on external walls are more exposed to heat. If you have pipes in an attic or crawlspace, are any other exposed pipes outdoors, they'll need insulation. About those external faucets, disconnect hoses and insulate the valves. Wrapping valves with towels is not the best long-term solution. Most if not all North Texas hardware stores sell inexpensive exterior faucet covers made of foam that easily attaches to the faucet bib in just a few seconds and do a great job protecting the pipe from freezing. If you do suspect a pipe has frozen, keep the faucet open so that water can flow when it melts. Additionally, make sure you know where your main water valve is located (and how to turn it off) in the event a pipe bursts.
Bri
Along with the extreme cold and wind moving in Thursday morning, there could be some flurries with the storm system. And how about this? There's even a chance for pockets of lake-effect snow!
That's right. A very cold north-to-northwest wind (blue arrows) will be transporting much colder air over the relatively warmer lake waters.
Most of the area lakes have water temperatures in the 50s. With air temperatures quickly dropping into the teens and 20s Thursday, this could create the setup for lake-effect snow across parts of the Metroplex.
The limiting factor may be whether there's enough moisture in the air.
Areas that have a chance for the lake effect snow are "downwind" of the bodies of water. This means if you're south or southeast of a large lake (pockets of white on the map) you'll have a chance to see this rare phenomenon develop!
Since our lakes pale in comparison to The Great Lakes up north, there's unlikely to be accumulation, but flakes could certainly fly. So keep an eye out!
Before the cold, replace worn weatherstripping on doors and windows to ensure there is a good seal. This will make sure warm air stays inside and cold air stays outside. Most modern windows are sealed inside the frame, but older windows may be sealed with a glaze that can crack and need replacing. The glaze may need to be applied above a certain temperature and it'll need time to cure -- this maintenance is ideally done in the spring or fall. Lastly, check your gutters to make sure they are clear and allow for water to flow freely to the downspout. Blocked gutters can lead to water entering the home. The Texas Department of Insurance also recommends trimming trees away from power lines, homes, and cars and checking the insulation level in attics.
Protecting Your Pipes
Most North Texans know to insulate their outdoor faucets, but if the cold snap is prolonged it could be a good idea to also leave inside faucets on external walls dripping overnight so that they don't freeze. The drip, drip, drip from running faucets, if heard, can be annoying, so put a sponge or towel in the sink to silently catch each drop. If you're leaving town for a few days, the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends leaving cabinet doors open so that pipes on external walls are more exposed to heat. If you have pipes in an attic or crawlspace, are any other exposed pipes outdoors, they'll need insulation. About those external faucets, disconnect hoses and insulate the valves. Wrapping valves with towels is not the best long-term solution. Most if not all North Texas hardware stores sell inexpensive exterior faucet covers made of foam that easily attaches to the faucet bib in just a few seconds and do a great job protecting the pipe from freezing. If you do suspect a pipe has frozen, keep the faucet open so that water can flow when it melts. Additionally, make sure you know where your main water valve is located (and how to turn it off) in the event a pipe bursts.
Bri