Category: Posts EN

Historic Cold & Snow Grip Central and Southern U.S.

Written by Team Morecast

Much of the central and southern plains is currently under siege by an unprecedented outbreak of arctic air and snow. Numerous records for both snowfall and low temperatures have already occurred, and many more could fall in the coming days. A very strong area of high pressure that originated in Siberia, now centered over Minnesota, is responsible for the outbreak that has brought accumulating snow and sub-freezing temperatures all the way to the Gulf Coast.

Although many states are being affected by the artic blast, Texas has been dealt the hardest blow. Among the many effects of the outbreak, rolling blackouts have been numerous across the state, with over 4.2 million Texans in the dark. Texas is no stranger to extreme temperatures, but they are usually hot temperatures, not cold, as is the case now. Because of this, energy demand throughout the state has reached an all time high, thus leading to the power outages. Also, many power companies simply are unable to generate power, of any form, due to the freezing temperatures and snow.

The infrastructure in the state is not built to withstand prolonged periods of extreme cold, which has exacerbated the effects of the outbreak. Reports of frozen and burst pipes have been very common. Many cities and towns are ill prepared for snow and ice accumulations, with many not even having snow plows, so when it does happen, even small amounts can be paralysing.

This has proven to be the case in Houston, Texas, the nation’s fourth largest city. Here the .80 inches of snow (2 cm) that fell early on Monday morning was enough to shut the city down completely. Dallas, Texas, another major city, was also paralysed after 4 inches (10.1 cm) fell early on Monday. The snow in Dallas and Houston broke daily records, but the city of San Angelo, Texas broke an all time record for snowfall, coming in with 10.1 inches (25.6 cm). Snow was also seen in coastal Galveston,Texas, an extremely rare occurrence. Lake Charles, Louisiana even reported thunder-snow, just months after being ravaged by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Texas, an oil rich state, has seen its oil production halted due to the cold and snowy conditions. The entire state has been placed under a State of Emergency, and at one point on Sunday evening, every single county in the state was under a winter storm warning. That was a first time occurrence. For many counties along the Gulf Coast it was the first time ever being under a winter storm warning. Economists predict that between the drop in oil production and the likely agricultural losses, the arctic blast will be a billion dollar disaster for the state.

The central United States is currently one of the coldest places on Earth. Record low temperatures have been shattered in many states. Such places include Dallas, Texas, where the mercury dropped to 4 degrees (-15.5 C) on Monday morning and the high was only 14 F ( -10 C).While most notable in states such as Texas, the cold is more pronounced to the north. States such as South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota have seen lows well below zero Fahrenheit (-17.7 C). The coldest temperature of the outbreak so far was -50 F (-45.5 C) in Ely, Minnesota, also a record low.

70.4% of the continental United States is now snow covered, which is the highest since January 2011.

Bitter Arctic Cold Leads to Deadly Traffic Pile-Up in Dallas-Fort Worth

Written by Team Morecast

 

A historically cold Arctic air mass has become entrenched across much of the central U.S. Among other impacts, the frigid air has helped produce a band of heavy freezing rain from Texas through the Tennessee Valley. The icy conditions contributed to a massive traffic accident in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area Thursday morning. Over 100 vehicles were smashed in the incident, which claimed the lives of at least six people and injured dozens more.

 

 

 

A chunk of bitterly cold high pressure has become dislodged from the Arctic and is funneling down into the central states. This pattern will persist well into next week. The Arctic frontal boundary will even surge as far south as the Gulf Coast. Pieces of upper level energy will ride along this boundary, throwing moisture back into the frigid air mass, leading to periods of heavy snow and ice. One such icy blast affected the region Wednesday into early Thursday, leaving a slick sheet of accumulation on roadways. The ice proved too much for early morning commuters in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro to manage. More than 130 vehicles, including emergency vehicles and tractor trailers, collided into a tangled mass of twisted metal and glass. Six fatalities have been reported with this incident while several dozen more victims were transported to area hospitals.

 

 

More treacherous conditions will threaten the southern states in the next several days. Locations as far south as coastal Texas and Louisiana will see a wintry mix of icy precipitation. Cities just to the north like Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and Memphis will see heavy snow accumulations up to a foot. Temperatures will remain dangerously cold, as much as 50 degrees below normal (see map below). Wind chills as much as 20 to 35 deg below zero will present a major threat of frostbite to anyone required to be outside for any significant length of time.

 

 

Brewing Cyclone Menaces Northern Coast of Western Australia

Written by Team Morecast

 

A potentially severe tropical cyclone is poised to strike the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia. The tropical low is unnamed as of yet, but conditions are ripe for rapid intensification. Landfall could occur sometime late Friday or Saturday between Port Hedland and Broome. The last severe (Category 3+) cyclone to strike this region was Damien in Feb 2020.

 

 

Heavy rain bands are already lashing the northern WA coast. Even stronger storms are consolidating just off the coast (see satellite image above), a sign of potential strengthening. The system will turn south and southeast over the next few days. Very warm ocean waters and favorable upper level winds along the projected path could result in rapid strengthening. Damaging wind gusts to 150 kph (90 mph) or more, flooding rainfall exceeding 300 mm (12 inches), and even some surge flooding will accompany the budding cyclone near and just east of landfall. Post-landfall, the system is expected to move slowly southeast across interior WA, bringing flooding rainfall and slowly dying winds.

 

Cyclone Imogen Strikes Northern Queensland

Written by Team Morecast

Cyclone Imogen, the first tropical cyclone of the 2020-21 Australian tropical cyclone season, made landfall near Karumba, Queensland late on Sunday night. The Category 1 storm, which formed over the weekend in the very warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, had sustained winds of 65 kph (40 mph) at the time of landfall.

With gusts over 100 kph (65 mph) in some locations, some minor damage has been observed across the Gulf Country region of the state, and no injuries or deaths have been reported thus far. While most structures were spared from destruction, many trees have been felled by Imogen. Over 1400 people have lost power due to the storm. Although notable, the winds from Imogen were not as impressive as the rainfall totals it brought. For example, Normanton Airport received 259 mm (10 in) overnight. 186 mm (7 in) of that fell within just 3 hours. Many other locales have received 150- 265 mm (6-10 in).

Flash flooding has also been very immanent across the Far North region as swollen rivers have come over their banks. The floodwaters have swallowed roads and inundated farmland. One homestead near the town of Giru was completely cut off from road access due to the flooding. The head farmer of that homestead says this an annual occurrence though. He just waits it out.

Imogen, now a remnant tropical low, will continue to move slowly to the south and east towards the North Tropical and Herbert-Lower Burdekin coasts over the next few days. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue during this timeframe, with totals possibly exceeding 400 mm (16 in) by the time it’s all said and done. Rainfall totals of this magnitude will almost certainly lead to more flash flooding. Despite this threat, many farmers and ranchers are very pleased to see the rain, especially given that the wet season got off to a late start this year.