Battening Down My Hatches In Preparation Of Possible Incoming Hazardous North Texas Weather Conditions

When I saw my computer based weather monitoring device had switched to its red warning color I clicked on it thinking it would likely just be a warning about that of which I was already aware, as in the outer world is currently foggy.

However, though mention is made of fog in the area of the weather info detailing current conditions, the Special Weather Statement is about much more dire incoming weather than just a little fog.

As in possible ice storm conditions with heavy sleet are heading towards North Texas.

Below is the Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service, all in capital letters, because these people love to shout about the weather...

...WINTER STORM OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTH TEXAS TONIGHT AND BRING MUCH COLDER AIR TO THE REGION BY FRIDAY. AT THE SAME TIME A SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST AND PROVIDE FOR A GOOD CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION THROUGH MONDAY. WE EXPECT TWO ROUNDS OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION OVER PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS...WITH THE SECOND ROUND POTENTIALLY CAUSING MORE IMPACTS.

THE FIRST ROUND OF WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FRIDAY NORTHWEST OF A GAINESVILLE...WEATHERFORD...COMANCHE LINE. LIGHT RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE TO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN DURING THE DAY FRIDAY AS TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING. THE CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN SHOULD COME TO AN END SATURDAY MORNING. SINCE GROUND TEMPERATURES ARE STILL VERY WARM...ONLY LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ON ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES...WHICH MAY CAUSE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

THE SECOND AND MORE SIGNIFICANT ROUND OF WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED SUNDAY. A LARGE AREA OF PRECIPITATION MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SLEET IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN FROM THE WEST SUNDAY MORNING. SLEET MAY BE HEAVY AND ACCUMULATE NORTHWEST OF PARIS...TO DALLAS TO LAMPASAS LINE WHERE TEMPERATURES SHOULD DROP TO NEAR FREEZING. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET AND ICE ARE POSSIBLE EVEN FARTHER NORTHWEST...OR NORTHWEST OF A GAINESVILLE...WEATHERFORD... COMANCHE LINE WHERE SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL BE EVEN COLDER. THE CHANCE OF SLEET IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY EVENING...BUT BEGIN TO CHANGE OVER TO RAIN BY MONDAY MORNING AS TEMPERATURES WARM ABOVE FREEZING.

THIS WINTER WEATHER EVENT IS STILL EVOLVING...AND AS MORE WEATHER DATA IS ANALYZED DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS...THE FORECAST MAY CHANGE. AT THIS TIME RESIDENTS SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS.