Theo, David & Ruby Breaking Tacoma Car Ice Windows

My old home zone of Western Washington is currently one big slippery sheet of ice, bringing most forms of transportation to a stop.

Including Amazon packages timed to arrive right before Christmas. 

This is what you see when you track packages currently stuck in Western Washington...

"Packages have beens delayed due to severe weather in the delivery network."

Last night a video arrived from Tacoma, via email. In that video we see Theo, David & Ruby being directed to break what one first thinks is a car window. And then when the window easily shatters it is apparently it is a sheet of ice which has been shattered.

Which explains what you are looking at above and below, screen caps from the ice shattering video.

And below you can watch the video, via YouTube of Theo, David & Ruby Breaking an Ice Window...

The Texas Iceman Hath Arrived With An Ice Storm

Every once in awhile the Texas weather predictors make a prediction where the weather happens as predicted.

Today would be one of those cases of accurate weather prognostication. 

As you can see, via the phone screen shot made seconds ago, we are currently two degrees below freezing. With precipitation precipitating.

The leaves on the trees are being coated with ice, bending the branches.

Just a sec, I will go take a photo of the tree limbs currently being weighted down by ice, resting on my patio deck.

You can not tell it, via the photo documentation, but the deck and everything on it is now coated with ice. I do not know if I can make it to ground level without having some slipping and sliding action. 

There is not much traffic, however every couple minutes I do hear a vehicle drive by. Far less than the norm. People seem to be driving slow, but I can not tell if the road is currently thickly ice coated. I don't know if I want to find out, even though I had planned to drive to a location two miles distant this morning.

Yesterday, prior to the incoming Ice Storm, I had myself a chilly walk on the Circle Trail. I lasted about a mile before I tired of the excessive shivering.

On that Circle Trail walk yesterday I took what is known as a patented Elsie Hotpepper style selfie photo.

Via the phone, I was looking at that tree behind me, currently sporting Fall foliage colors. However, since, til today, we have not had a freeze, none of the leaves on the deciduous trees had changed from their regular green.

That tree I am looking at, colored in Fall foliage mode, is an evergreen type tree. I think maybe it had been struck by lightning and is in the process of dying.

Seems like only yesterday we were heated here to 103, requiring the A/C to run. But that  wasn't yesterday, it was last week. To go from 103 to an Ice Storm in a one week time span is a bit jarring.

I suppose I will acclimate...

Record Texas Snowfall Keeping Me From Town Talk This Last Day Of February

That which you see here was the big headline this morning in the online version of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on this last day of the second month of 2015.

Prior to moving to Texas from the moderate climate of the Western Washington zone of the Pacific Northwest this was not the type headline I thought possible in the Dallas/Fort Worth part of Texas.

I was to learn my pre-conception about D/FW's weather was erroneous soon upon arrival in the little hamlet of Haslet, at the far north end of Fort Worth.

I had left Washington six days prior, with rain falling heavily til I crossed the Cascades into Eastern Washington.

When I arrived at my new location in Haslet I was appalled to find rain falling harder than I had ever experienced in Washington, with flooding seeming to be inundating the landscape everywhere I looked.

About a week later I was in the Fort Worth Stockyards, at the now defunct Riscky Rita's all you can eat Mexican food lunch buffet. When I arrived at the Stockyards, and entered Riscky Rita's, the temperature was pleasantly in the 70s.

When I had had my fill of Riscky Rita's Tex-Mex I was shocked upon exiting to the outer world to discover the temperature had dropped a lot of degrees, with a strong wind blowing making it feel even colder.

This was my introduction to the concept of the Wind Chill Factor.

I remember running to get to my vehicle to escape the cold.

That night the temperature dropped to 15 degrees. We did not know how to turn off the water to the barn and the pool. We did not know what we needed to do, other than keep faucets dripping.

By morning my introduction to the Ice Storm concept had arrived, coating everything, including the two cows in the pasture, with a layer of ice.

I was mortified that I'd somehow gone from the Banana Belt climate of the Skagit Valley to what now seemed to me to be what living in Alaska must be like.

And then a few short days later the temperature returned to being in the 70s, which was my introduction to the Texas weather concept of extreme weather changes within short time frames.

Which brings me to the present, February 28, 2015. Once again rendered immobile by a coating of slippery ice covering much of North Texas.

I won't be going to Town Talk today....

It Is So Cold In Texas The Dinosaur Valley Dinosaurs Are Not Moving

Yes, today's Ice Storm of freezing rain and sleet extends all the way to Dinosaur Valley and beyond,  to points further south, such as Austin and San Antonio.

No, I am not currently in Dinosaur Valley State Park visiting the frozen dinosaurs. I saw this photo via Twitter a few minutes ago when I went to Tweet about Spencer Jack being in training for the 2028 Panther Island Olympics in Fort Worth.

What with the temperature being below freezing and what with dinosaurs being cold blooded reptiles, the Dinosaur Valley State Park dinosaurs are pretty much not able to move today, frozen solidly in one spot.

Today's winter storm is the first of this winter storm season which has pretty much precisely matched the dire predictions of the weather predictors.

Except I do not remember reading a prediction that last night's thunder booming, which I have seen referenced as Thundersleet, was on the menu.

I currently do not hear much vehicular action going on outside, except the occasional sound of tires loudly slipping on ice.

After the last Ice Storm, last year, Miss Puerto gave me ice cleats which I have yet to use. Maybe I will attach myself to them and go do some icy exploring, later. Maybe not.

I am sort of enjoying not being cold, after yesterday's incident where I got soaking wet via an unexpectedly heavy downpour....

Another Ice Storm May Be Cometh To North Texas Next Week

I saw that which you see here a couple minutes ago on Facebook, confirming what I saw earlier via my computer based weather monitoring device, that being another prediction of an incoming blast of cold, arriving over this coming weekend, by Monday turning into a possible Ice Storm.

Ice Storms are my least favorite Texas weather event. I never experienced an Ice Storm before moving to Texas.

Anyway, below I will copy the weather warning from my favorite Texas weatherman, John Basham....

WINTER WEATHER UPDATE - 910 AM THU FEB 19 2015 - NORTHERN 1/2 OF TEXAS INCLUDING: THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX, WACO, ABILENE, MIDLAND/ODESSA, LUBBOCK, AMARILLO, WICHITA FALLS, SHERMAN/DENNISON, & TYLER/LONGVIEW - It is now becoming more and more apparent as a large part of the country is battling winter weather that Texas will be it's target very soon. Sunday (2/22/15) into Monday a combination of extremely cold air and a series of upper level disturbances will give the Northern 1/2 of Texas it's first widespread shot at wintry precipitation of 2015. As if that news isn't enough to make you cringe, it doesn't appear (at this time) that the wintry precipitation will fall as that ever so pretty and fun snow. No, instead it appears the majority of the wintry mix will fall as that hard to love sleet and freezing rain. The beginning of the wintry mix will occur on Sunday across the region and spread farther south as we move into the day on Monday. The scenario as to how much accumulation of ice will occur is anyone's guess at this point. It seems clear with a warm slightly unstable air-mass above the surface sub-freezing temperatures that any areas of increased lift or near elevated convection could cause locally heavy accumulations of ice while others may only see a glisten or glaze, to nothing at all. I'll continue to keep you updated throughout the early part of the weekend as to where I believe the greatest risk will occur. I have included an image of the latest GFS computer model (just one possible scenario) for noon Monday. It shows an ICE STORM developing in the DFW Metroplex. Keep in mind these models have been shifting North and South wildly over the last 24-36 hours so this is not in stone by any means, but I wanted to make sure that you PREPARE for the possibility that you could not drive or get to the store or drug-store by early next week. Prepare now for this potential. THIS IS NOT A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCT. Meterologist John Austin Basham - Storm Spotter METOPS Fort Worth, Texas

North Texas Is Freezing & Braced For Incoming Ice

So far the Ice Storm that is scheduled to be cometh at my location has yet to arrive.

However, the outer world  has been chilled, as you can see via my computer generated weather informant, to the below freezing temperature necessary to facilitate an Ice Storm of Historic Proportions.

Checking in on my old home zone this morning I  found both Western and Eastern Washington colder than my current location, with Mount Vernon freezing at 26 and Tonasket, on the east side of the mountains, even colder at 15.

Meanwhile in Arizona, in the Phoenix zone, my mom and dad, brother and sister, brother-in-law and sister-in-law and nephews are not freezing at 47. However, the Phoenix area is currently under a National Weather Service issued Freeze Warning.

Back to my current location in Frigid North Texas.

This morning's weather update from my favorite North Texas weather forecasting guru, John Basham, seems to indicate something major is about to arrive.

I need to go to ALDI to get coffee. Last winter I recollect a trip to ALDI starting off with no problem, then turning into a two hour ordeal to slide my way back to my home port. I hope today is not a repeat.

The latest John Basham forecast....

*** WEATHER FORECASTER'S NOTE *** - 630 AM WED DEC 31 2014 - TEXAS - Okay, for those of you who follow my forecasts (the truly devoted) you will remember Sunday that I was worried about the New Year's Eve / New Year's Day forecast for a large part of Texas and the D/FW Metroplex. I even used the term 'historic' which set many an email flying my way. If you'll recall I was worried about two weather items colliding in just the right way to cause a potentially dangerous weather scenario for a large population center in Texas. Well, I will no longer elude. I now have a genuine fear as the data becomes more and more clear that a MAJOR ICE STORM is POSSIBLE for a LARGE PART of TEXAS including the D/FW Metroplex. NOW, I AM NOT SOUNDING THE ALARM YET... & THE NWS HAS NOT ISSUED ANY ICE STORM WARNING, BUT...... Since tonight is New Year's Eve and Thursday Morning is New Year's Day I felt I had to at least let you know what I (and many other meteorologists) have been wrestling with. You DO NOT take an Ice Storm lightly as a meteorologist. There are few things that cause more widespread damage, injury, and loss of infrastructure. As new data continues to come out over the next few hours I will be updating everyone as soon as I feel I've zeroed in TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY where this event COULD take place. I know that's a lot of ifs and errrs... but I wanted to share so everyone could prepare and stay safe! MORE TO COME... THIS IS NOT AN NWS PRODUCT!

I Think I Am Ready For A Major Texas Ice Storm To Blow Into Town

This morning on Facebook I found a fresh update from my favorite Texas weather guru, John Basham, which raises the possibility that we may be heading into an epic New Year's Eve, New Year's Day apocalyptic weather event of the Ice Storm sort.

Ice Storms are my least favorite Texas weather event.

If an Ice Storm blows in in a couple days, I am ready for it. I am stocked with vittles. I am walking distance from my New Year's Eve Party location. My Coleman stove and lantern are fully fueled. Firewood is ready to be burned should the fireplace be needed for heat if the power goes out.

WINTER WEATHER FORECAST - MON DEC 29 2014 850AM - TEXAS & SOUTHERN PLAINS - We have issued our graphical forecast for Tuesday from 6am through 10pm. Additional winter weather across an increased area possible through Saturday morning. Wednesday Texas will see a bit of a break from the wintry precipitation (at least that's the way it looks now) BUT THURSDAY could be a real problem with the potential for a major ice storm across a large swath of Texas and potentially millions of people. We will update the Thursday forecast this afternoon with some newer data in hopes that we will see continued computer model agreement beyond 60 hours. Everyone is advised to prepare for this potential Major Winter Weather event. While there is still a GREAT DEGREE of uncertainty about the potential impacts of this event. If trends continue then there could easily be widespread power interruptions and travel issues. More information to follow soon. THIS IS NOT AN NWS PRODUCT.

A Cold Weather Tale Of Three Cities

Methinks the cold that has descended upon the western half of the United States is portentous for some icy times ahead, what with the fact that we are still 16 days from the start winter. As you can see, above, my current town of residence, Fort Worth, has a similar 7 day forecast to my former town of residence, Mount Vernon, Washington, as you can see below.

A major difference between the Fort Worth forecast and the Mount Vernon forecast is there is no Ice Storm scheduled for Mount Vernon. I don't know if an Ice Storm has ever happened in the Skagit Valley. I know I never experienced such a thing until I experienced Texas, with my first Ice Storm wreaking havoc about two weeks after my Lone Star State arrival. A shocking, unexpected, welcome to Texas.

And then we have the 7 day forecast for the zone of Arizona where my parental units, sister, favorite brother-in-law and my two youngest nephews live.

Also cold, with some Phoenix area temperature predictors issuing freeze warnings.

I am preparing for the coming deep freeze and potential power loss. I have located extra blankets. I have so far been unsuccessful at finding firewood. I have never burned firewood in my fireplace.

I have a gas-fired lantern ready to be lit. A gas-fired cook stove ready for emergency cooking. An ice chest ready for emergency chilling.

And I have located my previously lost long underwear. I think I am ready....

Texas Storm Spotter Dangerous Ice Storm Update

Thursday, December 5, when I woke up my computer I saw an email had arrived at 6:55, this morning, from Texas Storm Spotter, John Basham, with the subject line of DANGEROUS ICE STORM.

The part of this update I find most worrisome is the case made for the possibility I may be without power for several days, with the suggestiion that preparations be made, such as making sure I have enough blankets.

But, what about all the food in my freezer and refrigerator? Move the frozen stuff outside into the natural freezer til the power comes back on?

Below is the Dangerous Ice Storm Update....

ICE STORM UPDATE
TEXAS - NORTH CENTRAL, CENTRAL & NORTHWEST  TEXAS
STORM SPOTTER METOPS FORT WORTH TX
655 AM CST WED DEC 5 2013

...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION...
...WHILE THE NWS ALREADY HAS A WINTER STORM WARNING ISSUED...
...THIS EVENT MEETS ICE STORM WARNING CRITERIA AND COULD BE UPGRADED AT
ANY TIME...

AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WAS SWEEPING INTO CENTRAL TEXAS THIS MORNING WITH A CONTINUED SURGE OF MUCH COLDER AIR FILTERING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND MOVING INTO FAR NORTH TEXAS BY AFTERNOON. THIS EXTREMELY COLD LAYER OF AIR IS VERY SHALLOW AND IS TOPPED BY A RELATIVELY WARM AREA JUST OFF THE SURFACE. AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY IN MEXICO WILL CONTINUE TO APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST BRINGING AN INCREASING AREA OF WIDESPREAD RAIN WITH IT. BY AROUND 6PM TEMPERATURES IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, INCLUDING THE DFW METRO WILL BEGIN TO DROP BELOW FREEZING. THIS COMBINED WITH INCREASING RAINFALL RATES WILL START A DANGEROUS PROCESS OF FREEZING RAIN. SINCE THE WARM AIR JUST OFF THE SURFACE WILL NOT ALLOW FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE RAIN TO FREEZE INTO SLEET PELLETS OR SNOW, IT WILL HIT THE SURFACE AS WATER AND THEN FREEZE. THE EVENT SHOULD BEGIN SLOWLY AFTER SUNSET AND THE MAJORITY OF ICE DEVELOPMENT WILL LIKELY OCCUR BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 4AM ON FRIDAY MORNING. WHILE ALL COMPUTER MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT THE MAJORITY OF THE REGION WILL BE IN THE 20'S THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE OVERALL COVERAGE AND LOCATION OF THE ICE AND SLEET. COMPUTER MODELS DO AGREE THAT THE ENTIRE REGION SHOULD SEE OVER .10" OF ICE WITH SOME AREAS SEEING ALONG AN AXIS FROM SHERMAN TO DFW AIRPORT TO FORT WORTH TO GRANBURY RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF .75". ALL AREAS SHOULD SEE DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS, HOWEVER AREAS WHERE THE GREATEST FREEZING RAIN OCCURS WILL LIKELY SEE WIDE-SPREAD POWER OUTAGES AS POWER-LINES ARE BROUGHT DOWN BY THE WEIGHT OF ICE AND TREES WEIGHTED WITH ICE COLLAPSE ONTO THE LINES. ADDITIONALLY THESE AREAS COULD BE WITHOUT POWER FOR DAYS AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN IN THE 20'S AND 30'S. CLIENTS WHO RELY ON POWER FOR THEIR HEATING SHOULD RUSH PREPARATIONS FOR THIS EVENT. CLIENTS WITH DRIVERS WHO WILL BE IN THE REGION BETWEEN 9PM THURSDAY AND 6AM FRIDAY SHOULD PREPARE TO HAVE THOSE DRIVERS STRANDED. EMERGENCY LIFE-SAVING SUPPLIES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY WARM BLANKETS. AGAIN, WHILE THE EXACT AMOUNT OF ICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES WHERE THE GREATEST ACCUMULATION CANNOT BE EXPRESSED WITH A GREATER DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NOT TO IGNORE THIS FORECAST. LAST WEEKS VERY WEAK ICING EVENT IN NORTH TEXAS, WHERE NO DISRUPTIONS OF TRANSPORTATION OCCURRED CAUSED OVER 30,000 PERSONS TO LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS EVENT WILL BE OF A MUCH GREATER MAGNITUDE AND CANNOT BE UNDER-ESTIMATED. FOR SPECIFIC SPOT-CASTS OR SITE-SPECIFIC TIMING PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ASSIGNED METEOROLOGIST OR THE STORM SPOTTER METOPS FORECAST CENTER. UPDATES WILL FOLLOW AS CONDITIONS WARRANT. THIS IS NOT A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCT. METEOROLOGIST: BASHAM

I Am Already Shivering Just Thinking About The Incoming Ice Storm

I am not liking that 16 degrees I am seeing in the forecast  for Friday. Followed by two days of not going above freezing, with sleet and an ice storm currently scheduled for Saturday.

The predicted pre-Thanksgiving ice storm failed to materialize as predicted. I have a bad feeling that the current ice storm prediction is going to materialize as predicted.

The outer world was heated to nearly 60 when I exited my abode to make my regularly scheduled daily morning trek to the cool pool for a bout of cold and hot stimulation.

Tomorrow morning I suspect I may be deciding not to to be making my daily morning trek to the cool pool, due to being too cool.

A Storm Of Ice Is Hitting My Windows While I Am Having Trouble With The Air That I Breathe

You are looking at a very rare evening view through the bars of my patio prison cell, this 2nd Sunday night of February.

I am more than just slightly appalled that due to the fact that I did not blog today about any endorphin inducing hiking endeavor that I have been getting emails, phone calls and text messages inquiring as to my well being.

Well, I am being fine.

I did not feel like going out in the COLD today. I am currently enduring a very annoying respiratory woe that is affecting the ease of breathing. I have never been an allergy sufferer.

Til now.

I also have never breathed air polluted by the pollutants that pollute the air that I breathe where I am now doing my breathing.

Special Weather Statement
From The National Weather Service

A few minutes ago ice began hitting my windows.

I really am not in the mood for an Ice Storm. But, I think an Ice Storm may be what is currently happening.

The National Weather Service has issued one of their Special Weather Statements, shouting the statement all in CAPITALS...

...WINTER WEATHER EXPECTED FOR NORTH TEXAS...

A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR OVER MOST OF NORTH TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM EASTLAND TO WEATHERFORD TO DENTON TO MCKINNEY TO PARIS. SOUTHEAST OF THIS ADVISORY AREA...THE REST OF NORTH TEXAS WILL SEE A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...BECOMING SLEET MIXED WITH RAIN NEAR MIDNIGHT AND THEN ALL RAIN BEFORE SUNRISE IN ALL AREAS EXCEPT THOSE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 30 AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. BY MID MORNING THOSE LAST AREAS WILL CHANGE TO RAIN AS WELL. ACCUMULATIONS NEAR THE WINTER ADVISORY AREA MAY REACH UP TO THREE TENTHS OF AN INCH...BUT WITH WARM GROUND TEMPERATURES THESE ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD ONLY AFFECT ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING...BECAUSE IT MAY BE HARD TO SEE ANY ICE ON ROADWAYS BEFORE REACHING IT. AS THE ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES TO WARM OVERNIGHT. PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO RAIN AND THE WINTER WEATHER THREAT SHOULD END BY SUNRISE MONDAY WEST OF INTERSTATE 35 AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20...AND BY MID MORNING IN ALL AREAS. AS WITH ALL WINTER EVENTS...THE SITUATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE. IF ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED FARTHER SOUTH...THE ADVISORY MAY BE EXPANDED.

Snow Is In The Forecast But You Can Slide Down Mount Chesapeake Today If You Want To

Weather obsessed fanatic that I am it is ironic that til this morning I had not paid any attention to the current 5 day forecast beyond hearing on the radio that a cold front was heading our way.

Minutes ago I learned, via the weather thing at the bottom of this very blog, that SNOW is in the forecast for Monday. With a low of 29, followed by a low of 25 on Tuesday.

I checked out weather sources to see if the snow prediction is being universally predicted. It isn't. Other predictors are predicting Freezing Rain rather than SNOW. I prefer snow to freezing rain. Though the difference is subtle.

Freezing Rain can turn into an Ice Storm. I never experienced an Ice Storm til I moved to Texas, getting hit with one 5 days after my arrival in Texas.

I left Washington in a heavy rainstorm and arrived in Haslet, this little hamlet on the northern border of Fort Worth, to an even heavier rainstorm, with a lot of flooding. This was not what I was expected to find in Texas.

I was shocked.

And then 5 days later I was having lunch at the now long gone Riscky Rita's, in the Fort Worth Stockyards, enjoying the bad Mexican food buffet. It'd been warm when I entered Riscky Rita's. Warm and windy. When I left Riscky Rita's, an hour or so later, the temperature had dropped to just above freezing.

I was shocked. And had no coat with me.

That night the temperature dropped to 15 degrees. We did not know how to shut off the water to the pool. Or the barn. It was a nightmare.

By morning the ground was covered with what seemed to be several inches of ice.

I was shocked. I had no idea this type thing happened in this part of Texas.

Since then I've survived through 4 or 5 Ice Storms.

I remember the first time I walked into the house in Haslet remarking why in the world would there be a big fireplace in a house in Texas? Within 5 days I knew the reason.

My current abode also has a fireplace. I have only used it once. The power went out. It was way below freezing. I had to scrounge to find things to burn. I probably should get myself a supply of firewood.

Today is the day you can buy a slide down Mount Chesapeake for only 2 bucks, up in North Richland Hills. Wait a couple days and there is a chance you will be able to do some snow sliding for free in this usually snow-free part of the planet.

The Great Fort Worth Freeze Of 2011 Has Me Shivering & Not Driving

I have had myself a successful venturing in to the Great Freezing Fort Worth Outdoors.

Currently 18 degrees, with the Wind Chill Factor causing it to feel like -12.

I do not recall ever shivering like I was shivering out there. The shivering was caused by taking off my gloves so I could  take pictures.

I was surprised to find people out driving on the thick coat of ice. Including the Fort Worth buses known at the "T".

Most of the vehicles, including the buses, were having serious sliding issues. Which the following photos will sort of show you.

You are looking east on Boca Raton Boulevard, at a car trying to slide up the hill. I doubt the Super Bowl Buffet is open, but, if it was, it would be up this hill, and on the right, where I would go for Chinese food today.

Right after I took this picture I looked across the street and saw Miss Puerto Rico. It was a very slippery crossing to the other side. Then when I got there I realized I'd dropped one of my gloves back where I'd come from.

At these temperatures you can not go long without gloves, so I had to do some more sliding, back across the street. The roads have a very thick coating of ice, but the sidewalks much less.

Miss Puerto Rico and I watched, in semi-horror, as the jack-knifed Dr Pepper delivery truck driver tried over and over again to straighten out his rig at the intersection of Boca Raton and Bridgewood Street. Cars and trucks were sliding down and up Bridgewood, barely missing Dr Pepper. Miss Puerto Rico was out watching when the Dr Pepper truck drove by, fast up the hill, and then went in to a skid as the driver tried to turn left, then going into jack-knife mode.

In the above scene I am right at the aforementioned intersection, after the Dr Pepper truck had de-jack-knifed. The pickup truck, aimed at that guy walking, was sliding down the hill with its wheels against the curb. If you look closely you can see the stop sign that a sliding vehicle took out.

Soon after all those cars cleared out in the previous picture of the downed stop sign, the #21 Fort Worth bus showed up, sliding down the hill, not able to come to a stop, then making the left turn on to Boca Raton, coming to a stop next to the Fort Worth bus that had been stopped ever since I'd been watching the jack-knifed Dr Pepper truck.

I am assuming those buses are still sitting out there, with the drivers realizing it is not safe to be on the roads right now.

I was not able to get a look at the freeway to see if it is moving traffic. I assume it must be. I am also assuming there are a lot of wrecks out there right now.

I've yet to hear anything about how well the Super Bowl temporary buildings are handling this wind, cold and ice.

Are 58 MPH Gusts, Snow, Ice & 8 Degrees Wreaking Havoc With The Temporary Super Bowl Buildings Surrounding The Dallas Cowboy Stadium?

The sun has now arrived, lighting up the icy morning of the first day of the second month of 2011.

As you can see, looking at the view through the bars of my patio prison cell, a layer of white has descended on my zone of North Texas.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is covered in white. I don't know about the rest of North Texas.

Small snow pellets are now falling. Landing on top of a layer of ice.

The National Weather Service WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect until 4 in the afternoon tomorrow.

The low today is scheduled to get down to 8. Tomorrow the low will supposedly be 4. If it gets down to 8 it will be, by far, the coldest since I've been in Texas. The only time I've experienced colder temperatures was one winter while going to college in the Eastern Washington town of Ellensburg. I came back from Christmas vacation to see a bank's temperature sign say it was -18.

Wind gusts are blowing the snow into little drifts. AccuWeather is reporting gusts as high as 58 mph.

I wonder how all those temporary tent-like Super Bowl structures are faring down by the Dallas Cowboy Stadium? How much snow and ice can those roofs handle before collapsing? What level of wind are they engineered to be able to handle?

Is Mother Nature meting out some sort of Divine Retribution for the Worst Case of Eminent Domain Abuse in American History?

The Faith Tabernacle Church by the Dallas Cowboy Stadium is canceling Super Bowl Sunday's church services so they can sell parking spaces to football fans.

I'm not what one would call religious, but I think God might get you for that type behavior.

Ice Storm Freezes Dallas/Fort Worth To A Stop 5 Days Before The Super Bowl

The above is a screen cap from the Dallas Morning News, taken a few minutes ago.

It is currently 19 degrees with a Wind Chill Factor of -7.

I started hearing ice hitting my windows at around 3 this morning, right when the National Weather Service predicted it would arrive.

The sun has not yet arrived but I can see the ground is white, covered with ice.

I do not know how extensive the Ice Storm is, but I do know that the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has shut down. It is likely no Super Bowlers will be arriving today.

This is either the 3rd or 4th Ice Storm I've experienced since I have been in Texas. My first Ice Storm arrived my second week in Texas. It was a shock. The temperature plummeted overnight to around 15 with the ground covered with a couple inches of ice.

When I moved here I did not realize it could get so cold in this zone of Texas. I remember upon arrival thinking it odd that the house had a fireplace. Why would you want a fireplace in hot Texas?

Last night I saw a guy selling firewood down by Wal-Mart. Little piles of big sticks. I don't see firewood for sale here of the sort you see in Washington. Which makes sense, because you don't see trees here of the sort you see in Washington.

Tonight Battling Wal-Mart Grackles While Thinking Of The Super Bowl Buffet If The Ice Storm Gets Real Bad

The Grackle takeover of the Eastchase Wal-Mart and Sam's Club continues.

I was at Wal-Mart just as the light of the sun was dimming for the day.

Around 6.

Wal-Mart was super busy with what looked like panicked people stocking up on supplies due to the incoming Arctic Blast which starts arriving sometime in the wee hours.

I believe rain is expected at first, followed by sleet by the time the sun returns, Tuesday morning, followed by snow.

So, tomorrow may be a Snow Day in North Texas. I know I won't be going to school. That's for sure.

I did not do any panicked food buying in anticipation of an Ice Storm. I can walk to an Albertsons and a Krogers across the street from my abode. And several restaurants, including the best Chinese buffet I've been to in the D/FW Metroplex, with the very odd name of Super Bowl Buffet.

I do not know if the Super Bowl Buffet is having anything special on the buffet for the Super Bowl.

It Is A Wet Fort Worth Friday With No Ice, So Far

That is the 10am view out my computer room window this wet Fort Worth Friday. So far the temperature seems to be staying steady at 35. No ice. But a low of 25 is the prediction. If that happens it will be a slippery mess. I don't know if the Ice Storm danger has passed.

I had myself a very disturbing night, full of aches and pains. I had a nightmare, well, it was more of dream because it was sort of fun. Gar the Texan, aka Rag Boy, suckered punched me real hard on the right side of my jaw.

I then proceeded to give Rag Boy a sound thrashing, which probably was a bit of bad sportsmanship bad behavior on my part, even if I was sucker punched, because Rag Boy is just this little scrawny guy, like a lollipop, a skinny stick with a big head stuck on top.

I woke up from the beating up Rag Boy dream to find that my jaw hurt so bad where he'd sucker punched me, I don't recollect pain this bad, worse than post-surgery pain, worse than the chipmunk cheek pain I had years ago after my wisdom teeth were pulled.

Getting socked in the jaw occurred around 3 in the morning. I got up and looked for painkillers. I had none. I then started moving my jaw bone up and down, fighting the pain. The pain quickly became less painful. I went back to bed, slept in late, til past 6. When I got up the jaw pain was a distant memory, replaced by really bad back pain. Laying on the floor, reading and drinking coffee, got rid of the back pain.

So, without going on and on with the rest of my litany of misery, suffice to say, on this last Friday of the first month of 2010, I am a mess.

And, I have not heard from the Haltom City creek monitor this morning. This concerns me.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the aforementioned Gar the Texan, aka Rag Boy, this morning, offered to fix the Queen of Wink's dead computer. I don't know if me beating him up caused him to have this change in attitude, or what.

UPDATE: When I finished this blogging and hit the publish button, I checked the temperature to see we are now at the freezing point of 32 degrees, here in Fort Worth.

The Dallas Morning News' Ice Storm Delivery

Well. I was wrong. In the blogging previous to this one I said I didn't think my Dallas Morning News paper would be able to be delivered this morning due to the coating of ice on the roads.

I was wrong. It arrived. Almost on time. Usually the paper thumps my front door between 6 and 6:30. This morning's thumping occurred about 7.

The sun is up. I am able to look out my window now. Hours of the furnace blowing hot air has melted the ice off the window.

I'll see if I can revive my comatose camera long enough to get an Ice Storm picture....I'll be right back, hopefully with a photo....

Well. That didn't work. My camera appears to be unable to be revived.

So, I used my camcorder to take video and extract a picture. Those never turn out too good. This time was no exception. But you can see the white ice that covers our roofs here in Texas this morning.

I think I'll layer on some clothes and venture out to see if the road out of here is drivable. If not a meeting at noon will likely have to be cancelled.

Well. I'm back from venturing outside to check on how bad it is. I made it to my vehicle to find it covered in ice. The road appears to have about an inch of ice covering it. I saw two vehicles moving, very very slow, on the road. It is quiet out there, almost eerie. Usually it is quite noisy.

Ice Storm Paralyzes North Texas

I doubt I am going to be seeing my Dallas Morning News paper this morning.

It is 21 degrees right now at 6am. I can not see out my bedroom window due to it being covered with ice. Frozen stuff was hitting it for hours last night, making a tinkling noise like a muted wind chime.

Schools of all types, grade schools, high schools, colleges and universities are closed today, or opening late, across North Texas, .

My town, Fort Worth, had 366 wrecks between 8am and 8pm, with 207 of them taking place between 6:30 and 8pm.

In Dallas a man fell to his death on a bridge over the Trinity River when he slipped after getting out of his car after a wreck.

A Crowley man was killed when he slid into a tree near East Loop 820.

The weather has not been kind this year to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. On Tuesday most of the Stock Show, including the carnival midway, shut down early, or did not open at all. Even though the Stock Show shut down on Tuesday, Stock Show officials say they will open today, regardless of weather conditions. Which does not make a whole lot of sense, due to Wednesday starting off way worse than Tuesday, temperature-wise and ice-wise.

There have been some flights cancelled at D/FW Airport, most by American Airlines. I have a Puerto Rican flying in today on American Airlines. I won't be going to the airport to provide taxi service.

The Texas Ice Storm Cometh

We are heading into what weather service meteorologists are predicting may be the worst Ice Storm we've had here in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone since February 24, 2003.

The temperatures dropped below freezing early this morning. The ground is wet, with more wet stuff falling.

We'll likely be covered by a very slippery coat of ice by Wednesday morning.

The Tuesday evening commute is going to be dicey and icy. DART in Dallas is already having rail delays.

There are already school closures. I just got an email canceling an Arlington Chamber event that was scheduled for tonight.

I made it out and to the Post Office. So far the roads have not slicked up. But there was ice on the stairs and the handrailing, making it a little difficult to navigate.

I found some funny comments on the Dallas Morning New website regarding our incoming Ice Storm...

Henry Hill said---
Now we get another chance to see how Texans can't drive in icy conditions. I love watching them go by me sideways on the Bush Turnpike. If you can't drive on it then stay home so you don't ruin someone else's day.

To which Bobby Joe said----
Henry - If you are on the Bush Tollway, those aren't Texans you are seeing, they are Yankees, Californians, etc. Just like you.

To which Texans Can't Drive said---
Bobby Joe Texans are the worst drivers I have every seen! end of story.

And then Dallas Driver said---
I love how the Yankees criticize Texans winter driving skills. Try searching You Tube for ice driving. Now, that's entertainment. Yankees sliding all over the place. Besides, North Texas doesn't have an army of road clearing equipment. Only a couple dozen sanders for the bridges and overpasses.

Which caused fmlsr to say---
I am a dang yankee that cant find I-35 north and today i am not going to go hunt for it either. smart ppl stay home and watch the dummies slip and slide down the road.

And, finally, Tired of the Yankees said---
I find it very interesting how people who are not from Texas say bad things about Texans - how we are rude, can't drive, etc... Honestly, if it's that awful here - get out of here! No one is making you stay! Go back to wherever you came from. Or could it be that life back there is not all you crack it up to be?! Life around here would sure better once you are done, that's for sure!