It Is Feeling Like 17 Degrees This Windy Thursday Morning In North Texas

 I was a little surprised this morning when I stepped outside to take a picture of the view through the bars of my prison cell patio to find water falling from the sky.

Water falling and wind blowing.

As in a heavy wind blowing, so much so that the current temperature of 34 degrees, with the Wind Chill Factor, supposedly causing a Real Feel of  17.

It did feel cold out there taking a picture with the wind blowing rain on me.

I did not realize we were scheduled to have a return to be frozen with the low today possibly getting as cold as 21.

The Nation Weather Service has issued one of its Severe Weather Alerts in shouting mode, as in ALL CAPITALS. Below is a screencap of the current cold conditions and the forecast for my zone of Texas and below that is the National Weather Service shouting a Severe Weather Alert at you.

...WINTERY PRECIPITATION POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF NORTH TEXAS TODAY...

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTH TEXAS THIS MORNING. THIS FRONT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON. NORTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY BEHIND THE FRONT WHICH WILL USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR. THERE IS A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN ACROSS MOST OF NORTH TEXAS THIS MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION CONTINUING INTO THE AFTERNOON ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-35 CORRIDOR. AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING...THE RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE ALONG AND NORTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR. THE PRECIPITATION MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE OVER TO SLEET OR SNOW ALONG AND EAST OF A BONHAM TO CANTON LINE THIS AFTERNOON. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE LIGHT SO NO ADVISORIES ARE BEING ISSUED. SOME LIGHT ICING IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED SURFACES. AREAS NORTHEAST OF A SHERMAN TO EMORY LINE APPEAR TO HAVE THE GREATEST THREAT OF HAVING SOME TRAVEL IMPACTS...AND A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON IF THE PRECIPITATION IS A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN IS CURRENTLY FORECAST.

RESIDENTS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER CLOSELY TODAY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIAL WINTRY WEATHER EVENT.

Loud Warning For North Texas From The National Weather Service: SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement stating that North Texas has a chance of snow Sunday night through Monday. With incoming extremely cold temperatures.

The National Weather Service is very serious about this warning, apparently, because it was issued in all CAPITALS, which is the Internet version of shouting.

Below is the NWS Weather Statement, in full SHOUT mode....

...A CHANCE OF SNOW ACROSS THE NORTH SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY...

...COLD WEATHER EXPECTED NEXT WEEK...

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT IS CURRENTLY OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON MAINLY SOUTH OF I-20 AND AREA WIDE SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS TEXAS SUNDAY...TEMPERATURES WILL COOL AND THE RAIN MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO SNOW NORTH OF I-20. THE BEST CHANCES OF SNOW WILL BE NORTH OF A JACKSBORO TO EMORY LINE...WHERE SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE. THE EXACT TRACK OF THE UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL DETERMINE HOW FAR SOUTH THE SNOW OCCURS AND HOW MUCH SNOW ACCUMULATES.

AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO NORTH TEXAS MONDAY. THE BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT ALONG WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS. LOWS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE UPPER TEENS NORTHWEST TO UPPER 20S SOUTHEAST BOTH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AND AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL ONLY BE IN THE 30S ACROSS MOST OF NORTH TEXAS. ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE ACROSS OKLAHOMA MONDAY. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL SOME LIGHT SNOW MAINLY NORTH OF A JACKSBORO TO EMORY LINE.

RESIDENTS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER CLOSELY THROUGH THIS WEEKEND FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIAL WINTRY WEATHER EVENT.

National Weather Service Arctic Cold Front Wind Advisory For North Texas For Thursday

When you've got nothing else to talk about there is always the weather. Especially here in Texas.

As you can see from the 4 in the afternoon screen shot from WeatherBug we are at a balmy 46.2 right now, with a slight Wind Chill.

The National Weather Service minutes ago issued the first alert regarding the incoming Arctic Blast of Extreme Cold.

This was a Wind Advisory in effect starting Thursday morning at 6 til 6 in the evening. With the 15 degree low expected tomorrow and that wind, it is going to feel a bit cold out there.

I think I may take off and go on a hike while it's still semi-HOT out there.

Below is the National Weather Service Alert....

The National Weather Service In Fort Worth Has Issued A Wind Advisory, Which Is In Effect From 6 AM To 6 PM CST Thursday.

A Strong Arctic Cold Front Will Sweep Across North Texas After Midnight Tonight Bringing Strong North Winds Of 25 To 35 Mph With Gusts Over 40 Mph. These Strong Winds Are Expected To Persist Through The Day On Thursday And Will Begin To Diminish Around Sunset.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions.

A Wind Advisory Means That Sustained Winds Of At Least 20 To 30 Mph Are Expected. Winds This Strong Can Make Driving Difficult, Especially For High Profile Vehicles. Boaters Should Use Extra Caution When Venturing Onto Area Lakes. Residents May Wish To Take Action To Secure Trash Cans, Lawn Furniture, And Other Lightweight Outdoor Objects That May Be Blown Around In The Strong Winds.

Hurricane Ike 11:22 AM CDT Weather Service North Texas Update

It's 1pm. It's getting a bit cloudy and windy. I've no idea if it is Hurricane Ike related. That map on the left shows the latest National Weather Service prediction of the areas of Texas that Ike will be felt.

The red zone is the Hurricane Advisory zone, the yellow is Non-Participatory zone, whatever that means. Dark green is a Flood Warning zone, light green means a Flood Watch.

Dallas/Fort Worth is in the red Hurricane Advisory zone. I've never been in a Hurricane Advisory zone before, that I know of.

Here's the latest Hurricane Ike warning from the National Weather Service....

TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SATURDAY TO 1 AM CDT SUNDAY UNTIL 5:45PM CDT

Hurricane Ike Local Statement... Corrected National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1124 AM CDT Fri Sep 12 2008

Tropical Storm Wind Warning In Effect From 6 AM Saturday To 1 AM CDT Sunday...

... New Information...

Tropical Storm Wind Warning Issued For Areas Along And East Of A Bowie To Gatesville Line.

... Watches/Warnings...

A Flash Flood Watch Is In Effect Along And East Of Interstate 35 For Saturday And Sunday.

... Precautionary/Preparedness Actions...

Due To The Windy Conditions Expected... Light-Weight Objects Such As Trash Cans And Lawn Chairs Should Be Secured... As They Can Easily Become Projectiles In High Winds. Power Outages May Be Possible... So Have Flashlights... Batteries... A Full Tank Of Gas... Cash... Bottled Water And Non-Perishable Foods On Hand Just In Case.

... Winds...

Sustained Winds From 35 To 45 Mph With Gusts To 55 Mph Will Be Possible Saturday. ... Inland Flooding... Storm Total Amounts Will Range From 1 To 2 Inches Outside Of The Watch Area... With 2 To 4 Inches Possible Within The Flash Flood Watch.