Latest news with #IceStormWarnings
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dangerous ice storm threatens over 1 million in Pacific Northwest Thursday: 'This has us concerned'
FAST FACTS: Dangerous freezing rain event triggers Ice Storm Warnings for over 1 million across much of the Willamette Valley. NWS warns Portland area commuters don't be complacent with a dry Thursday morning drive as storm arrives there midday. Freezing rain lingers into Friday and could return over the weekend. PORTLAND, Ore. — A potent winter storm is threatening a mix of significant freezing rain and accumulating snow across a swath of the Pacific Northwest - including the Portland area - on Thursday, bringing warnings of power outages and multiple dangerous commutes. An area of low pressure swirling off the Pacific Coast that is connected to an atmospheric river storm bringing torrential rains to California Thursday will also spread moisture into western Oregon and southwestern Washington. What Is Freezing Rain? The approaching storm is carrying relatively mild air, but cold air is deeply entrenched in western Oregon, which has been in a week-long arctic chill. Temperatures are dropping into the mid-20s Wednesday night and will struggle to reach freezing Thursday morning as easterly winds pull in even more arctic air from Eastern Oregon via the Columbia River Gorge. As the warm rain pushes in over the freezing surface, it's a classic recipe for freezing rain - and a lot of it. Ice Storm Warnings cover over a million people in the central and southern Willamette Valley, including Eugene and Salem, for as much as 0.2-0.3 inches of ice accretion. Freezing rain will likely be falling by their Thursday morning commute, making glazed roads a danger. Power outages from ice-coated trees and power lines could follow. How Much Ice Is Needed To Knock Out Power, Damage Trees? The precipitation is likely to hold off until just after the Thursday morning commute in the Portland and Vancouver metro area, but even that carries its own risk. "Precipitation will likely begin as snow for the northern Willamette Valley and Portland/Vancouver metro around 9-10 AM (Thursday) before switching over to freezing rain in the early afternoon, potentially mixing in with sleet at times," the National Weather Service in Portland wrote in its Wednesday evening forecast discussion. "This hasus concerned that folks living in the Portland/Vancouver metro will wake up before 9 AM, notice it is still dry out and head to work, then have a very difficult time trying to commute back home in the evening as there will likely be some snow and ice on roads, resulting in hazardous travel conditions." What Is The Difference Between Snow, Sleet, And Freezing Rain Snow accumulations around Portland are expected to top out around an inch before the change to freezing rain, which is forecast to accrete to about 0.1-0.2 inches. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect there through late Friday morning. In addition, strong easterly winds could reach 45-60 mph gusts in the eastern Portland suburbs along the cold outflow of the Columbia River Gorge, extending freezing rain threats and dropping wind chills into the teens. The freezing rain threat lasts through Thursday night and into about midday Friday before the storm pushes off to the east and the region temporarily dries out. Light snow up to about an inch could reach as far north as the southern Puget Sound region south of Seattle before drier air works its way there too. However, another storm heading into the Northwest for the weekend may present a renewed ice threat in the eastern Portland area near the Columbia Gorge outflow until much milder air sweeps into the Northwest and ends any lowland wintry weather article source: Dangerous ice storm threatens over 1 million in Pacific Northwest Thursday: 'This has us concerned'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Winter weather related warnings, watches, and advisories explained
The Brief The National Weather Service issues warnings, watches, and advisories during winter months for events like snowstorms. These warnings are based on local criteria, with different snowfall thresholds for different regions. Terms like Blizzard Warnings, Winter Storm Warnings, Ice Storm Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings, and Lake Effect Snow Warnings indicate varying levels of severe winter weather conditions. WASHINGTON - During the winter months, the National Weather Service often issues warnings, watches and advisories ahead of weather-related events like snowstorms. These are based on local criteria - for example, the amount of snow that triggers a Winter Storm Warning in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia is typically higher than the amount needed to trigger the same warning in the southeast. Here's what some of the terminology means according to the NWS: Blizzard Warnings: Issued for frequent gusts of 35 mph or higher, combined with falling and/or blowing snow, reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more. Severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow, coupled with strong winds and poor visibility, can lead to whiteout conditions, making travel extremely difficult. Avoid travel. If you must travel, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if you get stranded. Winter Storm Warnings: Issued for significant winter weather events, including snow, ice, sleet, or blowing snow, or a combination of these hazards. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations. Delay travel plans until conditions improve. Ice Storm Warnings: Issued for ice accumulation of around 1/4 inch or more. This amount of ice accumulation makes travel dangerous or impossible and can lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches. Travel is strongly discouraged. Wind Chill Warnings: Issued for a combination of very cold air and strong winds that create dangerously low wind chill values. This level of wind chill can result in frostbite and hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Avoid going outdoors and wear warm protective clothing if you must venture outside. Lake Effect Snow Warnings: Issued for widespread or localized snow squalls or heavy showers induced by lakes, leading to significant snowfall accumulation. Lake effect snow typically forms in narrow bands, affecting limited areas. These bands can produce very heavy snow and sudden reductions in visibility, making driving conditions hazardous at times. Winter Storm Watches: Issued when conditions are favorable for a significant winter storm event, such as heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice storms, or a combination of these conditions. Wind Chill Watches: Issued when there is a potential for extremely cold air and strong winds to create dangerously low wind chill values. Winter Weather Advisories: Issued when snow, blowing snow, ice, sleet, or a combination of these elements is expected, but not severe enough to meet warning criteria. Be prepared for winter driving conditions and possible travel difficulties. Exercise caution when driving. Wind Chill Advisories: Issued when low wind chill temperatures are anticipated but won't meet local warning criteria. Extremely cold air and strong winds will create low wind chill readings. If you need to go outside, take precautions to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. Lake Effect Snow Advisories: Issued for widespread or localized lake effect snowfall (and blowing snow) that remains below warning criteria. Expect lake effect snow showers, making travel difficult in some areas. Some localized snow bands may produce several inches of snow and sudden reductions in visibility. Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes upon contact with the ground, creating a layer of ice on roads, walkways, trees, and power lines. Sleet: Rain that turns into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet can cause roads to become slippery and hazardous. Wind Chill: The perceived coldness due to the combined effect of wind and cold temperatures. Stay with the FOX 5 Weather Team for the latest forecast updates and check the updated list of closings and delays. The FOX LOCAL app is your source for live FOX 5 DC weather updates. Click here to download. The Source Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and the FOX 5 Weather Team.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
First of back-to-back ice storms threatens 22 states from Midwest to Northeast with dangerous impacts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring the development of a powerful winter storm that has tens of millions of people across at least 22 states from the Midwest to the Northeast on alert for a widespread threat of freezing rain that has already led to numerous reports of icy roads and crashes. How To Watch Fox Weather Treacherous travel conditions have been reported in portions of Kansas and Missouri, with officials saying there have been multiple reports of stalled vehicles and crashes from Topeka, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri. Officials say the biggest impacts have been seen on busy highways such as Interstate 35, Interstate 70 and Interstate 435. Download The Free Fox Weather App The FOX Forecast Center said that as the storm gathers strength, impacts will begin to be seen from the mid-Mississippi Valley on Wednesday and then into the Great Lakes region by Wednesday night. Because of this, the Thursday morning commute is expected to be extremely dangerous on untreated roads and highways in cities like Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued across the region and include major cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago. The FOX Forecast Center said that dangerous travel conditions appear to be the biggest impact of this storm in those locations. That's because forecasters believe ice accretions across the Midwest should remain low enough that only scattered power outages could occur. Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing during the day on Thursday, quickly melting any ice that built up during the storm. However, refreezing will be a concern as we get into Thursday night. Areas to the east will see the highest potential for significant icing – especially in portions of Maryland and into the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Power outages and tree damage are most likely in those locations, as ice accretions greater than a quarter-inch and maybe as high as a half-inch are possible. Winter weather alerts have also been issued across the region, including Ice Storm Warnings. Ice Storm Warnings have been issued in four states, with the National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia, issuing its first Ice Storm Warning in three years. "Travel is strongly discouraged," forecasters warned. "If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for power outages." Outside that region, freezing rain is expected to fall along the busy Interstate 95 corridor from Washington up through southern New England. The FOX Forecast Center said that from the New York City area northward, the cold air will be deep enough that snow will be a concern during the onset of the winter weather. Cities like New York City, Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston could see snow fall during the middle of the Thursday morning commute. That could wreak havoc on the roads, but the FOX Forecast Center said that much like in the Midwest, warm air will move in, changing the snow to either freezing rain or plain rain. Any snow left behind will nearly completely melt. But farther to the north across northern New England, the snow will continue through the day on Thursday and may not change over north of Interstate 90. The FOX Forecast Center said that locations picking up 6 inches of snow or more would likely be found there. The system will then quickly exit New England by Thursday evening, leaving mainly dry conditions in its wake on Thursday night and Friday. The FOX Forecast Center said a second, even stronger storm is expected this weekend. The storm is also expected to bring freezing rain to nearly the same areas that are getting impacted during this first storm. However, the FOX Forecast Center said there will be one major difference – this one will be packing much more snow. Heavy snow is looking increasingly likely on Saturday across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. Cities like Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Detroit could see their biggest snowstorm so far this winter. That storm will reach the Northeast on Saturday night and produce another round of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The FOX Forecast Center said that much like this first storm, Pennsylvania again appears to be in the bull's-eye for highly impactful ice. Rain is looking likely in the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians. Potentially heavy rain will be most concerning in the central Appalachians, and some flooding is article source: First of back-to-back ice storms threatens 22 states from Midwest to Northeast with dangerous impacts
