Saturday, December 20, 2008

Autumn Goes Out with Smoking Trees! Ice Storm of 2008 in the Books!


Andrew Grable of Twelve Mile shows a vintage Indiana picture of tree branches down after a big ice storm. You can say nature slam dunked us and it didn't even need a basketball.

Here were the official storm totals. No it was not the ice storm of 1991 but it caused plenty of headaches around the area and everybody feels very fortunate it was not worse. Imagine ice amounts about 5 times higher than this. This is what happened back in 1991 during the infamous ice storm!


It is hard to believe winter does not officially begin until Sunday at 7:04 a.m. What a wild ride it has been and it is not even close to over yet! I am downloading all your pictures even if I have to hold my eyes open with toothpicks. Why would I not be sleeping yet? That is easy to answer. It is the least I can do for all of you and our tenacious and talented WLFI bloggers. It is my way of saying thank you. You all deserve more than a pat on the back. We stayed up all night and kept everybody informed and it really was a team effort. It really is the future of this business. It is about keeping everybody safe and up to date to the minute. We cannot control nature but what we can do is keep our communication lines open which goes a long way into keeping everybody safe. I cannot thank you enough. I know how fortunate I am to do something I love but what makes it really special is the great people of our community that I work with everyday. This blog is as much yours as mine and yes we do need a television show so we can talk about the weather for at least 30 minutes every day. With Justin, Mary Anne, and Teri we would probably need an hour at least. You would be the show! That is just how great you are. For now though we at least have the blog! I have more good news and that is most areas have had their power restored. We were talking about most of the power outages up near the highway 24 corridor and that is exactly where nature hit the hardest. These pictures tell the story!

Stuart Sullivan in Twelve Mile where ice accumulations were just over .50"

Thank you Ben Bonsett of Logansport which at one time had 90% of the town without power

Vince Koser of West Lafayette shows how much less ice we had in areas farther south. Most of Tippecanoe County had close to .15" of ice. This is a double bonus of a picture with the ice on the trees highlighted with Christmas lights!

Former WLFI Morning Meteorologist Kelly Greene and now WANE-TV Meteorologist in Fort Wayne sends out her love to everybody in the Lafayette viewing area by sending in two pictures above just for you. Fort Wayne was one of the hardest hit areas with just over a half-inch of ice and most of it accumulated in about 3 hours time this morning. What a mess! Thanks Kelly and make sure to keep in touch here on the blog! She says she does miss everybody in Lafayette and thanks you once again for all your support over the years. Keep up the great work! It is great hearing from you again Kel-bel!

Greg Goltry shows us the scene off of state road 16 in Royal Center this morning. It was dangerous but looked "berry berry nice"! Thanks Greg!

Diana Marion of Monticello shows us a picture from good old Monticello which is known as home of the big 1974 tornado and a fisherman's paradise! This morning it wasn't so pretty! Meteorologist Stefanie Davis and I became quite concerned when the winds picked up after 4 a.m. and then got some calls from the Lake Freeman area about power outages. Now you can see why. I am glad you are safe and sound Diana!

Yes! We were all worried about not hearing from Mary Anne in Remington for several hours during the big event. I think this is a good clue. The powerlines caused a fire in one of her trees. Luckily, the fire department was nearby and she is safe and sound. Here are a few more pictures from Mary Anne Best and there is a reason they call her Best!


No, I did not forget our friends in Carroll County. You see a shot of some huge tree branches down along with freezing fog near Flora. Angela Huffer will remember this storm that is for sure!


No, the storm would not be official until we had verification from the wolves at Wolf Park in Battle Ground. Monty Sloan took this picture of the wolf pack that absolutely loves this weather. He told me he will put down some fresh straw in their huts to keep them warm this weekend! That is a good thing with our coldest weather of the season on the way! Thanks as always Monty!


Thanks so much for sending all your pictures in. I tried to share as many as I could. Do not give up on our White Christmas! I have not despite all of our snow melting away yesterday. We do have more on the way by late tonight and Sunday and more snow chances as we get closer to Christmas. I am not buying the scrooge-like models trying to send us rain. I will have updates on this during the weekend. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Big concern right now is frostbite weather on the way late tonight and Sunday. Winter comes in with an attitude! I will have an update coming your way! Now it is time to REST, at least for a little while! :) THANK YOU

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI Mike,
I live right in town in MOnticello, our power went out at 5am friday! A big boom (assuming a transformer) blew and woke me up! It didnt get back on at my house until 1:30am it got very cold here! My son didnt get his on until after 2am he lives across washington street bridge in Monticello! My daughter & son in law who live way out in the country had thiers at 5pm so guess where we all went? :) I am very glad to be home though, i have some pictures will send them tomorrow our neighbor had some big pine trees damaged looks like someone cut the limbs off from about half way up to the ground!!

Goodnight & thank you!!
Pam

Anonymous said...

Great pics MA, I could hear limbs falling sitting in my kitchen. Had to go into work for awhile Friday at the grocery store, we did not get power until around 1:30pm.

Anonymous said...

Mike you were wonderful to stay up so late to make sure the photos were posted and give up an update on the gold blast! Thank you.

All the photos are great!

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

Thanks MIke!! We love your blog! It gives us a way to say "thank you" to YOU as well as keep in touch with others in our area.

Hi Katie :-) What a night and day, huh? At least it was not as bad as '91. I was sitting in the chair in living room and could hear crashes as the bigger limbs came down. Ice is beautiful on trees, etc but I hate to see the damage to them. I sure wish it had melted more before this cold snap and wind come in. They will have to open shelters if we lose power again with the temps. HIGH Of 5-9*above tomorrow with WIND! keep that store open, LOL! Chili weather again.

later bloggers!

Mary Anne in Remington

Anonymous said...

Will do MA! I am sure we will be open for business. I don't like the sound of this wind, need the ice off of trees before it gets too windy.

Anonymous said...

darn it, I meant cold blast:))))

Teri

Anonymous said...

My thought and prayers are with all of those in the counties North of Tipp. Goodness WIND??? So sorry gang, hang in there..

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

I posted this late last night to all the nay sayers about Mikes forcasts...
Anonymous said...
The study of weather is a science, no human can tell exactly what the weather is going to do, or what time its going to happen, they only have computers and radars to follow. Mike and the weather team keeps us updated to the best of their ability! Think of the weather like the human body we all know we will urinate or have a bm during the day or night the the exact time we never know, but its in our bodies forcast. and sometimes are bodies miss a day or two....or it could hit early or late, large amounts or small, solid or liquid, will it float or sink.....get it folks......?? Stop being so cranky.

This is a friendly blog!

December 20, 2008 12:08 AM

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike, in your next entry, could you explain a little of why we really haven't gotten much snow in December?...I would like to know
what is going wrong

thanks for the updates!

Anonymous said...

I live in a neighborhood (Ridgeview) just south of US 24 between Monticello and Logansport. Our power went out sometime before 6am on Friday, and did not come back on until this morning (Saturday) at 9:30! We were powerless and waterless, for 28 hours! Thankfully, we have a fireplace which kept us warm all day and through the night! Our kids just loved it! Now we just need some more snow!

Aaron from XcskiIndiana.com

Anonymous said...

And the stories just keep coming in about the power loss, etc. We have three people and a church without power yet today! The downed line from the "burning tree" pic I sent in brought a wire down. My DH called NIPSCO again today and they had NO record of anyone being out of power here!

Mary Anne in Remington

Anonymous said...

Oh for goodness sake Mary Anne!
I just read that wind chills could reach -20 tomorrow! I pray all power is restored before this hits!

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

Mary Ann this is terrible! Hope they(NIPSCO) gets all turned on, going to be a very cold night!!

Anonymous said...

Well so much for the snowy December, It'll end up snowing when Christmas is all over and I will no longer be in the mood for it..lol. January and February have got to be the lowest times of the year. But, I think the weather will keep us on our feet. A real bummer about the predictions being wrong though.

Anonymous said...

Mary Anne, Katie, how many do you think are still without power? I am scared for all....the winds are now picking up in Laf. and we dont have ice on the trees thank goodness, I feel your fear, panic....What the heck is up with NIPSCO?

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

So is Chirstmas all about snow to you? Be greatful that you have a warm place, a computer, food, on and on. Some folks are wishing just for heat at this time!

Anonymous said...

Hey bloggers! I have been trying to get some forecast done and work on snow! Mike is Tired! I think he needs a BIG (((((THANK YOU))))) AS WELL! :)

First off I have been looking and 3.830 people lost power in Fulton! And still right now 243 and still with out power!

In Maimi County 4,066 lost power and still right now 101 people is with out power!

So this just gos to show and not only this but Mary nnes GREAT Pictures that some places got hit HARD! And most of us where lucky!

Now for snow! We do have some snow flurries forecasted for tonight! Looks like closer to 7:pm till around Midnight! Not looking for anything to really stick of add up to much at all! If where lucky maybe a Dusting!

Now I want a White Christmas just as much as all you!! So I will keep looking for one up till I can't anymore! :-) But I sill want to stay with a possible 1 to 3 inches on Christmas Eve into Christmas Morning! The thing is just like Mike posted! Some Models are (scrooge-Like) And want to show a wet mix of rain to snow! So it is being tricky! At this time!

For Now I will stay with the possible 1 to 3 inch range! This still have what 4 to 5 days to go? Someting like that! So I'M sure it will change againg! All we can do is keep you Posted!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

Teri, I was not aware of this until Mary Ann told it here.I sure hope they have the problem fixed by now.

Anonymous said...

Me too Katie! We are now under a wind chill advisory, we could see temps fall below -15.....all be safe!

Teri

Anonymous said...

All get your fire wood ready if you have and safty kits, for this wind chill is dangerous and could cause physical harm. Stay in if you can, if you must travel have an emergency travel kit with you and plenty of blankets, hats, coats and gloves too!!!!! Candles inder a tin can will help keep you warm if you are stranded.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Justin for staying positive and giving a Christmas update of your own...as a big snow lover, I get myself all hyped up when I hear snow, then any change in the forecast makes me sour. It seems the dominant track this year has snow goin' right through Chicago...But, I suppose there is still good hope.

Anonymous said...

I hear you all about Cold Cold wind chill! For Sunday I have a low of 0 to -4 with wind chill possible - 25* degrees!!!!!

As long as everybody is ready we should be OK! However do take note with wind chills being that cold you can get frost bite in less then 30 min!

I'll catch up with you all later have a great! Day!!

Stay warm!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

Issued by The National Weather Service
Indianapolis, IN
1:26 pm EST, Sat., Dec. 20, 2008

... WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM EST SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM EST SUNDAY.

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING THROUGH THE TEENS WILL ALLOW WIND CHILLS TO DROP BELOW NEGATIVE 15 DEGREES AT TIMES SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

More Information
... WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 11 AM EST SUNDAY UNTIL 6 PM EST SUNDAY...

.AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING THROUGH THE TEENS WILL ALLOW WIND CHILLS TO DROP BELOW NEGATIVE 15 DEGREES AT TIMES SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Anonymous said...

Hi Katie, Teri, and all.....I read the artic front has entered IL and will come through central IL around midnight (1:00 a.m. our time-well most of us's time) so depending on how fast it is moving we could have those awfull cold temps with the wind before dawn. I just pray with all my heart we keep power through this!

Katie, you know the elderly mother of a local hairdresser who lives over behind us in the cul-de-sac...she JUST got power back around 7:30 tonight! She has not been staying there. Also kids on opposite corners of street to our west were without all that time as well as UMC. Lake ARthur Estates as well as those 5 ranch homes to the north of there have been out, too. They have all been restored now or will be by morning. The lineman I talked to was from Quad Cities and will be here until Monday night. I told him we were to get high winds so he best stick around awhile! He was expecting to be called to the DC area for their big wind storm which is forming off the east coast now. IF we have power in the morning we will attempt going to church. I think I will be glad when our "early winter" is OVER1

G'night all! Hopefully will see you here tomorrow!

katie, the ice started around St Rd #18 on our way to Lafayette today.

Mary Anne in Remington

Anonymous said...

Wind just hit here in Remington. My wx station anemometer is frozen so I wont record the wind. shoot!

Anyway, going back to bed to pray we keep power!!

MA in REM