Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Ice Storm Update: Some Areas Likely to Lose Power

Here is the latest: We do have Winter Storm Watches and Ice Storm Warnings out for our viewing area. I am a little more optimistic about most of our viewing area dodging the worst of the ice. But not all of us will. I think .10" to .25" of ice will do for most of the area. Since we will have light winds during much of our ice event I only expect isolated power outages and small tree limbs down.

The farther north you go the more the ice. Areas from State Road 14 up to Highway 30 will be in the .25" to .50" range for ice. This means there will likely be damage to larger tree limbs, sagging powerlines, and some power outages. This includes Fair Oaks, Medaryville, Winamac, and Rochester.

North of Highway 30 to the Indiana Toll Road, including much of Chicagoland could see devastating ice accumulations of .50" to 1" or more. This usually brings widespread tree and powerline damage with roads nearly impassable. Power outages are likely and for possible long periods of time. So make sure you check those plans heading north.

This storm will be about 10 times more powerful than the one we had yesterday here in Lafayette so our roads which are still rough in many areas will only get worse by late tomorrow afternoon and night. Please be careful traveling.

GOOD NEWS: NO MORE ICE FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK AND OUR CHANCE OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS IS UP TO 95%!!

Be safe, plan ahead, and I will post some temperature and ice maps shortly!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alright Mike Thanks for your Update! :)

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

Mike as you know I am in the warned area but on the southern edge. PLEASE keep me and others in my area apprised of the storm as it progresses tomorrow?? If ANYTHING changes let me know. How accurate at this time is that line of demarcation for heavy ice? at this time St Rd #14 is 19 miles north of me.

Not to wish THEM any bad wx but .....

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

95% chance of a white christmas? You are a brave one Mike---I sincerely hope you are correct! You struck out on your prediction we would double or triple our usual December snow totals. Ahh, the joys of having a blog that everyone can look back on. Seriously though, you are by far my favorite meteorologist ever, and I really enjoy keeping tabs on the weather with you---thanks for all you do.

Anonymous said...

December is not over our friend

Anonymous said...

I am wondering about the closing and delay's on wlfi's site. I checked it at 3:00 am for I go to work early. the closing and delay site was blank, I had checked it earlier and it did have a couple of school delays for today. after midnight was blank but did say last updated 12:00 am...

I was worried that more delays might have been added, and indeed they were. Should keep the updates all night in this kind of wx. Some business will close and call for a certin shift to start later.

Anonymous said...

and the sun was to shine today and melt the ice, didnt happen, was cloudy all day! did see about 10 minutes of sun just before it went down.

Anonymous said...

Mike please keep us Lafayette JC, paper people who are out at 2 am delivering papers informed as early as possible i check on here every moring before i head out,,, RB from Monticello

Anonymous said...

Hopefully the Laffy area (and others) won't get so much ice or be without power. But to be prepared, what should I do? What are some safety/ice storm preparedness tips? Anyone? The basics? Food/water/warm clothing/candles?

Anonymous said...

ICE STORM WARNING FOR TiPp CO!!
Watch is no longer in effect!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes Ice storm warning for Tippecanoe, Warren, and Clinton Countie!

I'll check back!

Justin

Anonymous said...

Issued by The National Weather Service
Indianapolis, IN
10:43 pm EST, Wed., Dec. 17, 2008

... ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THURSDAY TO 3 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED AN ICE STORM WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THURSDAY TO 3 AM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND MOVE QUICKLY EAST. AS IT DOES... A STRONG COLD HIGH PRESSURE FROM CANADA WILL MOVE SOUTH INTO THE LAKES REGION. THIS WILL CAUSE A SITUATION WHERE COLD AIR AT THE GROUND ALLOWS RAIN FALLING TO FREEZE ON SURFACES.

LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WILL MOVE IN AFTER 4 PM THURSDAY... WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR FREEZING RAIN AFTER 7 PM. GRADUALLY... WARMER AIR FROM THE SOUTH WILL MOVE NORTHWARD AND CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO SLOWLY RISE ABOVE FREEZING AFTER MIDNIGHT. BEFORE THIS HAPPENS... ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF A QUARTER OF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. COMMERCE WILL LIKELY BE SEVERELY IMPACTED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

More Information
... WINTER WEATHER TO IMPACT CENTRAL INDIANA LATE THURSDAY...

No Additional Weather Alerts for Lafayette, IN
[State alerts for IN]

Anonymous said...

OK Still between a Tenth of an inch to a Quarter of an inch of Ice possible!!!!!

AN ICE
STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THURSDAY TO 3 AM EST
FRIDAY.

Now we will have to keep a close eye on this! A little ice go's a long way!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

Getting worried....

Anonymous said...

Mary Anne go to this site About.com
Saltwater Aquariums

The first thing to do when the power goes out is to quickly take steps to retain the heat that is already in the aquarium. Heat rises, and newspaper has amazing insulation properties. By wrapping the outside of the tank with thick layers of newspaper, covering the top and blocking off any hood vents, you can prevent heat from rising and escaping from the aquarium. In all likelihood you won't be running the aquarium lights, but if you have a power source to do so, DO NOT cover the light hood, as this is a potential fire hazard. If yo don't have newspaper, towels or a blanket can be used.

Once steps have been taken to retain the existing heat in the aquarium, here's how you can begin generating it to keep the aquarium warmed up.


Boil water with anything you have available, such as a portable propane camping or hiking stove, a wood, charcoal or propane powered BBQ.

Pour the boiled water into any type of sturdy plastic container that can be tightly sealed, but more importantly will not melt due to the high temperature of the water. We tested this method using clean one gallon bleach jugs, and these worked very well.

Place the hot water filled container in the aquarium and let it float. When the container starts to cool off, refill or replace it with a newly filled one.
Hot Water Container Method Usage Tips


You can float multiple containers. Depending on the size of your aquarium, how cold the temperature is getting or how fast it is dropping, you'll have to decide how many you want to use.

Anonymous said...

I am getting worried too. Mike said thinks we could see .10-.25 of ice, and alot of rain after.

BUT I AM STILL WORRIED.

Anonymous said...

Warren County is in the winter storm warning. .25 plus of ice acumulation. I wonder if this clips part of foutain and tippecanoe counties.

Anonymous said...

Issued by The National Weather Service
Indianapolis, IN
10:43 pm EST, Wed., Dec. 17, 2008

Ice Storm Warning for:
Benton
Carroll
Clinton
Delaware
Howard
Jasper
Madison
Newton
Randolph
Tippecanoe
Tipton
Warren

Anonymous said...

Wow...When Severe Weather ie Chase season is over I stop coming by here as often...Good to see some of you gearing up for the Ice..

Lil shout out to my Air Chair Chaser, Justin in Lafayette who has guided my through the county more than once chasing wall clouds...

Mary Anne,

I have kept Saltwater fish tanks for years from 10-180 gallons and have had catostrophic failures including power outages cost me thousands... Had a 180G tank up in Dayton when the tornado hit there a few years back...My Advice, buy a generator, you'll be glad you did, if it is outta your price range, go to Staples and buy a Computer Battery Back-up and use it to power a heater and a circulation pump...

Good Luck to all, and Mike can we get a plug for Millers Tree Farm at Dog n Suds who still ahve a few trees left for Christmas ;)

Dustin Washington

Anonymous said...

A shout back to ya Dustin!

Sounds like you have a good time chaseing! :) I think everybody is doing their best to get ready for what ice is coming! Raght now it is still looking like for us In Tippecanoe county between a Tenth and a quarter inch! Everbody will be fine as long as we are all ready! ;)

Justin in Lafayette