A significant wintry weather problem for a large part of the Central and East U.S. in a broad zone from Texas to New York. The following areas will be impacted by either a winter storm with snow or freezing rain:
Much of North Texas
All of Oklahoma
Most of North and Central Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
All of Missouri except extreme north
South half of Illinois
South half of Indiana
Southern Ohio
Virtually all of Kentucky
Extreme Northwest Tennessee
All of West Virginia
North and Western Virginia
Most of Pennsylvania
A good chunk of New York State
Here are some spot reports on the specifics:
OKLAHOMA CITY
NWS warns of significant ice accumulations. Accidents have already been reported. Much of the precipitation will be freezing drizzle, freezing rain and sleet. The wintry precipitation will increase in coverage and intensity and become more widespread by tonight. The largest ice accumulations will likely be over the SE half of Oklahoma where glaze could build to more than 1/3 of an inch and locally as much as 3/4 of an inch. That does not sound like much, but when that pertains to freezing rain, the results can be devastating. Trees and power lines will be damaged, travel is highly discouraged, it may become impossible.
TULSA
The NWS warns that several rounds of heavier freezing rain will affect the area before ending late Tuesday night. Ice accumulation of 1/2 to 1 inch expected to be common with isolated locations exceeding 1 inch. This also affects Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian Counties in Arkansas. Prolonged interruption in power is likely. This situation appears to be severe enough that the loss of electricity could be for days or even weeks. It is not necessary to repeat that travel is highly discouraged.
LITTLE ROCK
A Winter Storm Watch for later Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The main threat for freezing rain will be Tuesday night wth ice accumulation up to 1/10 of an inch which could clearly cause travel problems. A major ice storm is expected over the north part of Arkansas. This will be a long duration event.
FAYETTEVILLE
That city is in NW Arkansas and home of the University of Arkansas, but this ice danger also includes places like Rogers, Bentonville, Eureka Springs and Springdale as well as Muskogee in Oklahoma. As much as 1/2 to 1 inch of ice may accumulate and, on top of that, sleet amounts of up to 1 inch. Trees and power lines will be greatly impacted.
MEMPHIS
An ice storm event is expected across NE Arkansas, the Missouri boothill and extreme NW Tennessee. The wintry stuff will start in Central Arkansas and spread east into the Mid-South tonight which includes the Memphis area. It will be mainly in the form of freezing rain and significant ice accuulations are expected.
FORT WORTH/DALLAS
A prolonged period of freezing rain is expected across North Texas tonight and all day Wednesday. This event is expected to have a major impact on the area and, of course, travel will be discouraged. The main area affected will be the north 2/3 of North Texas, mainly north of the Lampasas-Hillsboro-Canton line. Further south, a Winter Storm Watch where temperatures will fall below freezing Tuesday morning with average ice accumulations about 1/10 of an inch with isolated amounts to 1/4 inch. Please rest assured that a freezing rain accumulation of only 1/10 of an inch can turn streets and highways into a skating rink. This includes places like Sherman, Denison, Jacksboro, Weatherford, Mineral Wells and many other communities. Specifically for the Fort Worth/Dallas area, an Ice Storm Warning is posted from about nightfall today through noon tomorrow.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not an all-inclusive report. Please refer to our first paragraph where we did outline all of the areas that have a wintry weather problem. Freezing rain is one of the most devastating types of wintry precipitation. It clings to everything.
