Wintry storm threatens Thanksgiving travels

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI

A large storm already blamed for at least eight deaths in the West slogged through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and other parts of the southwest Sunday as it slowly churned east ahead of Thanksgiving.

After the storm plows through the southwest, meteorologists expect the Arctic mass to head south and east, threatening plans for Tuesday and Wednesday as people hit the roads and airports for some of the busiest travel days of the year. Already, flight delays were expected at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and a spokeswoman said deicing equipment was being prepared as officials planned for the worst in a flurry of conference calls and meetings.

"It's certainly going to be a travel impact as we see the first few people making their way for Thanksgiving," National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Bradshaw said.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for chunks of North Texas from noon Sunday until midday Monday. Parts of Oklahoma are also under a winter storm warning, while an advisory has been issued for other parts of the state. A mix of rain and sleet began falling north of Dallas on Interstate 35 by midday Sunday, and areas of southwestern Oklahoma woke up to several inches of snow.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131124/DAA953T80.html

[elleng]

1. Concerned,

'chicken me' driving from MD to NJ Tuesday for Thanksgiving, and grandbaby's birth may follow. Hoping I-95 will be ok, and then there are local NJ roads!

[CTyankee]

4. I didn't see anything in that link that suggests it will travel to the NE coast.

I have the trek to Boston Thursday am and haven't heard the weather yet...

[elleng]

5. Yes, yank, hope it stays that way.

Did see rain/sleet forecast for Delaware + NJ Tuesday, now see rain for Tuesday P.M. so hope to leave MD early.

[NutmegYankee]

10. It's quite possible.

Update:

Per the NWS in Upton, NY

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
LONG RANGE MODELS AND ENSEMBLES HAVE COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT
TODAY THAT THE TRI-STATE AREA WILL LIKELY BE IMPACTED BY A POTENT
STORM SYSTEM DURING THE HEIGHT OF THANKSGIVING TRAVEL DURING THE
MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

AS A NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE DIGS INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION
MON NIGHT AND A CUTOFF LOW PRES SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN STREAM
TRACKS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...THE TWO WILL MERGE INTO A
DEEP UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A STRENGTHENING SFC LOW TRACKING UP
THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND EAST COAST. THE PAST 3 RUNS OF THE
GFS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY IN AGREEMENT WITH A SOLN CLOSER TO THE
COAST...LIKE THE REMAINING GUIDANCE HAS BEEN INDICATING FOR THE
LAST FEW DAYS. IT DOES REMAIN THE EASTERNMOST SOLN OF ALL OF THE
GUIDANCE...WHICH HAS TRENDED A BIT FURTHER W OVER THE LAST 24
HOURS. THIS TREND WILL RESULT IN MILD TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE
AREA...WITH SOME WET SNOW POSSIBLE ON THE BACKSIDE AS THE STORM LIFTS
OUT. THIS WILL DEPEND ON HOW QUICKLY COLDER AIR WORKS IN AND IF
THERE IS STILL PRECIPITATION OCCURRING. MODELS ARE ALSO INDICATING
A SLIGHTLY WETTER SOLN. THE NAM HAS UPWARDS OF 5-7 INCHES ACROSS
WESTERN ZONES...BUT THINK THIS IS OVERDONE. SEE HYDRO SECTION FOR
MORE INFORMATION ON AMOUNTS AND IMPACTS.

IN ADDITION TO THE RAIN...WHICH COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT
TIMES...WINDS WILL INCREASE AS WELL. INDICATIONS OF A 60-70 KT LLJ
EXIST...ALTHOUGH SOUNDINGS ARE INVERTED AND WOULD KEEP MUCH OF
THIS ALOFT. BEHIND THE STORM...GUSTY NW WINDS WILL BE
LIKELY WED NIGHT INTO THU...BUT APPEAR TO BE SUB-ADVSY AT THIS TIME.

[csziggy]

13. I hope not - my nephew is flying from Boston to Central Florida

To have an early Thanksgiving Wednesday evening. He'll be flying back on Thanksgiving - the savings were significant if we changed our schedule.

[beac]

7. Hello, my friend!

As a newly transplanted Northerner, I have been learning the alternate routes to/from MD.

PM me with your destination and I may be able to suggest a way to avoid some of I-95 (which is no fun in even the best of weather.)

[elleng]

8. HI!!!

[monmouth3]

2. What impact could this have on Black Friday????..n/t

[Danmel]

3. my son is coming home for Thanksgiving

Traveling from Rochester NY to Long Island. Worried too! I want to see my baby boy.

[Habibi]

6. I'm in Roc;

I think our area will be okay.

[christx30]

9. We have cold weather

and freezing rain (sleet) tonight in Austin. I have a 13 mile bicycle ride home from work. Not looking forward to it.

[secondvariety]

11. Yikes.

Maybe call a taxi instead.

[christx30]

12. Naaaa

I don't feel like spending $40 on a single ride home. I'll be ok. I just wish owning a car was more affordable.

[christx30]

15. I got about halfway home

gloves were soaked. Shoes were soaked. Couldn't feel my toes. So I decided to park my bike and call a cab. And I stood there like an idiot for 2 hours in 32 degree temps. I called the cab company 4 times requesting updates. Ended up walking the 9 miles home. Was not a fun night at all. I was super angry. Going to call today and complain.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I've done that before

I once had a winter job where I bicycled about 12 miles one way to the work site, and I got some bad weather coming back one time. I had to wear two pairs of gloves, with a plastic bag between them for extra insulation. Still, I was nearly frozen when I got home