. . .Another Winter Weather Disaster in the Making. . .
Okay, I have to blog about this storm… even though it’s really not affecting Southwest KS much at all other than prolonged light flurries. Springfield, MO and surrounding parts are in trouble.. with a capital "T". They have already accumulated 1 to 1.5" of ice… and another big round is expected on Sunday the 15th.
This storm is one of the most interesting winter storms, from a meteorological standpoint. There was a huge area of sleet in southern Kansas and most of Oklahoma with this thing so far (the 12th-13th). I don’t have time to post a graphic… but the Norman and Springfield soundings are just fantastic with an incredible warm layer aloft with an awesome near-surface cold layer. The cold layer was so cold (yet quite shallow), that rain was re-freezing as sleet just before hitting the ground… this has actually saved Oklahoma City from disastrous results to the likes of what Springfield, MO are experiencing. Here are some of the more eerie Local Storm Reports from around the Springfield area so far:
1213 PM ICE STORM MONETT 36.92N 93.93W 01/13/2007 BARRY MO TRAINED SPOTTER THE CITY OF MONETT HAS EXPERIENCED MAJOR ICE DAMAGE. CITY WIDE POWER OUTAGES. SOME TREES ARE FALLING OVER FROM THE ROOTS DUE TO SOFT GROUND FROM THE RAINFALL.
1214 AM ICE STORM 5 NE WILLARD 37.36N 93.36W 01/14/2007 GREENE MO NWS EMPLOYEE CATOSTROPHIC TREE DAMAGE. IN WOODED AREAS...TREES AND TREE LIMBS ARE CRACKING AT A HIGH RATE. MANY HOMES WITHOUT POWER. FREEZING DRIZZLE CONTINUED THROUGH THE EVENING. ICE ACCUMULATION ABOUT AN INCH TO INCH AND A HALF.