Now here's a sight we never thought we'd see...
...snow covering downtown Houston. This was the view from the balcony. It was a Winter wonderland but only in appearance. There are 1.4 million people without power and things are getting dire in the area.
This was yesterday's weather and forecast. It is still below freezing and will have been below freezing since Sunday afternoon.
Roads are impassable because of ice.
Pipes are bursting in homes.
There are boil water notices because of water pressure/power issues at the water treatment plants.
People are having to deal with below freezing temps inside their homes and several of our coworkers have been dealing with temps in their homes in the 30's.
Both airports have been closed to inbound and outbound flights until things get better.
It's not ice on the lines, instead this is a complete and epic failure by our power companies. They did not prepare for an event like this and things are bad and getting worse. This is not like a hurricane where the lines came down in the wind and crews have to get out and repair them. In this case the grid has gone down across the region because of various issues related to "we never knew it could get this bad" and they are unable to push power to the customers. The good side is that as they fix the problems, the power should just come back on because the lines are still fine.
Now we just hope for above freezing temperatures as soon as possible. It's looking better today as I type this, the above forecast has changed and we may get above freezing this afternoon but still so many people suffering in the freezing temperatures right now.
But round two of possible ice comes again tonight...
I think Florida is about the only warm place in the 48. We have had down in the high 20's a few times but not for long. No crops lost and the citrus need those cold spells so they will turn orange or yellow in color.
ReplyDeleteSince we love orange juice and so much of it comes from there, we're glad Florida was spared. Stay warm and safe!!
DeleteI've been watching on the weather channel and national news. It's definitely scary for you there. Hope you guys have power. Stay safe. Janie V
ReplyDeleteYes, we have power thankfully. The farm had power all day Sunday and Monday but today it's been experiencing rolling blackouts. Thanks, it's crazy times here for sure.
DeleteIt's very sad for all of Texas, we have been watching too. Thinking of everyone there.
ReplyDeleteYes, all over the state and late today some terrible news out of Galveston, there may end up being dozens of fatalities. Very sad.
DeleteI have been watching the news and shuddering (despite loving the cold).
ReplyDeleteStay warm and stay safe - and if you can, don't go out in that until the roads are clear.
We've been inside since Saturday so we'll just keep that up until it clears. Tomorrow might be the first big break. Thanks!!!
DeleteSince you are posting this you must have electricity. I can't imagine being without heat but if our power went out we would be without heat here in NH. We have no secondary heating source as our daughter does with her wood stove.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's been hit and miss and today we found out we shouldn't drink water or boil it first because the water treatment plants have lost power. We have plenty of bottled water so we're good there. Should be back tomorrow. Yes, we are the same here, no secondary heat source. This is making us rethink out remodeling at the farm. A fireplace/wood burning stove might be in out future.
DeleteNot to brag, but to note the difference ... it's been in high 50s/low 60s days, high 30s/low 40s nights here in Tucson ... and while it's not "next door" I do think of of a sort of near by ... only NM in between ... Good luck with anything outdoor you might need to do, as well as what you will find at the farm. It sounds like your years of experience and of course help of family have paid off!!
ReplyDeleteBrag away, we like hearing warming stories, ha. We'll be back there soon. Heck, the forecast for next week shows a 70! That's darn near summer, ha! Thank you 'neighbor'! :-)
DeleteOMG! I see your gov is calling for an investigation into the power companies. please stay safe; no reason to go out!
ReplyDeleteYes, mainly the group that manages them, ERCOT, they manage the flow of electricity. They have failed spectacularly. We're staying in.
DeleteFrom what I understand, TX has the capacity. But they can't use it without EPA approval because it may temporarily affect air conditions. And they couldn't get the approval in time.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this will provide enough incentive to get that procedure streamlined for any future issues.
Yes, we have the capacity. What's happens is some of the places that generate electricity to the grid were not winterized (despite 10 years ago they were warned this could happen) and the historically record cold bumped several of those places offline. Nuclear plant is offline because they didn't winterize their coolant system, several large wind turbines were frozen and stopped because they didn't use an antifreeze in their engines, several natural gas plants has gone offline due to not winterizing some pipes, and a coal fire plant had the same issues operating in extreme cold. All of these plants operate up North and East just fine. In 2010 there was a report (after the last cold weather disaster) that this could and would happen again. Nothing was done. And here we are. It's so sad. Just heard about a "mass casualty event" in Galveston with an overwhelming number of fatalities due to the freezing, but no other details yet. I hope something good can come out of THIS freeze and they'll prepare of the next one like you said.
Deleteand trump is probably saying this is proof that there is no global warming...smh!!! stay safe!
ReplyDeleteHa, so true, those who always want to deny climate change/global warming never seem to understand the difference between "weather" and "climate". Climate affects the weather, not the other way around. But you know, "science stuff", ha. Thanks and stay warm too!
DeleteWhatever the power companies prepare for when they think of the worst they should take and multiply by 10.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Amen, brilliant way of thinking.
DeleteAll this is fine, but it would cost untold amounts of money to do this. Are you ready to pay 10 times what you pay for electricity now to finance rebuilding the grid to that level?
DeleteWaking up in Austin this morning with anxiety and dread for this situation. My trees all made the first round with no problems now the limbs are weighted down with ice. Worries for pipes and pools. Saturday was the last time I was out and I saw a massive live oak uprooted sitting on phone, internet lines. A nursing home here was without power 2 days and about to run out of diesel fuel for generator only powering lights and kitchen. Skeleton crew of staff on hand to hold down the place. Anxious family, confused residents, also pets needing bathroom breaks in the nasty weather. Thankful a jeep group on facebook was able to jump into action and get more staff and supplies in. A restaurant is donating a meal today if they can make it. Our local grocery was wiped worse than last spring. No restaurants open with impassable roads and no power. It's a real eye opener about emergency preparedness.
ReplyDeleteAnd even when the power grid is back up and running, you all still have catastrophic damage to a lot of properties because of frozen pipes. So building material prices will go up, supplies will go down, and service will be a get in line situation. I feel for you guys. Texas will be digging out of this for awhile
ReplyDeleteSaturday - Saturday should be a bit more normal. I'm ready for it to be normal winter now with highs in the 50's and lows in the 40's!
ReplyDeleteOur water in our county has been shut off earlier this morning; but one thing that we have plenty of, and that is Snow. So we gathered up buckets and any containers that we can find to gather the snow to melt the on the stove in my HUGH stock pot and in my 2 large electric Nesco's, & crock pots to melt the snow for us to use in flushing the toilets and for heating up to do dishes, etc.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for everyone in Texas and particularly our old home, Galveston. We have a woodstove. It is our primary heat and I grumble somewhat at having to light it each morning but boy are we glad of it during storms. Once the weather event is behind you it might be worth investing in a small back up generator for the farm. Good luck and stay warm.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing and reading about it. Hopefully things will warm quickly and some sort of normalcy will return. But oh, those pipes are going to be a bear when they thaw!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-millions-remain-without-power-amid-more-snow-and-ice-blame-and-questions-mount/ar-BB1dM7P9?ocid=msedgdhp
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