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The freezing conditions will end for Texas soon, but they’re set to move into the Northeast this weekend.

A woman waits for paramedics in the back of a Lyft Ride vehicle on February 01, 2023 in Austin, Texas. A winter storm is sweeping across portions of Texas, causing massive power outages and disruptions of highways and roads.

Central Texas has been frozen since earlier this week after an Arctic front rolled into the Southern U.S. Parts of central, west, and north Texas and nearby states Arkansas and Tennessee were under ice storm warnings, per the National Weather Service Prediction Center. The freezing temperatures and sleet should end by this weekend.

“The prolonged and damaging ice storm that has impacted a large region from Texas to Tennessee is forecast to finally come to an end today as a final surge of moisture slides eastward,” the NWS said. “Highs will return into the 40s and 50s by Friday, likely eliminating any icy concerns.”

“FINALLY beginning to see some clearing on radar. Road conditions will slowly improve as we climb into the mid 30s today. Slick spots will persist overnight but widespread improvement is expected tomorrow. Allow for extra travel time today. It’s still slushy!” the Fort Worth National Weather Service account tweeted Thursday.

More than 405,000 customers out of 13 million are without power, according to Poweroutage.us.

Several days of icy conditions had canceled over 2,000 flights across several states as of Wednesday afternoon, the Wall Street Journal reported. Driving was dangerous throughout Texas this week. The storm has been blamed for 10 traffic accident deaths across three states, the Associated Press reported. The sleet and freezing rain also created ice layers on trees, causing the branches to snap off.

…click on the above link to read the rest…

Eastern US Power Grid Declares Emergency, Power Outages Top One Million, Flight Disruptions Persist Amid Storm Chaos

December 24, 2022

Eastern US Power Grid Declares Emergency, Power Outages Top One Million, Flight Disruptions Persist Amid Storm Chaos

The powerful winter storm that battered a large swath of the eastern half of the US has left behind an Arctic chill Saturday morning. A regional power grid with 65 million customers in 13 states and the District of Columbia has declared a rare emergency, over a million people have no power, air travel remains disrupted, and reports of highway accidents are some of the most trending topics this morning.

Let’s begin with PJM Interconnection, a regional power grid that stretches from Illinois to New Jersey, which declared a Stage 2 emergency late Friday and asked customers to conserve electricity due to the rising risk of grid instability.

“PJM is asking consumers to reduce their use of electricity, if health permits, between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022, and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022,” PJM wrote in a press release.

PJM asks consumers to conserve electricity in the face of continuing frigid temperatures. https://t.co/ks01AvBr9g

— PJM Interconnection (@pjminterconnect) December 24, 2022

PJM’s request for customers to reduce power comes as the grid manager is trying to prevent a Stage 3 emergency, which would result in rolling blackouts across the 13 states and the District of Columbia.

“Demand soared more than 9 gigawatts above forecasts Friday evening — much faster and higher than anticipated. That’s the equivalent of about 9 million homes just popping up on the grid on a typical day,” Bloomberg said.

PJM spokeswoman Susan Buehler told Bloomberg that Stage 2 emergency would “certainly be enough” to avert blackouts across the regional grid because the Arctic blast is only temporary.

In the Carolinas, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, like several other utilities, have asked customers to conserve power due to energy shortfalls.

…click on the above link to read the rest…

Coast-To-Coast Winter Storm Sends US NatGas Surging

December 12, 2022

Coast-To-Coast Winter Storm Sends US NatGas Surging

In what’s forecasted to be the first coast-to-coast major winter storm of the season across the Lower 48, traders have furiously panic bid US natural gas futures due to the prospects of increased heating demand.

On Sunday, wintery precipitation, powerful winds, and heavy rains battered Intermountain West as a powerful storm was set to traverse the rest of the country in the new week. The next stop for the storm is the Plains, South, and Northeast, according to The Weather Channel.

Heavy mountain snow has already blanketed parts of California’s Sierra. Snow will spread across the high country of Colorado and northern New Mexico today. Then this evening, the system moves into the Northern Plains. By night into Tuesday, heavy snow and strong winds could spark blizzard conditions across eastern Montana, eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota.

Later in the week, moisture from the storm and cold air will be in place in the East. However, it’s still early to forecast where snow will fall in the Northeast.

The storm is coupled with a cold blast pouring across the Lower 48 starting Friday. Temperatures are forecasted to dive between Friday and next Wednesday.

Most of the Lower 48 could be well under average temperatures.

Which means heating demand erupts.

And why energy traders are bidding NatGas prices higher this morning. At one point, prices were up 12% to $7.010/mmbtu.

Cold season is in — drawing down on inventories began on Nov. 10 (read: “US Flips Into Withdrawal Season” As NatGas Prices Surge).

Also, Freeport LNG is expected to ramp up exports out of its Texas facility soon, along with cold weather; this could keep a bid under NatGas prices this heating season.

A Bomb Cyclone Could Wallop Northeast With Heavy Snow

March 9, 2022

A Bomb Cyclone Could Wallop Northeast With Heavy Snow

Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures in the eastern US earlier this week, winter isn’t over with eleven days left in the season.

AccuWeather forecasters warn a potential ‘bomb cyclone’ could unleash accumulating snowfall from the central Appalachians to the interior Northeast on Friday through Saturday.

“Confidence is growing for a significant storm that will bring wide-reaching impacts,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.

The end-of-the-week storm will take aim at the Eastern Seaboard and is expected to undergo rapid strengthening, perhaps reaching bomb cyclone status.

“Winds across the entire Northeast and mid-Atlantic will be very gusty Saturday and Saturday night,” DaSilva said.

AccuWeather meteorologists are still determining the rain-snow line, but models already suggest somewhere around Interstate 95.

In the interior Northeast, accumulating snowfall is expected.

“It is within this Appalachian zone that the air will be cold enough at the onset of precipitation, or turn colder dramatically during the event, for mostly snow to fall, with accumulations ranging from a few inches to a foot or more,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

Nothing is locked in as meteorologists will likely be more definite in their forecasts on Thursday evening.

100 Million Americans In Path Of Dangerous Winter Storm

January 16, 2022

100 Million Americans In Path Of Dangerous Winter Storm

A massive winter storm could impact upwards of 100 million people across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast during the latter part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings for 19 states, with some areas over the Appalachians could experience a snowfall rate of 1-3 inches per hour.

“A major Winter Storm will impact the eastern U.S. on Sunday into Monday. The highest snowfall totals are expected along the spine of the Appalachians as well as across the lower Great Lakes. The most significant icing is expected over the Carolinas this morning. Significant impacts to travel across these regions are expected,” NWS warned.

Winter storm warnings have been issued for these states: New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and the District of Columbia.

AccuWeather expects 6-12 inches of snow along the Appalachians and even into Ohio and western New York. There’s a strong likelihood that snow accumulations of 3 feet could be seen at higher elevations in the Appalachians, Adirondacks, the Green and White mountains, and parts of southwestern New York near Lake Ontario.

Pittsburgh, Johnstown and Scranton, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, Binghamton, Albany and Syracuse, New York; Morgantown, West Virginia; Cleveland; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Burlington, Vermont; and Caribou, Maine; all face accumulating snow through Monday. As for metro areas along the I-95 corridor, expect 1-3 inches of snow, with a mixture of ice and rain. The heaviest snowfalls will be in the interior Northeast.

On Friday, weather models forecasted the heaviest snowfall would be west of the I-95 corridor — so far, they’re right.

2,200 Flights Canceled As Winter Storm Pounds Northeast

January 7, 2022

2,200 Flights Canceled As Winter Storm Pounds Northeast

Friday brought more bad news for airlines and their customers with 2,200 flight cancellations as a winter storm blanketed mid-Atlantic and Northeast states and staffing shortages due to COVID-19 infections. Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and regional carrier SkyWest Airlines are the hardest hit this morning, according to data provided by FlightAware.

FlightAware showed most of the canceled flights originated at Northeast airports, such as LaGuardia, Boston Logan International, John F. Kennedy International, and Newark Liberty International.

The high number of cancellations is a multiprong issue. First, crew shortages showed no signs of easing two weeks after beginning on Christmas Eve due to Omicron. Second, a winter storm dumped accumulating snow over the Tri-State region.

Flight delays and cancellations are likely to worsen throughout the day and spill over into Saturday.

Texas Relies More on Wind Than Coal for Its Energy—But Is It Ready for Another Winter Storm?

January 3, 2022

Wind turbines in Papalote, Texas, on June 15, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Texas Relies More on Wind Than Coal for Its Energy—But Is It Ready for Another Winter Storm?

Texas power regulators announced significant changes in December focused on shoring up problems with its electricity grid that narrowly escaped a catastrophic total blackout when Winter Storm Uri hit in February.

With natural gas generating most of the state’s electricity, much of the talk has focused on how to make sure natural gas providers and generators are prepared against freezing and supply issues should another storm like Uri sweep through Texas.

But little has been said about what wind power—the second-largest producer of energy for Texas’ independent grid—will do to winterize to keep the grid stable in an emergency, even as some wonder why Texas, rich in fossil fuels, is relying so heavily on wind in the first place.

Epoch Times Photo — Wind turbines are viewed at a wind farm in Colorado City, Texas, on Jan. 21, 2016. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Texas grid, unique in its independence from the rest of the country, is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which is governed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

The grid is powered mainly by natural gas, which generated 46 percent of the electricity in 2020. But the grid’s share of renewable power has been increasing over the past decade, with wind providing 23 percent, surpassing coal which supplies 18 percent. Another 11 percent is supplied by nuclear, and the remainder comes from other sources.

All sectors of the grid struggled to supply electricity during the storm that contributed to more than 200 deaths and cost the state billions in financial losses.

In an email response to The Epoch Times, Mike Hoke, a public utility spokesman, said wind power producers were not exempt from winterization rules mandated by state regulators in wake of Uri.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Flights Canceled, 800,000 Without Power As Fast-Moving Winter Storm Pounds Mid-Atlantic

January 3, 2022

Flights Canceled, 800,000 Without Power As Fast-Moving Winter Storm Pounds Mid-Atlantic

Update (1217ET): A fast-moving winter storm pounded the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, resulting in 800,00 customers without power.

According to PowerOutage.US, the highest concentration of power outages spanned across Virginia (378k customers without power) and North Carolina (163k customers without power).

AccuWeather reports parts of Tennessee and North Carolina have received nearly a foot of snow.

The Washington Metropolitan Area is expected to receive 4-6 inches of snow by late evening.

The wintry conditions unleashed travel hell, with at least 2,330 flight cancellations within, into, or out of the US. Most cancellations are at Reagan National, Baltimore/Washington International, and LaGuardia.

* * *

The timing of Monday’s winter storm for Mid-Atlantic states isn’t great as more flights have been canceled or delayed due to staffing issues and inclement weather.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter storm warning for Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Deleware, and South Jersey. The storm could blanket D.C. with a foot of snow by Monday night.

NWS warns that some areas could see upwards of 2 inches of snow per hour. Total snowfall could reach 10 inches in certain areas, but a large swath of the Mid-Atlantic could see 4-8 inches.

Adverse weather conditions worsened the travel situation amid a crew staffing shortage. Flight tracking firm FlightAware.com reports (as of 0700 ET) 1,800 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were canceled, with nearly 672 delays. That follows Sunday’s 2,709 cancellations.

Reagan National, LaGuardia, Denver International, Baltimore/Washington International, Newark Liberty International, and Washington Dulles International had some of the highest flight cancellations this morning. Southwest, SkyWest, Endeavor Air, and JetBlue were the most affected airlines.

Since Christmas Eve, at least 12,000 flights have been canceled around the country, making this past holiday travel season an absolute mess for airline passengers. It appears the travel chaos will be extended for the next few days.

Massive Snowstorm To Ring In New Year For Millions Of Americans

December 31, 2021

Massive Snowstorm To Ring In New Year For Millions Of Americans

AccuWeather meteorologists say that millions of Americans will be ringing in the new year with a massive winter storm that is expected to blanket the Midwest and parts of the Northeast with as much as 18 inches of snow.

As of 0900 ET, winter storm warnings have been posted for the Four Corners region and Central Plains.

High-risk metro areas for accumulating snow include Denver, Kansas City, Deis Monies, Chicago, and Detroit. Some areas could receive between 12-18 inches through New Year’s Day.

After the storm, temperatures will slide across the country. The average temperatures for US Lower 48 will begin to dip from 47 degrees Fahrenheit today to 33 degrees Fahrenheit on Jan. 3. Temperatures will oscillate between 40-35 until Jan. 10. Then average temperatures will drive below freezing through Jan. 15.

Meteorologists at private weather forecasting firm BAMWX continue to predict colder weather is set to trend for January.

With snow and cold weather inbound for a large swath of the country, keep an eye on natural gas contracts linked to Henry Hub for possible upside (read more on natural gas trends).

“Overwhelming Signal” – Major Winter Storm Threats For Million Of Americans Within Next Five Days

February 12, 2021

“Overwhelming Signal” – Major Winter Storm Threats For Million Of Americans Within Next Five Days

Earlier this week, we told readers in a note titled “Prepare For “Onslaught Of Winter Storms” In Coming Days” that “multiple rounds of snow, ice in the Midwest and East as bitterly cold temperatures grip parts of the nation.” A new weather model released on Thursday suggests this Saturday through next week potentially dangerous winter storms could materialize.

On Thursday, meteorologists at BAMWX updated their “Impactful Weather Outlook” between Feb. 13 and Feb. 21, indicating: major winter storms are possible” from Denver to Dallas to Chicago to Cleveland to Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states.

“An overwhelming signal seems to be developing for a major winter storm from the Deep South to the Ohio Valley into the NE early next week. Heres our 3-7 day hazards map and a blend of models 75th percentile data. Worth note deterministic data showing major snow numbers. #Snow,” BAMWX’s official Twitter account tweeted.

Along with multiple storms forecasted across Midwest to the Northeast, a polar vortex split has dumped the winter’s most brutally cold weather into the country’s mid-section and the Northeast. This week temperatures were as low as 43 degrees below zero in northern Minnesota.

Diving temperatures helped catapult propane demand to a 17-year high last week.

Arctic temperatures forced tens of millions of Americans to turn up their thermostats. Cooler temps could be sticking around through at least the mid-part of the month.

Increased demand for propane sent spot prices in Mont Belvieu, Texas, soaring, to around 85.50 cents per gallon, according to Refinitiv data, hitting two-year highs last month.

Besides propane, spot natgas prices have exploded in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, as a sharp rise in heating demand has been seen in recent weeks because of fridge temperatures.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Major Nor’easter Could Bury NYC In Two Feet Of Snow

February 1, 2021

Major Nor’easter Could Bury NYC In Two Feet Of Snow

Tens of millions of people across the Northeast are waking up Monday to 2021’s first major snowstorm with up to two feet and whiteout conditions in certain areas.

National Weather Service’s Event Summary Of Major Nor’easter

Winter Storm Watches & Warnings

NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins said the Tri-State area could see the largest snowstorm in half a decade. Karins forecasts New York City could receive up to 20 inches of snow or more.

National Weather Service’s Official Snowfall Predictions

On Sunday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s school system would be closed. He said appointments for coronavirus vaccinations would be put on hold and rescheduled.

“The last thing we want to do is urge our seniors to come out in the middle of a storm like this,” de Blasio said.

He tweeted Sunday night:

“Beginning 6 AM tomorrow, February 1, nonessential travel will be restricted in New York City. This winter storm will be dangerous with heavy snowfall and strong winds. If you can stay home, stay home. Keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles.”

The 48-hour weather event could result in 1 to 2 inches per hour of snow and 40-50 mph wind gusts on Monday, indicating whiteout conditions are expected in certain areas. ABC7 meteorologist Jeff Smith said this system is a “rare snowstorm the likes of which we see every five to 10 years.”

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Major Winter Storm Threatens Millions In Northeast This Weekend

January 15, 2020

Major Winter Storm Threatens Millions In Northeast This Weekend

A powerful winter storm is expected to dump snow and ice across the Midwest and Northeast this weekend.

Early indications suggest wintry precipitation is possibly Saturday as the winter storm transitions from Midwest states to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, while heavy snow could fall in some areas.

We noted on Monday how the Global Forecast System (GFS) data shows Old Man Winter will return to the Northeast on Friday with average temperatures from Washington, D.C., to Boston around 25 to 34 degrees. This could make conditions ripe for a snowstorm over the weekend.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is projecting that snow and ice could be seen on early Saturday for Mid-Atlantic states, with mixed precipitation in the afternoon. The further north, the higher the probability of significant snowfall.

“Although confidence continues to increase on the potential for a winter storm for parts of our area (above average confidence for this time range, in fact), it is still too early to get into specifics on timing and amounts of different precipitation types given … this is still 4 to 5 days away,” NWS said Tuesday.

Henry Margusity, a meteorologist for Weather Madness, provides several weather charts that indicate the storm could quickly impact tens of millions of folks in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast this weekend.

Margusity provides another chart showing the winter precipitation could start early Saturday morning in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area and move up the Interstate-95 corridor in the Northeast through Saturday afternoon into the evening.

“As you can see on the image above, this will be a widespread snow and ice event covering many states from the Plains to the Northeast. The snow will be in general 1-6 inches but locally 8-9 inch amounts will occur. Ice is probably marginal in this storm as the snow will change to just rain in the changeover locations shown in pink on the map,” Margusity said.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Millions Brace For Weekend Winter Storm Will Hit Plains, Great Lakes, And Northern New England

January 11, 2020

Millions Brace For Weekend Winter Storm Will Hit Plains, Great Lakes, And Northern New England

A powerful storm could bring dangerous winds, snow, and ice over the weekend to millions of people across the US.

The Weather Channel is calling the storm Winter Storm Isaiah and will dump snow and ice early Saturday in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and the Ozarks.

Heavy snow is expected to continue through Saturday for regions of Missouri to eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Lower Michigan.

Below the 32 degrees line, ice, freezing rain, and rain are expected for central Missouri into northern and western Illinois and Lower Michigan. A mix of wintery precipitation could be seen in parts of northern New England during the late day.

By the afternoon, Chicago and Milwaukee are expected to see rain transition to snow – this could cause headaches for motorists.

Snow is likely to continue in the Midwest through the nighttime.

Freezing rain should spread into upstate New York and northern New England and continue in Lower Michigan through the overnight.

High winds are expected for Plains and Midwest on Saturday. This could cause blizzard conditions in some areas and lead to blowing and drifting snow. Winds are expected to tick higher in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Wintery precipitation is expected to move out of the Plains and Midwest by early Sunday. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain will continue in upstate New York and northern New England through lunch.

The Northeast Interstate 95 corridor from New York to New England will see rain on Sunday.

The Weather Channel’s snow forecast through the weekend shows 1-3 inches for Central and Midwest states. About 6 inches for western Great Lakes and northern Maine.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Powerful Winter Storm To Dump Snow And Ice From Northern Plains and Upper Midwest to Northeast

December 29, 2019

Powerful Winter Storm To Dump Snow And Ice From Northern Plains and Upper Midwest to Northeast

Winter Storm Gage is producing snow, ice, and strong winds from the Northern Plains and upper Midwest Sunday will move into the Northeast early next week and unleash a wintery mess that could cause severe travel headaches ahead of New Years, reported The Weather Channel.

The storm is expected to traverse across a broad area from Nebraska to Dakotas to northern and western Minnesota. Snow and high winds could produce blizzard conditions in these areas throughout Sunday. Some regions could see as much as 12 inches by Monday morning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) published winter storm warnings, watches, and advisories for parts of the Central Plains into the northern Great Lakes, eastern upstate New York and parts of New England.

NWS warned, “the same winter storm that is impacting areas of the Plains and Upper Midwest will be heading east next week and is expected to bring locally significant snow and ice across portions of the Northeast ahead of the New Years holiday.”

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Solar Minimum Madness: Is Thanksgiving’s Winter Wonderland A Preview Of The Bitterly Cold Winter To Come?

November 26, 2019

Solar Minimum Madness: Is Thanksgiving’s Winter Wonderland A Preview Of The Bitterly Cold Winter To Come?

This week, three major winter storms will batter most of the country with ice, snow and bitterly cold temperatures just in time for Thanksgiving. It is being projected that 55 million Americans will be traveling this week, and so this bizarre weather comes at a very bad time. But of course we have already seen a series of blizzards roar across the nation in recent weeks and hundreds of record cold temperatures have already been shattered and we are still about a month away from the official start of winter. Normally, it isn’t supposed to be this cold or this snowy yet, but we don’t live in “normal” times.

Scientists tell us that solar activity becomes very quiet during a “solar minimum”, and when solar activity becomes very quiet we tend to have very cold winters. And in recent months solar activity has been very, very low. In fact, we haven’t seen any sunspots at all “since November 2”…

We have not seen any sunspots since November 2, and at that time they were only visible for two days, and prior to that no sunspots since October 2.

Unless things change, and that is not expected to happen, we should prepare for a very cold and very snowy winter. And this upcoming week is likely to be a preview of coming attractions. According to CNN, holiday travelers will have three major winter storms to deal with…

As Thanksgiving week starts, a record number of travelers will be dealing with three storms nationwide that will add to the holiday stress.
One storm will lash the East and will affect travel through Sunday, another one will batter the Midwest on Tuesday and a third one will move through the West on Wednesday.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

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