[Advising] FW: EM Alert: Winter Weather Outlook - Thursday & Friday

FYI From: Linda Mahoney Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 8:37 AM To: Becky Sanchez; Agustin Llano; Alan Vince; Alfred Silva; Barbara Smith; Gail Pizzola; Joleen Reynolds; Leticia Duncan; Lisa Buentello; Nancy Martin; Tammy Wyatt; Tricia Kobberdahl Cc: Lawrence Williams; Monica Lucero; Irene Coad; Janet Allen-Mcconkey; Margaret Garcia Subject: EM Alert: Winter Weather Outlook - Thursday & Friday Importance: High FYI From: Debbie (Howard) Rappaport Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 8:34 AM Subject: FW: EM Alert: Winter Weather Outlook - Thursday & Friday Importance: High Please forward this information to your faculty and staff. Thanks, Debbie Debbie Howard Executive Assistant The University of Texas at San Antonio debbie.howard@utsa.edu<mailto:debbie.howard@utsa.edu> From: Lorenzo Sanchez Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 4:30 PM To: Be Prepared Subject: EM Alert: Winter Weather Outlook - Thursday & Friday Importance: High UTSA Preparedness Partners, A strong arctic front will be moving into the San Antonio metro Thursday morning (7 - 8 am), bringing with it blustery, chilly, and wintry conditions. Beginning Thursday, temperatures will drop from the mid-40's during the morning rush hour to below freezing as the day progresses. At this time, the National Weather Service (NWS) continues to warn of the possibility for a wintry mix of light sleet and snow developing Thursday evening around 6:00 pm, with a continued chance through noon on Friday. Precipitation totals of sleet/snow within city limits will range from a trace to a quarter of an inch, and areas north of 1604 may see between a quarter to a half inch; accumulations will be minimal. Elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses, fly-overs, walkways, and concrete surfaces are areas of concern. Ground level areas may remain warm enough to melt any frozen precipitation. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for our area from midnight to noon on Friday. Preparedness and Recommendations: * UTSA Emergency Operations Center: Activated to a level III - monitoring and assessment. * UTSA Departments: Secure sensitive equipment from freezing conditions if stored outside or in vulnerable areas. Monitor the Campus Alerts website over the next 48 hours. * UTSA Facilities: UTSA is in a state of readiness, and will implement components of the ice plan as necessary to keep university roads and walkways safe. * Protect pipes, plants, people, and pets from freezing conditions. * Limit outdoor activities and take frequent breaks to warm-up; dress in layers. * Use caution on roadways, as there may be slick spots on rural roads, bridges, overpasses, and other areas. Resources: * National Weather Service - San Antonio: http://www.weather.gov/austin * UTSA Campus Alerts Webpage: www.alerts.utsa.edu<http://www.alerts.utsa.edu> - Monitor the Campus Alerts website for the latest information on campus operations. * 458-SNOW (7669): The hotline has been updated and will continue to be as conditions warrant. * Street Closures: http://www.sanantonio.gov/public-works/emergencystreetclosures.aspx Please forward this information to your department stakeholders. Additional updates will be provided on Thursday - see the full NWS discussion in the email below. Thanks! THURSDAY EVENING - FRIDAY [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/fxc/ewx/graphicast/image4.png]<http://w... FRIDAY MIDNIGHT - NOON [cid:image005.png@01CF178F.269D5100] ______________________________ Lorenzo D. Sanchez, MPA, CEM Director of Emergency Management The University of Texas at San Antonio University Police Department Office of Emergency Management One UTSA Circle San Antonio, Texas 78249 Phone: (210) 458-6756 Mobile: (210) 464-5793 Fax: (210) 458-7602 Email: lorenzo.sanchez@utsa.edu<mailto:lorenzo.sanchez@utsa.edu> Website: www.utsa.edu/utsapd<http://www.utsa.edu/utsapd> Campus Alerts: http://alerts.utsa.edu/ [cid:image002.jpg@01CCA43F.6C374C40] ****** From: Jon Zeitler [mailto:jon.zeitler@noaa.gov] Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 4:05 PM Subject: Issued 400 pm Wed 22 Jan 2014 : Winter Weather Event Outlook for Thursday/Friday South Central Texas Partners... ...HEADLINE...A mix of light sleet, snow, and freezing rain, across all of South Central Texas from 6 pm Thursday to 2 pm Friday. ...AREA OF CONCERN...Winter precipitation accumulations on elevated surfaces north of a line from Del Rio to San Antonio to Schulenburg. A wintry mix is expected elsewhere (Rio Grande and Coastal Plains) but we are not looking for significant accumulations at this time. ...IMPACTS...Light icing from sleet and snow mainly on bridges and overpasses, and anything where the object will be the same as the air temperature (e.g., car roofs and windshields). Roads will generally be ok since the warm ground will melt the falling precipitation. However, less traveled roads in the Hill Country and Williamson County could also see some light accumulations and icy conditions. The late evening commute (after 6 pm) could be impacted Thursday evening. The morning commute on Friday morning will be significantly impacted. Cold temperatures will be in place Thursday and Friday...with highs only in the 30s to low 40s and wind chills in the teens and low 20s. ...TIMING...Mainly 6 pm Thursday to Noon Friday. Some concern in the Coastal Plains east of I-35 until 2 pm Friday afternoon. ...DISCUSSION... Another Arctic cold front will move through South Central Texas a few hours either side of sunrise Thursday morning. High temperatures on Thursday will occur during the morning, then temperatures fall through the day as the cold air moves in, staying in the 30s and 40s during the afternoon. A weak disturbance will move out of the Rockies and across Texas Thursday night into Friday. While precipitation will be light, the forecast models match our experience with these systems, indicating winter precipitation starting Thursday afternoon in the Hill Country, and spreading southeast Thursday night into Friday. Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing across all of South Central Texas before midnight Friday morning. We expect a mix of sleet and snow, with accumulation mainly across the northern half of the area...north of a line from Del Rio...to San Antonio...to Schulenburg. This best chances to see accumulations are in the Hill Country and Williamson County where we are currently forecasting around 1 inch of accumulation of snow. Other areas should only see a dusting. Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing by Friday afternoon so if this event does occur...it should be be quickly gone by the afternoon. Graphics for Thursday and Friday are below. You can get the latest forecasts and watches/warnings/advisories by going to the Austin-San Antonio National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/austin<http://www.weather.gov/austin> -Jon Zeitler National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio TX [cid:image004.jpg@01CF178C.A3CD1320]