From: Lorenzo Sanchez
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 4:42 PM
To: Be Prepared
Subject: EM Alert 2: Round Two of Winter Weather Tonight/Friday Morning

UTSA Preparedness Partners,

Thanks for your continued support.  As many of you are aware, the north side of San Antonio experienced a light band of wintry mix, mostly in the form or snow pellets known as “graupel.”  By definition, graupel refers to precipitation that forms when super-cooled droplets of water are collected and freeze on a falling snowflake.  This morning’s event was not widespread across the city, rather was concentrated on the north side, hence why most of the highways and roadways across the city were dry and clear.  1604 North became quite a traffic mess, and thank you for your patience dealing with those issues.

With this morning system out of the area, we are awaiting another system (part 2) to enter our area in the overnight hours.  With freezing temperatures in place, tomorrow’s weather will be variable and difficult to forecast.  The following will summarize National Weather Service predictions -

Thursday Overnight/Friday Morning:  We will again hit freezing overnight with another chance of freezing drizzle, sleet, snow, and/or ice after midnight  - noon Friday.  During this timeframe, the NWS is elevating the chance of frozen precipitation to 30-40% as an approaching weather system enters Texas.  Should a wintry mix develop, light accumulations are possible due to frigid conditions.  Roadways and elevated surfaces may be impacted depending on the amount and type of frozen precipitation – use caution on roadways.  Temperatures will remain in the lower 30’s through noon, and gradually rebound as the day progresses.  The NWS will provide additional updates as models become clearer.

Preparedness and Recommendations:

· UTSA Emergency Management:  Remains in close communication with local public safety partners, National Weather Service, TxDOT, school districts, and City/County organizations.  Emergency Operations Center is monitoring weather conditions.

· University Communications:  Providing support to update websites, weather hotlines, social media, and communications with campus stakeholders.

· UTSA Departments:  Secure sensitive equipment from freezing conditions if stored outside or in vulnerable areas.  Update call trees and related weather procedures; share with staff and faculty.  Monitor the Campus Alerts website (www.alerts.utsa.edu) and 458-SNOW (7669).

· 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.

· UTSA Police:  Monitoring roadways, bridges, access roads, and are ready to deploy barriers if necessary. 

· 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.

· UTSA community should monitor the Campus Alerts website, 458-SNOW (7669), and social media for updates on university operations.

Resources:

· National Weather Service – San Antonio:  http://www.weather.gov/austin

· UTSA Campus Alerts Webpage:  www.alerts.utsa.edu – Monitor the Campus Alerts website for the latest information on campus operations.

· 458-SNOW (7669):  The hotline has been updated.

· Street Closures:  http://www.sanantonio.gov/public-works/emergencystreetclosures.aspx

· Highway Conditions:  http://www.drivetexas.org/Full/

Please forward this information to your department stakeholders.  See the full NWS weather discussion below.  Thanks and be safe!

TONIGHT:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY:

FRIDAY:

______________________________

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

Website:  www.utsa.edu/utsapd

Campus Alerts:  http://alerts.utsa.edu/

From: Paul Yura [mailto:paul.yura@noaa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 2:50 PM
Subject: 245 PM Weather update....chances continue for frozen precipitation starting late tonight through Friday.

South Central Texas Partners....

...HEADLINE...Additional sleet/freezing drizzle/snow again late tonight into Friday...

...AREA OF CONCERN...All of South Central Texas but mainly east of a line from Leakey down to Carrizo Springs (Highway 83).

...IMPACTS...Late Tonight (after midnight) and Friday...light ice accumulation possible on bridges and overpasses and some roads.  Road impacts will be highly dependent on type of precipitation and intensity.   Exposed surfaces where cold air can get underneath (e.g., cars, decks) may see a light glazing of ice. Travel may get impacted, but no other impacts (power outages, trees down) expected. Arctic air will maintain cold temperatures across the region with a freeze expected overnight...while high temperatures on Friday could stay in the 30s all day once again.

 ...TIMING...Another round of winter precipitation could form during the overnight hours (starting mainly after midnight) and continuing at least through through noon on Friday.  There are some indications that light precipitation could continue across the eastern half of the area into the afternoon hours.  If the temperatures stay cold enough, frozen precipitation could occur into early afternoon.  

 ...DISCUSSION...
The chances for freezing drizzle/sleet/snow are possible overnight (after midnight) Thursday into Friday as another upper level disturbance moves across Texas from the West.   We have increased overall chances of frozen precipitation just a bit as some of the weather models are creating a better overall chance of seeing some light precipitation through mid day on Friday.  Temperatures will definitely be cold enough to support frozen precipitation, confidence is low at the is point as to whether it will be freezing drizzle, sleet, snow, or these snow pellets like we saw this morning across the central sections of South Central Texas.  In fact we may see reports of all those precipitation types on Friday.  If precipitation does form, there would likely be travel impacts Friday morning, possibly lasting through early afternoon.  Temperatures will remain very cold on Friday...struggling to get into the mid and upper 30s by late afternoon across the northern half of the area...some 40s are expected along the Rio Grande and southern half of the area.  Any frozen precipitation that does fall will be very slow to melt and could in fact keep temperatures near freezing all day on Friday, similar to what we are seeing now. 

Overall confidence that freezing temperatures will be in place is very HIGH. Overall confidence on the amount of precipitation is again low.   As we have seen over the past week or so, its not taking much lift to create the frozen precipitation.  We even had lightning and thunder here in New Braunfels with the frozen precipitation this morning, which helped to create quick bursts of precipitation and led to some accumulations on the ground and roads.  Weather models have performed very poorly with these last few events and our confidence in them is rather low at this point.   So judging from what the past few "disturbances" have brought to the area, all of South Central Texas needs to be ready to respond to frozen precipitation Friday morning into the early afternoon hours.   Most of the impacts will be travel related with light icing possible on the bridges, overpasses, some roads, as well as icing on exposed surfaces.  Reporting and good situational awareness is key.  Road crews may be busy once again. 

Check the forecast frequently as Winter Weather Advisories may be issued.  You can monitor by going to our webpage for the latest forecasts and watches/warnings/advisories from the Austin-San Antonio National Weather Service.   www.weather.gov/austin

Depending on conditions, the next email could be issued overnight and/or on Friday.

Paul Yura
National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio.

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