in the forecast for North Texas - several hours each day, with temps remaining below freezing.

Not quite the temps we had last year, but freezing rain for hours and hours, for 2 days ?

Things could get interesting if this forecast holds up.

I think tomorrow will be the most interesting...models are all over the place - but looks likely that most people will have zero issue getting to work/school...it's a matter of day time temps and how much/what type of precip falls during the lunch hour onward. Could be a real fun commute home

I will gladly take any kind of rain!

Colder than a witches broom.

That's...not...the phrase.

But what about the grid.

We could all die without electricity for 8 hours.

grid won't be the issue this time - rather downed trees/branches/powerlines.
If 12+ hours of freezing rain happens (forecasted).

Looks like we will get a couple of rotations in the hotel this week. They don’t like chancing us going home so they give us the option.

My main concern is power outages. I hope the power companies learned from the ice storm issues with the limbs falling on power lines this last time and have trimmed and prepped since. We're ok with hunkering down in the house.

Abbotts fault...

It was a Test.

If the last fiasco didn't get you in the click and house wired for a gen set,,, Shame on Ya!

Absolutely correct.

Not everyone can spare the money for a 20-24KW whole house auto start genset, but everyone should have a generator. We get by with 7,000 watts of gas generator power to run our central air heat pump to stay warm with 3000 watts, hot water heater heater running on 120v at 1150watts, two refrigerators, two chest freezers, lights, TV, on 10-12 gallons per day. We keep 50 gallons of gas between the shop, the shed and boathouse. When weather is coming, I add another 20 gallons. (I rotate the gas through the mowers, cars/trucks and boats so it never gets old)

If a power outage goes beyond the 5 days that we endured last year, I always have more gas in the truck, cars, and the boat. Around here, gasoline was easier to get than propane deliveries during the big freeze. Is my point that my setup is better than a full size auto start whole house? Oh HECK NO! I am only saying that you can stay comfortable on a very low budget for a long time! If you have a generator and fuel.

Marc

I just open the blinds during day. Led lamp at night. Unhook the natural gas grill and hook up a 30k btu mr buddy up and let her rip.

A woodturning stove, which I have and I can survive any freezing temps Texas brings

3500watt gen with a through the wall connector. Just enough to power the 2 refrigerators, deep freezer, 2 aquariums, tv, etc. 30k btu Mr Buddy heater, and about 1 1/2 cords of firewood. I don't wish it to ever be needed.

One winter we had freezing rain and sleet forecast for the afternoon and evening. I told my boss who was from Northern Jersey to head home about 3:00. He had to drive from Pleasant Grove to Plano. He said he was from up north and could handle it. I said number one this is not New Jersey and number 2 you have to drive 175 to Central expressway. You don't want to get stuck on the south side of Dallas. The next day he said "you were right I was just praying I did not get stuck in front of the row houses".

Good way to do it. Staying warm with wood and propane isn't hard to do. My refrigerators and freezers are the most critical loads to me. I do have an 18k btu Big Buddy portable heater, but I have not needed it since I got my heat pump running. But it's ready to go!

I went ahead and went out this evening and got another 10 gallons of ethanol-free gas,
and a 2-gal jug of bar/chain oil for the chainsaw that I really hope I don't need just yet - was just about out.
A quick run into the grocery store for some more chili spices, and went ahead and filled up the truck too.
Well, if it gets crazy next day or two, it won't be me out there in it!

Bring It!

I downloaded a couple of new books to the Kindle, in case the internet is out.

Three layers of backup for heat, lights, and cooking.

I could survive until next winter.

I was born for this kinda weather. Problem is I was born in the wrong state for this kinda weather.

Woke up to sleet hitting my window. Looks like parts of the metroplex got a glazing already before sunrise.

keep it up there, please.