Sleet Stopped ... Freezing Rain.... Cars Glazed. What Will We See in the Morning?? 140 MIllion Under Storm Warnings in USA? Wild Winter 2026

 

The current State of the Nation

via www.windy.com

Texas covered in pink ice.....

Snow to the North...

Current image of the Carolinas.

North Georgia 

There's really not much to say. I've done all that I could, in theory, do to prepare for the storm and whatever the aftermath is.... with or without power. Hopefully with ...as you all know how much I love to play on Weather X or watch videos of friends storm chasing or doing live videos of weather. No, I don't really chase Ice Storms. I have never actually been in a "real" Ice Storm vs periods of icing on trees here that melted fast in warm temperatures that showed up the next day. Nothing will be melting for a while. And, no joke it's a solid cold week of frozen temperatures in the Raleigh area.

Reed, of course, chases Ice Storms.

I had a good day. My neighbor's relatives were in town as they had a baby earlier this week so they escaped the storm in New York to be with their daughter here in Raleigh. Hung out inside talking and then decided I needed to go take a walk. You know a sort of "pre storm chase" to check out how things looked. The streets are brined and traffic was not heavy. Very cold and a damp feeling in the air. Foreboding sense of something wicked coming. I am not exaggerating. 

Sleet began, light but steady and then mixed with freezing rain.

The Freezing Rain showing up earlier vs later is a problem.

Sleet is our friend here to cut down on Ice accumulation on the trees and power lines.

There may be some periods of calm where we get our usual "snow donut" around Raleigh but I guess it'll be called an Ice Donut? 

Never seen a real storm so if this is it........I'll be cold but curious and it'll be something to remember. If I keep electric I'll be much happier and probably type endlessly long posts on everything I'm seeing.

But.........I do feel badly for so many people across the Nation under this storm. I have friends in Georgia who are dealing with an official Ice Storm, some just got their home repaired and rebuilt after Helene and the thought of any damage to their new home is gnawing at me and the rest of our friends. At least there's not as many trees to damage the house as Helene took many of the trees.

That's one heck of a huge storm.

I have a friend in Oklahoma that is getting snow and I'm really happy on that as he truly loves snow. I prayed really hard they get snow as they, like Texas, have had a summery Winter this year. Okay I may have prayed too hard it's 6 degrees as in "six" degrees. Winter has returned and brought the Iceman with him it seems.

Kids and friends in New York that are also under the gun weather wise.

We are all in the same boat tonight, waiting to see what we get tomorrow and what the next few days may be like. 

You can talk models all you want, endlessly, but in the end it's just living it out in real time, watching the radar, listening to local news live and typing words to remember what may be a very historic Winter Storm for Raleigh and as I am in North Raleigh... I'm close to the over a half an inch of Ice so we will see what we see by daylight!

I'm in D2

That verified tho mostly sleet.

There's an inch or two of sleet.

Looks like melted marshmallow.

Cars covered in Ice.

Too late to get out of town safely, as it seems many have across NC as you can see in this post.

Or maybe they are running from the ...

...after the storm temperatures.

Wind chill of 2 degrees Tuesday AM.

Wind chill as in there will be wind...

...on the ice laden trees.

Really a worst case scenario.

Night.

Thanks for reading my thoughts.

In my weather diary...

...online.

Stay Safe, 

Keep smiling.

Besos BobbiStorm

@bobbistorm on X

Morning Update on Winter Storm... Ice Storm in Some Parts. Some Snow Storm. Travel Will Be Impacted Across USA

Watches and warnings currently up.

More will be added soon.

Stay tuned...

...check in with your local NWS often.

weather.gov has all your info

We have a Winter Storm Warning where I am as of now and am keeping this short. Follow advice of experts, especially if you have never been through an Ice Storm or Winter Storm. Treat it as you would a Hurricane if you moved to NC recently from Florida as many have........except you can't go to the beach before the storm. You prepare the house, hunker down and make sure all your phone battery packs are fully charged. Once the storm begins keep your phone fully charged plugged in ...in case your power goes out which does happen easily in the City of Oaks when the Oaks come down over power lines. 

There is a long list at the bottom. Scan it for what YOU may need to know as we all have our own priorities based on location, health, age, size of family or living alone. Pets as well have special needs obviously. 

Good graphic as the color catches the eye!

To our West TX/OK deals with it first.

After the Carolinas it moves up the coast.

Cantore is in the Big Apple...

...that has to tell you something!

This image from TWC shows the size....

...the scope of impacts across the USA

There are the danger zone areas.

Some models show snow in parts of FL

So keep that in mind.

Personally I am here.

In the purple. 

North Raleigh.

I always was a purple girl..ya know.

So ICE Storm...

..hoping for some snow.

Sleet will cut down Ice Totals...

...so sleet is our friend in this case.

Again a list to check for what to do regarding a Winter Storm, ICE Storm or Snow Storm  no matter where you live but he is in NC.   Hunker down, stay off the streets. If you have to go to work expect to stay there during the storm once it's begun. Follow the plan, trust the process do not panic or play it down as if nothing will happen and we will all get through this one way or the other.

Windy and many spots lower than 10 degrees!

This is a prolonged cold period.

Streets may not be passable.

Power may be out.

Stay home!!

Nuff said.

The temperatures AFTER the storm are the biggest problem as are the winds that are higher than normal and help an Ice laden tree come down faster. Please check out the list below you still have time to do something that may make a huge difference in your ability to safely ride out the storm.

Prayers for everyone's safety BobbiStorm

Conversation

Matt Van Swol

@mattvanswol

A lot of people have asked for a comprehensive preparedness list for the winter storm. Feel free to bookmark this or share with friends, stay safe out there: Gas up every car (and top off any cans if you’ve got them) Pull cash — assume card readers go down Charge everything: phones, battery packs, laptops, tool batteries Make one “charging pile” with all cords so nobody’s hunting Headlamp for every adult + flashlight for every kid Lanterns for the main rooms (no candles… kids + candles = nope) Fresh batteries in a big ziplock — label it Pick ONE “warm room” right now (small room, easiest to heat) Shut doors to the rest of the house Blankets over windows at night + towels at the bottom of doors Drag mattresses/pads in there if you need to Lay out clothes like it’s ski season: base layer + hoodie + coat + hat + thick socks Slippers/shoes indoors — cold floors will wreck you Dry clothes only — damp socks = change them immediately Generator = OUTSIDE only (not garage, not “cracked door,” OUTSIDE) CO alarms working on every floor, especially near bedrooms Use outdoor-rated extension cords only — don’t run cords under rugs Don’t do any “dryer plug” stuff — not worth dying for Fuel stays OUTSIDE the house If you’re using a heater: only indoor-rated Keep it away from blankets/curtains/kids Crack a window just a tiny bit Never sleep with a flame heater on Water: plan 1 gallon per person per day minimum Fill bathtub/buckets for flushing/washing On a well? Assume ZERO water once power is out Find the main water shutoff now (don’t wait) When it’s brutally cold: let faucets drip (if water’s still on) Open sink cabinets on outside walls Wrap exposed pipes / cover outdoor spigots Disconnect hoses Food: buy 7 days of no-cook / easy stuff Stock basics: PB, tuna, crackers, granola, soup, jerky, shelf milk, cereal Manual can opener Paper plates if you don’t want to burn water on dishes Fridge/freezer: open it as little as possible Eat fridge first, then freezer, then pantry Refill prescriptions Kids fever meds + thermometer + first-aid kit CPAP/nebulizer/anything critical: have a power plan Baby wipes + sanitizer + trash bags No water? Bucket toilet plan (bucket + bags + kitty litter) Make a “kid station” in the warm room: books, coloring, cards, board games Download movies ahead of time (airplane mode) Clear rules: no touching heaters, no cords, no generator zone Lantern by hallway/bathroom at night One comfort thing per kid in the warm room Phones: low power mode + dim screen Write down important numbers on paper Pick a check-in time with family/friends (morning + evening) Don’t drive unless you have to — ice will humble you fast Car kit: blanket, flashlight, snacks, water, jumper pack If you run the car for heat: clear the tailpipe and never in an enclosed space Every morning: quick safety sweep CO alarms good, heater clear, cords not hot Watch for leaks when things thaw Check on neighbors if you can Toss sketchy food when power comes back Bring the house back online slowly (don’t flip everything at once)