The North Texas Ice Storm 2023
Sunday evening January 29, 2023 at 7 PM is the last time the temperature was above freezing. It’s 9:30 AM on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Too many hours have past with the temperature too cold. – Click on the picture, it’s a 44 second video with my commentary.
Freezing Rain
Freezing rain has fallen for 48 jours. The local weather men and women tells us that freezing rain occurs when the layer of freezing air is so thin that the raindrops do not have enough time to freeze before reaching the ground. Instead, the water freezes on contact with the surface, creating a coating of ice on whatever the raindrops contact.
I have between one and two inches of ice on the ground. Yuck! It’s as if the yard, drive, sidewalks, and paved areas are and ice rink and the Zamboni has driven over it making it slicker.
What’s a Zamboni?
A Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works by scraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded). Next, it “cleans” the ice, by putting down water which flushes the grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess water and dirt is then collected. The ice becomes shiny and very smooth as well as slippery. It’s great for ice skating or playing ice hockey. It’s nearly impossible to walk on in shoes.
Coffee and Tea
As I hunker down inside again today I’ll enjoy a pour over coffee. The kettle is calling me even now. Later, I’ll have my green tea.
For Christmas I received an Ember temperature control travel mug. It’s a stylish mug designed to keep hot beverages hot. It allows you to control the coffee or teas temperature. Fully charged it will keep your coffee the exact temperature you desire for three hours. It will do it longer, if on the charging stand. It’s revolutionized my coffee and tea drinking as I now always have my drink at the perfect temperature.
Photo Source: All photos and videos were taken by the author unless noted in the photo caption.
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Be safe, my friend. I’m glad we dodged the bullet on this one. Thinking of and praying for those of you experiencing this ice storm.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. I’m happy for anyone who missed this mess. After the state being ill prepared in 2021, the changes and corrections implemented had Texas as ready as possible this time around. The infrastructure hasn’t failed this time. The only power outages are from down power lines. My power lines are stretched tight with three to six inch icicles hanging from the lines. I think of the Jimmy Webb words Glen Campell sang in 1968 in the song Witchia Lineman, “And if it snows, that stretch down south won’t ever stand the strain”. If it doesn’t stop raining and get above freezing soon, Wedd’s words and Campbell’s chrooning will be prophetic.