All week we have bounced between the threat of not-very-good winter weather (i.e., ice instead of snow) and plain ol’ cold rain.  Even this morning the National Weather Service indicated the DFW metroplex would be on the outside edge of a major ice event, essentially declaring we might see a bit of white stuff here and there but really had little to worry about.  Although the cold temperatures were a sure thing and some kind of precipitation was going to happen, the combination of the two and the final outcome has been in question—and therefore revised at least twice daily for the past week.

Finally, today they’ve settled on a new forecast.  Take a look (click on it for a larger version):

In addition to the visual nightmare you see before you, the NWS likewise has placed us under a Winter Storm Watch.  An Ice Storm Warning exists just north and west of us.

So what does it all mean?

Actually, very little.  This entire storm system has kept them guessing and changing their minds throughout the week, and even now a minor change in the storm’s track could vastly alter the outcome in our area.  We could get nothing more than a bitterly cold, liquid rain event with flooding and the like.  In truth, flooding is probable before the temperatures drop because heavy rain and storms already are moving into our area, and they will continue through at least Sunday night, if not Monday morning.  The biggest question is how quickly the cold air will arrive.  Sooner means a problematic ice event.  Later means a bit of ice but not a major headache.  Only time will tell.

Still, it looks interesting.  I’m all stocked up on the essentials: food, candles, cat food and treats, beer, reading material, blankets, and so on.  If it does get bad, I’m okay—as are The Kids.  If it only gets cold after the rain has tapered off, I’m still all set.

I do love me some winter weather, although I much prefer snow and even sleet to freezing rain.  The former two are manageable to a degree infinitely better than the latter option.  And because the NWS is now indicating we could get up to a half-inch (1.3 cm) of ice—if not more, and certainly more to the north and west of us—the threat of power issues and catastrophic travel problems looms on the horizon like a shadowy beast whose presence and implication must be judged only by the sound of its ongoing growl.  Until it leaps from the darkness and pounces on top of us, we don’t really know if it’s a little ankle-biting dog or a ferocious lion.  But time will tell.

In the meantime, we already have a good rain falling (something we desperately need) and are expecting heavier rain and storms to increase throughout the afternoon and overnight hours.  The cold air is expected to roll in overnight or very early in the morning.

We shall see how it all works out.

One thing I can look forward to regardless of the form of precipitation we get is the colder weather.  Our winter has been… well, a non-winter if ever there was one.  A few cold days earlier in the season is all we’ve seen, and since then we’ve been above average—sometimes way above average.  Finally having a chill in the air, a blustery, cold wind biting noses and ears, and that clean, brisk, fresh scent of arctic beauty hanging about will be a welcome change.

[Update] I notice the Weather Channel is calling this a “crippling ice storm.”  Oh, such melodrama.  I love it!