We're getting hit hard by cold weather here in Texas. :(

[peskypesky]

A week ago, I was sunbathing in my back yard.

Now we're in the middle of a cold snap like I have never experienced in central Texas. Austin is supposed to get 4-5 inches of snow. It's supposed to snow some here in San Antonio and the temps will go down to 12 degrees.

I just made a nice shelter for the beautiful feral cat that lives in my backyard and hope she'll use it. Tried to lure her in by placing her bowl of food in the back of it.

We got a message from energy company asking us to turn off all unnecessary lights and electrical appliances and to please turn thermostats down some...they're afraid the system will be overloaded and go down.

I'm wearing two layers of long johns under my pants, two layers of sweaters, and a knit winter cap, and I'm lying under my down comforter for the next couple of days!

[Houblues]

I've lived in south Texas all but a couple of years, and in sixty-odd years can only remember it being in this range once, maybe twice. Heck, these last several years have made me wonder if we'd ever hit freezing again....

On that shelter, I was just reading that you should not pack the bottom of it with cloth or absorbent materials, as they will absorb moisture, freeze, and make the animal colder. First time I've seen that so I don't know if it's true or not.

[peskypesky]

I've lived in south Texas all but a couple of years, and in sixty-odd years can only remember it being in this range once, maybe twice. Heck, these last several years have made me wonder if we'd ever hit freezing again....

On that shelter, I was just reading that you should not pack the bottom of it with cloth or absorbent materials, as they will absorb moisture, freeze, and make the animal colder. First time I've seen that so I don't know if it's true or not.

First: Howdy, neighbor!

Second: yes I did read that shelters should not use cotton. But apparently fleece is ok (the polyester fleece), so I put a fleece blanket on the bottom of a cardboard box, and cut a door in it. Then I placed that cardboard box inside a larger box, so there's double wall. And then I put a plastic cover on top of the whole thing to protect from rain/snow. Luckily, there was a plastic kiddie pool in the yard that worked perfectly.

I put the shelter in the big bush where she usually hangs out when it's not raining. I really don't know where she goes when it's raining or freezing cold.

My only worries are that the damn possums will eat the food before the cat. I've twice found a possum eating the cat food. My other worry is that the kitty won't want to stay in the shelter and will freeze to death. Or just be f-ing miserable for the next few days.

[BatUtilityBelt]

[Houblues]

It sounds like that's about the best you can do.

Thanks for the greeting, that's Texan for sure! Waving back....

[uwmcscott]

Living in northern WI that really seems not too bad on the surface, but it's certainly out of character for you. You used to live in NY though, right? Should be a piece of cake!

Might want to store up a little water if you can - I would imagine the plumbing down there isn't really designed for that kind of cold either, and burst pipes might pop up here and there.

They actually closed schools here for tomorrow morning - raw temps are supposed to be in the neighborhood of -15 to -20 F with windchills in the -40 to -50 range. I have to drive about 60 miles to get my round 2 Covid booster at 8:30 so I'll be packing some extra boots, water and a sleeping bag in the truck just in case.

[Houblues]

The problem is that yes, this is dramatically out of character, so our systems aren't prepared. They are forecasting rolling brownouts, and saying if you drive, be prepared to survive alone in your car, as if you get in trouble on our iced-over roads, no one will be able to come for you. If you have to go to the hospital, call the city. Standard stuff for other states, I know, but mostly unknown territory down here.

[Mossman]

A week ago, I was sunbathing in my back yard.

Now we're in the middle of a cold snap like I have never experienced in central Texas. Austin is supposed to get 4-5 inches of snow. It's supposed to snow some here in San Antonio and the temps will go down to 12 degrees.

I just made a nice shelter for the beautiful feral cat that lives in my backyard and hope she'll use it. Tried to lure her in by placing her bowl of food in the back of it.

We got a message from energy company asking us to turn off all unnecessary lights and electrical appliances and to please turn thermostats down some...they're afraid the system will be overloaded and go down.

I'm wearing two layers of long johns under my pants, two layers of sweaters, and a knit winter cap, and I'm lying under my down comforter for the next couple of days!

I was getting ready to poke a little fun at you until I read "12 degrees". That's pretty cold even for my New England bones. What we did in the winter on the really cold nights was open our faucets enough to let a trickle of water run out. The continuous flow of water would keep the pipes from freezing and bursting. But that was mostly a concern for unoccupied buildings where the heat would not be on, or if your basement got particularly cold. You should be fine, though, if you have your heat on... And I'm guessing you probably don't have a basement.

[peskypesky]

Deputies respond to 100 weather-related crashes as of midday Sunday, sheriff warns residents to avoid travel
“It’s just not safe out there right now. No easy way to say it,” Sheriff Salazar says

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/02 ... id-travel/

[peskypesky]

San Antonio family stuck on icy road for 19 hours as south Texas is blasted by winter weather

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/san-a ... r-BB1dDEHv

[peskypesky]

I was getting ready to poke a little fun at you until I read "12 degrees". That's pretty cold even for my New England bones. What we did in the winter on the really cold nights was open our faucets enough to let a trickle of water run out. The continuous flow of water would keep the pipes from freezing and bursting. But that was mostly a concern for unoccupied buildings where the heat would not be on, or if your basement got particularly cold. You should be fine, though, if you have your heat on... And I'm guessing you probably don't have a basement.

no basement...

but thanks for that advice!

[peskypesky]

as unusual as this snow and cold is for south Texas...it's nothing compared to the time I was in Jerusalem when the city was blanketed by snow! 1992.

[Partscaster]

I hope FEMA can get you folks some emergency skis and hockey gear.
Great weather to drink hot toddies, too.

[peskypesky]

It's 14 and snowing out. I went stomping around in my snow boots and parka for a bit. Didn't think I'd EVER need them again.

The next county over just declared a disaster.


Snowfall arriving in Bexar County; All of Texas under Winter Storm Warning
https://www.kens5.com/article/weather/w ... 9a215630c6

And remember, Texas is BIG.

[peskypesky]

ouch

[dearlpitts]

Crazy cold. Hope you all in it will be ok. Almost 11pm in ca. Like 45..

[peskypesky]

White House grants Federal Emergency Declaration for Texas amid severe winter weather, Abbott says

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/02 ... ing-texas/


Temperatures in San Antonio were expected to drop as low as 10 degrees, shattering previous records for Valentine’s Day temperatures in the low 20s. And with 25-30 mph winds, it could feel as cold as minus 2 degrees.

The coldest day in February on record still stands at 4 degrees, set back in 1899. The all-time record low in San Antonio is zero degrees, set in 1949.

[peskypesky]

As of 3:30 a.m., more than 475,000 Oncor customers were without power in North Texas. Around Texas, more than 97,000 people in Houston were without power, more than 170,000 in Austin, and more than 140,000 in San Antonio.

https://www.kens5.com/article/weather/t ... 5ca634925a

[mickey]

Just got an email from a friend in Austin:
"It is 10 degrees & my power has been off for two hours."

[peskypesky]

Just got an email from a friend in Austin:
"It is 10 degrees & my power has been off for two hours."

Ugh, that's horrible. I have two brothers who live there, two ex-sisters-in-law, two nieces, and a few friends. Hope everyone makes it through ok.

I've been worried sick about my beautiful feral cat...and I'm just going to assume she will not make it through the night. Really f-cking sad. I tried so hard to make friends with her...but she always kept her distance. And I made more than one shelter for her...but she never seemed to use them.

But even the shelter I made for her tonight wouldn't save her from these temperatures. It would have needed an electric heater inside. I don't see how she will not succumb to hypothermia.

[OMB]

Crazy weather patterns for years now. Hate the bitter cold. Takes me days to warm up. But bitter for us is in the 30's. We have a Tomcat we feed and wonder where he goes when it is real cold and wet. Hope the cat makes it and you don't lose power.

[peskypesky]

I made it through the night and still have power. Others not so lucky. Millions of Texans are without power in sub-freezing temps.

I just saw that in Denton, TX, which is close to where my sister lives, it is -4, with a wind chill of -14.

[uwmcscott]

Stay warm! It was -20F raw and windchill of -45 when I left for my trip this AM. You can literally hear it when it's that cold as the snow squeaks under your feet. Today's high is projected to be -2F, but later in the week it's supposed to get up to the 20's which will be nice.

[mickey]

Stay warm! It was -20F raw and windchill of -45 when I left for my trip this AM. You can literally hear it when it's that cold as the snow squeaks under your feet. Today's high is projected to be -2F, but later in the week it's supposed to get up to the 20's which will be nice.

But what everyone wants to know is:
Did you get the second Covid-19 vaccine?

[ID10t]

I'm gonna sound like a jerk and I don't intend that, but it has crawled up to 39° from 28° F and I'm thinking this is the end of days. Don't get me wrong, I was a kid in Ohio during the storm of '77 and shutdown in Baltimore/DC during '96. I know bad weather. Everything is relative for me. I do just fine at 108°F.