National Weather Service predicts ice storm 2010 for Thursday

By Dustin · January 26, 2010 2:28 pm · 24 Comments

A year ago today, one of the worst ice storms ever to hit Fayetteville shut the town down for more than a week. Remember?

Today, every weather person in town is talking about a new storm hanging out in Southern California now, and a bunch of cold air kickin’ it somewhere up north that will be colliding over Northwest Arkansas sometime on Thursday to produce another big old, nasty mess for our area later this week.

The National Weather Service out of Tulsa has issued a Winter Weather Watch that, as of this morning, is predicting about 1/2 inch of ice, followed by 4-8 inches of snow.

According to a weather brief posted this morning, a half-inch of ice could disrupt power service for 4-5 days. Deja vu, anybody?

Most meteorologists are saying it’s too early to tell just how much accumulation and what type to expect on Thursday, but they are predicting a significant amount of some type of icy stuff. “Weather” Rick Katzfey is predicting 6-9 inches of snow, Jason “Weather” Dollard says 4-8 inches, and “Weather” Todd Gill (who is not a meteorologist) predicts that “Weather” Dan Skoff will be telling the crowd at Bud Walton Arena Thursday night during the second media timeout of the Razorback game to bundle up, but that it will be too late, because those people will already be at the Razorback game. Do they sell coats at Bud Walton Arena?

“Weather” Dustin Bartholomew (that’s me, also not a meteorologist) predicts that all the local grocery stores will be out of bread starting…right…now.

What do you say? Are we in trouble?

Comments

The Fayetteville Flyer doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy.

The Truth
January 26, 2010

The models don’t look good. I think we’re going to get shellacked.

Last year’s ice storm was devastating. It makes me shudder to think about it.

Someone told me it might not be as bad this year, only because the trees were already stripped of their weak limbs by last year’s ice storm.

And Weather Dustin, your prediction for supermarket hysteria is certain to come true. Especially after last year.

Zaff
January 26, 2010

Oh, I remember “The Darkness” (thats what we call it) too well. I was drunk and cold for a week straight. Strangely, that sounds kind of nice right now……

Troy
January 26, 2010

I think this calls for some mention of icy road driving tips… Over the years it has occurred to me that 95% of the people in NWA don’t know how to drive on ice. Isn’t it supposed to be common knowledge that you aren’t supposed to slam on your brakes and turn while you’re driving on ice.

Dustin
January 26, 2010

@Troy Good idea. We actually posted some of those about a year ago. Check ‘em. http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2008/12/15/cold-weather-driving-tips/

Sarah Tomlin
January 26, 2010

The best way to drive in ice is to stay at home……

I’m so freaking scared right now. But apparently not scared enough to go grocery shopping.

Infidel
January 26, 2010

We’re dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed!!!!!!!!!!

Beebs
January 26, 2010

WeatherBeebs says “watch out for that oooyyyse!!”

burgerboy
January 26, 2010

I have thought all year “surely we won’t get another ice storm this winter”, but the pessimist in me has had a nagging feeling we’d get another one, just because Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes.

What a sorry bitch she can be.

Ronnie
January 26, 2010

I say bring it! My advice is to stock up on canned food and shot gun shells. I’ll be snug and warm in my home that is heated by natural gas and powered by a portable generator. That’s right Ronnie believes in burning dead dinosaurs for heat and light. Greenhouse gasses be damned, I’m cold!

Bet you guys wish you had bought a “used only once” generator out of the Star Shopper this past summer don’t you?

Oh yeah one more thing, global warming my ass!

Zapp Brannigan
January 26, 2010

@Ronnie – Yep global warming is a farce. Those glaciers aren’t really disappearing from the arctic, they’re just relocating to Arkansas, obviously.

Michael
January 26, 2010

I for one welcome our impending polar bear overlords.

iheartnerds
January 26, 2010

I think this is God’s way of telling us to bury the power lines. And eat more spam.

vandelay
January 26, 2010

Grab your inner tubes and meet me at Wilson Park.

Dustin
January 26, 2010

I’ll be there with a trash can lid.

Mark_Landry
January 27, 2010

Maybe I should have grabbed that url I was talking about last year: 1-800-barrel-fire.com.
I assumed that the Great Ice Storm of ‘aught Nine was the worst we could get, but lets see if the Great Ice Storm of ‘aught Ten can top it.

baribeau
January 27, 2010

Don’t go sledding on a stop sign, cops don’t like that.

Milky
January 27, 2010

If we lose power again, I am packing up the fam and driving to the nearest heated hotel.

tricia
January 27, 2010

lol @zapp. I’m stealing that one!

mischki
January 27, 2010

Last year we survived the outage thanks to the wood stove, which was heated with – get this – firewood cut by the electric company! Glad I got hubby that chainsaw. He can chop up some of those trees that were downed by last year’s storm to keep us warm during this one!

Hey Mark – “aught Ten?” You always crack me up.