Ice on the Southern Plains (Post #423) 12/21/2013

We were blessed again last night with yet another ice storm. An inch of ice was predicted, I think we got 3/4 of an inch here in Norman. The bands of temp changes from freezing to thawing affected the ice in an interesting way by freezing then thawing again giving the ice a shattered look. The sides of the tires look like china plates.

These little storms are exactly why I wired the Range Rover with an extension cord. This is so I can have a portable ceramic heater blowing all winter. I plug it in and only the worst Icepoxyclips and Snowmagedons have me scraping. So last night all the freezing rain just ran down the sides leaving the windows clear and the inside toasty warm.

All that water has to freeze somewhere so the icicles look great.

This is the Chevy Sonic. As you can tell there was not heater inside.

These ice storms are legendary. I am near the end of Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne. In it he recalls first person accounts of the Texas Rangers and settlers of the southern plains and the deadly ice storms that paralyze the southern plains.

This wasn’t even nearly as bad as some I’ve seen in the past. We had 3 inches of ice just a few years ago. We couldn’t get into the kids cars for 2 days. We are told there is a slight chance of snow later tonight. I’m not holding my breath for it. What you also learn on the southern plains is weathermen are on TV to sell advertising, not tell you the truth about the weather.

Stay warm, thanks for reading, bring your ice scraper, and Happy Rovering.