Predicting Winter Weather

Winter weather comes in several different forms. These include freezing rain, sleet, and snow to name the three major types. Here is how they are predicted:

Freezing Rain

• Freezing rain occurs when the atmosphere is below freezing at or just above ground level but above freezing higher up. This phenomenon is called an "inversion".
• Freezing rain is characterized as liquid rain that freezes when it strikes a surface (e.g. ground, power lines, or tree limbs).
• The last major ice event occurred from December 24 - 26, 2000 in northwestern and north-central in Shreveport and Monroe. Accumulations ranged from 1/4 to 1 inch along and north of Interstate 20. Widespread power outages were reported in Minden, Homer, Arcadia, Farmerville, Ruston, and Monroe with nearly 50,000 people without power.

Sleet

• Sleet occurs when the atmosphere is below freezing near the ground and up high with an area of warmer than freezing air sandwiched in between.
• Sleet is characterized as small ice pellets. What happens is that snow flakes melt when they hit the warm air then refreeze in the cold air.

Snow

• Snow occurs when the entire air profile is at or below freezing. Snow may also occur if the freezing line is less than 1,000 feet above the surface.
• The last major snow event occurred on January 1, 2001 when over one inch of snow fell along a line from Leesville to Alexandria. Four people were injured in one of many car accidents in the Alexandria-Pineville Metropolitan Area.

Watch, Warning, and Advisory Terms

• Freeze Watch - temperatures of less than 25 are possible
• Freeze Warning - temperatures of less than 25 are possible for an extended period of time
• Wind Chill Advisory - wind chills of 0 - 13 are possible
• Wind Chill Warning - wind chills of less than 0 are possible
• Winter Weather Advisory - when ice, sleet, or snow are expected but in minimal accumulations
• Winter Storm Watch - ice or sleet accumulations of >1/4 inch or snow accumulations of >2 inches are possible for 12 hours within 48 hours.
• Winter Storm Warning - when winter storm watch conditions are expected within 24 hours.