NWS Releases Detailed Ice Accumulation Maps for East Texas

I recently discovered a site on the National Weather Service's website that provides focused predictions of ice accumulation over six-hour intervals. On Wednesday, the official Saturday forecast for the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area trended upward to warmer temperatures. It now appears that Lufkin should experience temperatures in the mid-30s on Saturday before dropping below freezing by late Saturday afternoon. That means Deep East Texas ice accumulations from freezing rain/sleet should start Saturday evening.

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Ice Accumulations, Saturday, Midnight to 6 am

It looks like most of Deep East Texas will be getting mostly cold rain during this overnight period. However, the I-20 and I-30 corridors will be below the freezing mark, and light ice accumulations are expected from Tyler to Texarkana.

Ice Accumulations, Saturday, 6 am to Noon

Temperatures in the immediate Lufkin area are expected to stay above 32 during this time; however, portions of Nacogdoches and Shelby Counties could start gathering light ice accumulations. The Tyler/Longview area appears to be a hotbed of moderate ice accumulations during this time.

Ice Accumulations, Saturday, Noon to 6 pm

The line of ice accumulations starts to move a little southward during this time frame. Given the forecasted temperatures, most of this accumulation should happen in the late afternoon hours. Given the previous prediction charts, areas around Longview will have accumulated about a half an inch of ice by this time (.10 + .21 + .16).

Ice Accumulations, Saturday, 6 pm to Midnight

Below-freezing temperatures will slide into the Big Thicket of Southeast Texas during this time. This forecast map shows significant ice accumulations during this 6-hour interval for much of the Pineywoods. Please try to wrap up all road travel by 6 pm on Saturday.

Ice Accumulations, Sunday, Midnight to 6 am

Ice accumulations expand into parts of the Houston Metro. Lufkin/Nacogdoches could experience another .10 to .20 of additional ice accumulations during this overnight period. The heaviest of the ice accumulations extends easterward into Louisiana. More light ice accumulations are possible between 6 am and noon across East Texas.

When you start adding up the predicted 6-hour intervals of ice accumulations, anywhere from a quarter to a half inch of ice could be experienced across much of East Texas. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Saturday morning until noon on Sunday.