Yummy Icing

Well, if you don't know Northeast Oklahoma is under a ice storm warning and will continue to be until Sunday at 6pm. That means we are having sleet and freezing rain continually. We have already had what the weathermen are calling the "first storm" and just now the start of the "second storm." A little later on this post I will explain the difference between sleet and freezing rain. But today I woke up and edited then I ate lunch with my Dad at Tulsa Lock & Key. About 2:40 the sleet started again and darted out of the shop in an effort to make it to Owasso before it got really bad. I made it! So here are some photos so far. The temp is currently 26 and not expect to get any warmer until Wednesday. The forcasted low on Monday night is 1.

Now the difference between sleet and freezing rain. Sleet is frozen ice pellets. Rain way up in the atmosphere freezes (just like hail) and when it comes down into our air it continues frozen. It is not snow because it starts as rain, rather than starting frozen. But freezing rain happens when that rain way up in the atmosphere does not freeze but then comes down into our air still not frozen. The only time it freezes is when it hits the ground. Freezing rain is the worst of all of these because it sticks to things. Power lines and trees stand no chance when dealing with freezing rain. Luckly we in Tulsa have had more sleet (which is actually better than snow because it provides friction when trying to walk or drive) than we have freezing rain. In places like Talequahm Vinita, and Muskogee there has been much freezing rain and lots of trees are down and lots of people are without power.
The forcast is for more sleet and even might change into snow in the "third storm" on sunday. If it snows on top of the inch or more of ice we already have. Things will get much worse.