2,500-Mile-Wide Ice Storm: Greatest Hits So Far

We're on day two of a major winter storm stretching from Mexico to Canada, about 2,500 miles according to radar data.

The amount of heavy freezing rain, sleet and snow is impressive (and colorful!) on radar (I'll have a loop of this later tonight).

As of 2:30 PM ET Friday, the maximum precipitation amounts reported have been:

- Illinois & Arkansas (Multiple Locations): 12" Snow - Mineral Wells, Texas: 4" Sleet (six other reports of 3" in TX, AR & OK) - Sebastian, Arkansas: 1.25" Freezing Rain (seven other reports of 1" in AR, OK & TN)

Around 270,000 people have lost power so far in Dallas and another 62,000 in Arkansas. Maybe there are around 400,000 total. Frankly, based on my research yesterday, I'm surprised we haven't seen larger number of power outages in Arkansas and surrounding states. Either the other shoe hasn't dropped with the news, or power companies are better prepared because of technology and social media, than they were during the 2009 storm, which knocked out power to 1.4 million people.

The map above shows the storm's radar, satellite, and pressure map as of 11 AM CT today. 39 stations reported thundersnow between 9 am and noon ET.