Alert archive / Texas / Winter Storm Warnings in 2011

Winter Storm Warning 1, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

February 3, 201123 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this winter storm warning at Feb 3, 2011, 4:42 AM CST for 23 counties in Texas. It took effect at Feb 3, 2011, 12:00 PM CST. It was in force for 24 hr. 25 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Feb 3, 2011, 4:42 AM CST (10:42 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 3, 2011, 12:00 PM CST
Expired
Feb 4, 2011, 12:00 PM CST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
All 23 counties

Austin County, TX, Brazoria County, TX, Brazos County, TX, Burleson County, TX, Chambers County, TX, Colorado County, TX, Fort Bend County, TX, Galveston County, TX, Grimes County, TX, Harris County, TX, Houston County, TX, Jackson County, TX, Liberty County, TX, Madison County, TX, Matagorda County, TX, Montgomery County, TX, Polk County, TX, San Jacinto County, TX, Trinity County, TX, Walker County, TX, Waller County, TX, Washington County, TX, Wharton County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:45 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 3, 12:32 PM CSTSLEET 0Clute, TX
Feb 3, 12:45 PM CSTFREEZING RAIN 0League City, TXPRECIPITATION VERY LIGHT.
Feb 3, 12:45 PM CSTSLEET 0Webster, TX
Feb 3, 1:00 PM CSTSLEET 0Dickinson, TX
Feb 3, 1:30 PM CSTSLEET 0Pearland, TXSLEET BEING REPORTED AROUND PEARLAND AREA.
Feb 3, 1:37 PM CSTSLEET 0Texas City, TXSLEET OCCURRING AT THE COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND AREA ON FM 1764 JUST EAST OF INTERSTATE 45.
Feb 3, 10:45 PM CSTFREEZING RAIN 0.25Sealy, TXNUMEROUS ROADS CLOSED ACROSS THE COUNTY DUE TO ICING.
Feb 3, 10:53 PM CSTFREEZING RAIN 0.25College Station, TXICE ACCUMULATING ON AREA ROADS AND OVERPASSES ACROSS THE COLLEGE STATION AREA INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE TEXAS A AND M CAMPUS.
Feb 3, 11:29 PM CSTFREEZING RAIN 0.25Houston, TXICE BEGINNING TO ACCUMULATE ON ROADS AND OVERPASSES IN AND AROUND THE HOUSTON AREA LEADING TO ACCIDENTS AND SANDING OPERATIONS. REPORTS FROM TRANSTAR AND HAM RADIO.
Feb 4, 12:40 AM CSTICE STORMKaty, TXINTERSTATE 10 CLOSED AT GREENHOUSE ROAD DUE TO ICING.
Feb 4, 12:40 AM CSTICE STORMStafford, TXBELTWAY 8 CLOSED AT US 59 SOUTH DUE TO ICING OF OVERPASSES AND FREEWAY RAMPS.
Feb 4, 12:40 AM CSTICE STORMWharton, TXUS 59 CLOSED IN WHARTON DUE TO ICING.
Feb 4, 1:00 AM CSTICE STORMSugar Land, TXUS HIGHWAY 59 CLOSED ACROSS ALL OF WHARTON AND FORT BEND COUNTIES.
Feb 4, 1:07 AM CSTICE STORM4 Nw Jersey Village, TXFIFTEEN VEHICLES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT ON US 290 AT HIGHWAY 6 DUE TO ICING.
Feb 4, 1:34 AM CSTICE STORMKaty, TXINTERSTATE 10 CLOSED AT STATE HIGHWAY 99 DUE TO ICING.
Feb 4, 6:00 AM CSTSNOW 0.23 S College Station, TX
Feb 4, 6:13 AM CSTICE STORMCollege Station, TXNUMEROUS ROADS ICED OVER IN BRYAN AND COLLEGE STATION.
Feb 4, 7:00 AM CSTSNOW 0Crockett, TXONE QUARTER INCH MEASURED IN CROCKETT.
Feb 4, 7:00 AM CSTSNOW 0.2Crockett, TXONE QUARTER INCH MEASURED IN CROCKETT.
Feb 4, 7:57 AM CSTICE STORM 0Houston, TXFREEZING RAIN HAS PRODUCED 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ICE ACCUMULATION ACROSS THE HOUSTON METRO AREA. NUMEROUS MAJOR FREEWAYS CLOSED INCLUDING THE WESTPARK TOLLWAY...ELEVATED SECTIONS OF I-10 AND US 59...AND THE NASA BYPASS. OTHER BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES AND ELEVATED SUR
Feb 4, 9:17 AM CSTFREEZING RAIN 0.12Cleveland, TX
Feb 4, 9:35 AM CSTSNOW 0.8Madisonville, TX
Feb 4, 10:00 AM CSTICE STORMAngleton, TXICE ON POWER LINES. AT LEAST 500 HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT POWER.
Feb 4, 10:15 AM CSTICE STORMConroe, TXNUMEROUS ROADS AND OVERPASSES ICED OVER. AT LEAST 40 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
Feb 4, 10:15 AM CSTICE STORMGalveston, TXICE ACCUMULATION ON ELEVATED SURFACES AND POWER LINES ACROSS COUNTY. POWER OUTAGES ON GALVESTON ISLAND AND BOLIVAR PENINSULA.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 242 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 2011-02-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 2011-02-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -31 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1523 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
81 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
223 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

402 
WWUS44 KHGX 031042
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
442 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FROM NOON CST
THURSDAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING
RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-031845-
/O.UPG.KHGX.WS.A.0001.110203T1800Z-110204T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KHGX.WS.W.0001.110203T1800Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
442 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON CST
FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING
RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE EARLY
AFTERNOON NEAR THE COAST...AND SPREAD AREA WIDE BY EVENING. THE
WINTRY MIX WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY NIGHT THEN TAPER OFF LATE
MORNING FRIDAY.

PRECIPITATION TYPE: VERY LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED AT THE
ONSET OF THE EVENT THURSDAY ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING...A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW IS
EXPECTED TO THE WEST OF A LINE FROM MATAGORDA TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
TO NORTHERN LIBERTY COUNTY...WITH ALL SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHWEST
HALF OF THE AREA. EAST OF THIS LINE...FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED
TO MIX IN WITH THE SLEET AND SNOW MAINLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT. OVER
SOUTHERN BRAZORIA... SOUTHERN GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND SOUTHERN
LIBERTY COUNTIES MOSTLY ICE IS EXPECTED. AFTER MIDNIGHT THESE
AREAS MAY HAVE A SLEET AND SNOW MIX. FREEZING RAIN MIXED WITH
SLEET AND SNOW MAY STILL BE POSSIBLE FOR MOST OF CHAMBERS COUNTY
AND SOUTHERN MOST GALVESTON COUNTY INCLUDING GALVESTON ISLAND.
PRECIPITATION MAY CONTINUE TO CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW AFTER 6AM
FRIDAY EXCEPT FOR THE IMMEDIATE COAST WHERE SLEET MAY MIX WITH
THE SNOW. PRECIPITATION SHOULD COME TO AN END NEAR OR SHORTLY
AFTER NOON FRIDAY.

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA...ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO
3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES. THE
BEST CHANCE OF 4 INCH ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE PINEY
WOODS AND LAKES AREA OF EAST TEXAS. IN THE FREEZING RAIN THREAT
AREA...ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

IMPACTS: DUE TO EVAPORATIVE COOLING IN THE VERY DRY AIRMASS...
TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER WITH THIS EVENT THAN
DURING THE LAST FEW WINTER WEATHER EVENTS TO IMPACT THIS AREA.
THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH HIGHER LIKELIHOOD
OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED SURFACES
LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
DETERIORATE BEGINNING AROUND SUNSET THURSDAY. IN ADDITION...POWER
OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN THE FREEZING RAIN THREAT
AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WATCH AREA MAY BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&


$$
5 follow-up statements
693 
WWUS44 KHGX 031641
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1041 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FROM NOON CST
TODAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-040100-
/O.CON.KHGX.WS.W.0001.110203T1800Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
1041 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY. 

AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING. 

LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY EARLY THIS EVENING
WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION FALLING BETWEEN MIDNIGHT
AND 6 AM TONIGHT. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO END BY MID TO
LATE MORNING ON FRIDAY. 

PRECIPITATION TYPE: A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED OVER
MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. TO THE WEST OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO
MAGNOLIA TO HUNTSVILLE TO CROCKETT...ALL SNOW IS EXPECTED. TO THE
EAST OF A LINE FROM SARGENT TO ANGLETON TO ANAHUAC...A MIX OF
RAIN...FREEZING RAIN...AND SLEET IS EXPECTED. 

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA...ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO
3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES
POSSIBLE IN SMALL BANDS. IN THE FREEZING RAIN THREAT AREA...ICE
ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND 1/10 ARE EXPECTED ALONG WITH SLEET
ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH.

IMPACTS: DUE TO EVAPORATIVE COOLING IN THE VERY DRY AIRMASS...
TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER WITH THIS EVENT THAN
DURING THE LAST FEW WINTER WEATHER EVENTS TO IMPACT THIS AREA.
THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH HIGHER LIKELIHOOD
OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED SURFACES
LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
DETERIORATE TONIGHT AND WILL BE AT THEIR WORST LATE TONIGHT AND
EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL BE
POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WATCH AREA MAY BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&

$$
639 
WWUS44 KHGX 031715 CCA
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1113 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FROM NOON CST
TODAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-040145-
/O.COR.KHGX.WS.W.0001.110203T1800Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
1113 AM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY. 

AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING. 

LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY EARLY THIS EVENING
WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION FALLING BETWEEN MIDNIGHT
AND 6 AM TONIGHT. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO END BY MID TO
LATE MORNING ON FRIDAY. 

PRECIPITATION TYPE: A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED OVER
MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. TO THE WEST OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO
MAGNOLIA TO HUNTSVILLE TO CROCKETT...ALL SNOW IS EXPECTED. TO THE
EAST OF A LINE FROM SARGENT TO ANGLETON TO ANAHUAC...A MIX OF
RAIN...FREEZING RAIN...AND SLEET IS EXPECTED. 

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA...ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO
3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES
POSSIBLE IN SMALL BANDS. IN THE FREEZING RAIN THREAT
AREA...FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND 1/10 INCH ARE
EXPECTED ALONG WITH SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH.

IMPACTS: DUE TO EVAPORATIVE COOLING IN THE VERY DRY AIRMASS...
TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER WITH THIS EVENT THAN
DURING THE LAST FEW WINTER WEATHER EVENTS TO IMPACT THIS AREA.
THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH HIGHER LIKELIHOOD
OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED SURFACES
LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
DETERIORATE TONIGHT AND WILL BE AT THEIR WORST LATE TONIGHT AND
EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL BE
POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WATCH AREA MAY BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&

$$
332 
WWUS44 KHGX 032152
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
352 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH NOON
CST FRIDAY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-041200-
/O.CON.KHGX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
352 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY. 

AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE TO GENERATE A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET...AND
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR FROM
AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH MID MORNING FRIDAY. ROADWAYS ARE
LIKELY TO BECOME ICY AND HAZARDOUS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING. 

PRECIPITATION TYPE: EAST OF A LINE FROM SARGENT TO LEAGUE CITY TO
LIBERTY...THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE PRIMARILY IN THE
FORM OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WITH VERY LITTLE SNOW FOR THE
DURATION OF THE EVENT. FROM THIS LINE WESTWARD TO A SARGENT TO
DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO LIVINGSTON LINE...A MIX OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN
AND SLEET IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING CHANGING OVER TO SLEET AND SNOW
AFTER MIDNIGHT. TO THE WEST OF A SARGENT TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO
LIVINGSTON LINE...ALL SLEET AND SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH ALL SNOW
OVER THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF THE AREA. 

AMOUNTS: THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND MID MORNING FRIDAY. IN THE SNOW AND SLEET
AREA...ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED
TOTALS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE IN SMALL BANDS. IN THE FREEZING
RAIN THREAT AREA...FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH
ARE EXPECTED ALONG WITH SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO AN INCH.

IMPACTS: TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW FREEZING FOR THE
DURATION OF THE STORM. ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES...WILL LIKELY BECOME ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. ELEVATED SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES WILL BE THE MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED. ROAD CONDITIONS
WILL BE AT THEIR WORST EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...POWER
OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE. GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILLS
IN THE TEENS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WARNING AREA WILL BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&

$$
897 
WWUS44 KHGX 041005
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
405 AM CST FRI FEB 4 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH NOON
CST FRIDAY...

.AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE STATE WILL PRODUCE
LIGHT FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW THIS MORNING. THE DISTURBANCE
WILL EXIT THE REGION THIS MORNING AND THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL
END BETWEEN 9 AM AND NOON. TRAVEL IS TREACHEROUS THIS MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-041800-
/O.CON.KHGX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
405 AM CST FRI FEB 4 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. 

AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS THE STATE WILL PRODUCE
LIGHT FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW THIS MORNING. THE DISTURBANCE
WILL EXIT THE REGION THIS MORNING AND THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL
END BETWEEN 9 AM AND NOON. TRAVEL IS TREACHEROUS THIS MORNING.

PRECIPITATION TYPE: THE PRECIPITATION WILL PRIMARILY BE FREEZING
RAIN AND SLEET. THERE IS STILL A SMALL WINDOW FOR SNOW...BETWEEN 6
AND 8 AM AS SOME COLDER AIR MOVES INTO EAST TEXAS. A QUICK INCH OF
SNOW MAY FALL NORTH OF A BRENHAM TO CONROE TO COLDSPRING LINE THIS
MORNING WITH A FEW FLURRIES POSSIBLE AS FAR SOUTH AS HOUSTON. A
MIXTURE OF SLEET AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED EAST OF THE
BRENHAM TO COLDSPRING LINE. ADDITIONAL LIQUID EQUIVALENT
PRECIPITATION WILL ONLY BE A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. 

AMOUNTS: A QUICK INCH OF SNOW MAY FALL NORTH OF A BRENHAM TO
CONROE TO COLDSPRING LINE THIS MORNING WITH A FEW FLURRIES
POSSIBLE AS FAR SOUTH AS HOUSTON. A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND LIGHT
FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED EAST OF THE BRENHAM TO COLDSPRING LINE.
ADDITIONAL LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION WILL ONLY BE A FEW
HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. DESPITE THE MODEST RAINFALL TOTALS...ICE
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

IMPACTS: TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW FREEZING FOR THE
DURATION OF THE STORM. ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES...WILL LIKELY BECOME ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. ELEVATED SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES WILL BE THE MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED. ROAD CONDITIONS
WILL BE AT THEIR WORST EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...POWER
OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE. 

PARTS OF BELTWAY 8 AND I-10 ARE CLOSED DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS.
PARTS OF HIGHWAY 59 IN WHARTON COUNTY ARE CLOSED AS WELL. ALL HOV
LANES...THE WESTPARK TOLLWAY AND THE KATY TOLL LANES ARE ALSO
CLOSED DUE TO ICING. TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED THIS MORNING...BUT IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...PLEASE LEAVE EARLY AND ALLOW PLENTY OF EXTRA
TIME TO REACH YOUTR DESTINATION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WARNING AREA WILL BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&

$$
317 
WWUS44 KHGX 041440
WSWHGX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
840 AM CST FRI FEB 4 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH NOON
CST TODAY...

.THE PRECIPITATION EVENT IS WINDING DOWN BUT ROADS REMAIN ICY AND
TREACHEROUS THIS MORNING.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-041800-
/O.CON.KHGX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110204T1800Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...
COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...
CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...EDNA...EL CAMPO...FREEPORT...
FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HOUSTON...
HUMBLE...HUNTSVILLE...KATY...LAKE JACKSON...LAKE SOMERVILLE...
LEAGUE CITY...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...MONT BELVIEU...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PALACIOS...
PASADENA...PEARLAND...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...RICHMOND...
ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...TEXAS CITY...
THE WOODLANDS...TOMBALL...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS...
WINNIE
840 AM CST FRI FEB 4 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. 

A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND FREEZING DRIZZLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF
OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND FREEZING DRIZZLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF
OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF BY NOON TODAY. ICE
ACCUMULATION OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH OCCURRED ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS OVERNIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO AN INCH OVER THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
AREA. MANY ROADS...ESPECIALLY ELEVATED SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES...ARE ICED OVER OR CLOSED. TRAVEL IS TREACHEROUS THIS
MORNING AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WARNING AREA WILL BECOME
SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OR ICE ON ROADWAYS...
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS. EXERCISE
CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION...POWER OUTAGES WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this winter storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter storm warning went out at Feb 2, 11:46 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 2, 11:46 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1146 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011

.AVIATION...
SIMILAR PHILOSOPHY WITH THE 06Z PACKAGE USING 0Z MODEL DATA. DID
ADJUST TIMES ON WINTRY MIX...SLOWED THE ONSET BY AN HOUR OR TWO
CLOSER TO 0Z FRIDAY. ATTM...ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT COLUMN IS
COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT PRIMARILY SNOW. THERE MAY BE A BRIEF LATE
AFTERNOON WINDOW WHERE SITES CLOSER TO COAST MAY EXPERIENCE A
SLEET MIX...BUT TOOK OUT THE MENTION OF -FZRA. WHAT LITTLE MID-LEVEL
WARM NOSE DEVELOPS EARLY IN THE EVENT APPEARS TO QUICKLY WET BULB
AND PRODUCE ALL SNOW AROUND SUNSET. EARLY EVENING LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS...
MORE MODERATE SNOW BETWEEN 06Z-12Z PER 4KM WRF...UNDER LOW MVFR
DECKS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. 31

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 938 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011/

DISCUSSION...
CURRENT FORECAST LOOKS GOOD...AND NO CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE MADE THIS
EVENING AS WE AWAIT FOR ALL 00Z MODEL DATA TO ARRIVE AND ANALYZE. CLOUDS
SHOULD REMAIN PRETTY THINK ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS OVERNIGHT...SO ACTUAL
LOWS MIGHT END UP A COUPLE DEGREES WARMER THAN ANTICIPATED. THE HARD
FREEZE WARNING AND WINTER STORM WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT.

PLEASE REFER TO THE DISCUSSIONS BELOW...OUR WINTER STORM WATCH (WSWHGX)
AND OUR HARD FREEZE WARNING (NPWHGX) FOR DETAILS ON THE UPCOMING POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER EVENT.  42

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 616 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011/

AVIATION...
VFR THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON...HIGH TO MID LEVEL DECK STREAMING
UP FROM THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH PERIOD AS THE JET STREAM/CORE POSITIONS
ITSELF OVER EASTERN TEXAS. THE UPPER LOW MOVING OUT OF NORTHERN
MEXICO AND INTO THE BIG BEND TOMORROW AFTERNOON WILL AID IN PULLING
UP MORE MOISTURE-RICH AIR (UPON ENHANCED MID-LEVEL SOUTHWESTERLIES)
OVER TOP A SUB-FREEZING LOWER 10 K FEET. MID TO LATE AFTERNOON
PRECIPITATION WILL MOST LIKELY BEGIN AS A FROZEN MIXTURE FOR MANY
HUBS...MOST LIKELY TRANSITIONING OVER TO ALL SNOW (-SHSN) GOING
INTO THE LAST FEW HOURS OF THE PERIOD. TIME OF ONSET AND COVERAGE
IS STILL A MYSTERY...BUT CONFIDENCE IS STRENGTHENING THAT WINTRY
PRECIPITATION OF EITHER MID TO LATE AFTERNOON FREEZING RAIN/SLEET/
FLURRIES WILL TRANSITION TO LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS BY THE END OF THE
DAY. 31

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 334 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011/

WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL OF SE TX THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING...

DISCUSSION...
PARTIAL CLEARING ACROSS SE TX HAS ALLOWED TEMPS TO AT LEAST
BRIEFLY CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE SRN HALF OF THE AREA.
HOWEVER...TEMPS HAVE REMAINED BELOW FREEZING ALL DAY ACROSS THE NW
HALF. MID LEVEL CLOUDINESS WILL GRADUALLY FILL IN ACROSS THE AREA
TONIGHT. IN ADDITION...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UP IN THE 5-15
MPH RANGE. AS A RESULT...ONLY A SLOW DROP IN TEMP IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE MAVMOS AS A RESULT.
REGARDLESS...THE HARD FREEZE WILL CONTINUE...AND THE WARNING WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON THURSDAY. GIVEN THE THICK CLOUD
COVER ON THURSDAY...TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING IN
THE AFTN.

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A STRONG UPPER LOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE DIGGING SOUTH
TOWARD THE BIG BEND REGION TONIGHT/THURSDAY...THEN LIFT EASTWARD
ACROSS TEXAS THU NIGHT/FRIDAY. UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY DIFFLUENT WITH SE TX POSSIBLY GOING INTO THE RIGHT
REAR OF A 300 MB JET MAX THU NIGHT. ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL
BEGIN TO DEEPEN THURSDAY WITH PWS APPROACHING AN INCH NEAR THE
COAST. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES...ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL DEVELOP
ACROSS SE TX BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT/THU MORNING. AS IS TYPICAL IN
THESE SITUATIONS THE ONSET OF PRECIP IS DIFFICULT TO TIME. THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL SATURATE FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE PRECIP WILL
REACH THE GROUND. THE MODELS HAVE TRENDED FASTER WITH PRECIP
DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF RUNS. A FEW FLURRIES WILL BE
POSSIBLE AS EARLY AS LATE TONIGHT NEAR THE COAST...AND OVER THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA THU MORNING. HOWEVER...THINKING THAT THE
MORE SIGNIFICANT LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP BEGINNING MIDDAY
NEAR THE COAST...MID AFTERNOON CENTRAL ZONES...AND LATE AFTN OVER
THE NORTH. THE MAIN PRECIP EVENT WILL GET GOING LATE AFTN/EARLY
EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH EARLY MORNING FRIDAY.

PRECIP TYPE: EXPECTING VERY LIGHT SNOW OR SLEET NEAR THE COAST AT
THE ONSET THURSDAY...WITH JUST SNOW FLURRIES OVER THE NORTHERN
HALF. BY THURSDAY EVENING...SOUTHWEST WINDS ALOFT RESULT IN SOME
WARMING IN THE PROFILE IN THE 700-900 MB LEVEL. THIS WARMING WILL
RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN OVER THE SE
THIRD OF THE AREA. CURRENT THINKING IS THE WESTERN EXTENT OF THE
FREEZING RAIN THREAT AREA WILL RUN FROM A MATAGORDA TO DOWNTOWN
HOUSTON TO RYE LINE. WEST OF THIS LINE...SLEET AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH ALL SNOW OVER THE NW HALF OF THE CWA. EAST OF THIS
LINE...A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH MAINLY ICE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN BRAZORIA...
SOUTHERN GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND SOUTHERN LIBERTY COUNTIES.
THIS THINKING REFLECTS THE 12Z GFS SOLUTION WHICH IS A GOOD
COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE MODELS.

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA EXPECTING ACCUMULATIONS OF 1
TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES. THE BEST CHANCE
OF 4 INCH ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE PINEY WOODS AND LAKES
AREA OF EAST TEXAS. IN THE ICE AREA (FAR SE)...ICE ACCUMULATIONS
OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

IMPACTS: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EVENT AND THE WINTER
WEATHER EVENTS OVER SE TX THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE THE
COLDER TEMPERATURES. DUE TO THE VERY LOW DEWPOINTS AND
EVAPORATIVE COOLING...TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER
WITH THIS EVENT. THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH
HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED
SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO DETERIORATE BEGINNING AROUND SUNSET THURSDAY. IN ADDITION...
POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN THE FREEZING RAIN
THREAT AREA.

PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF MID TO LATE MORNING FRIDAY AS BEST
LIFT SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA. SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE
POSSIBLE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SYSTEM BUT HAVE NOT REFLECTED
THIS IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. TEMPS SHOULD CLIMB TO THE MID
30S FRI AFTN WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT IN
ROAD CONDITIONS. HOWEVER...REFREEZING WILL BE POSSIBLE FRI NIGHT.
HAVE LOWERED FCST MIN TEMPS FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH CLEAR SKIES AND
LIGHT WINDS ALLOWING FOR ONE MORE HARD FREEZE. SUNSHINE EXPECTED
SATURDAY WHICH WILL FINALLY ALLOW ALL OF SE TX TO CLIMB ABOVE
FREEZING BY LATE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE 50S ARE EXPECTED. SUNDAY
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY WITH SUNSHINE AND MAX TEMPS IN THE UPPER
50S/60S. HAVE NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE FORECAST BEYOND SUNDAY...
WITH THE GFS/ECMWF STILL SHOWING MAJOR DIFFERENCES WITH THE TIMING
OF THE NEXT FRONT.

35/46/38/33

MARINE...
WILL MAINTAIN THE SCA FOR COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW
AFTN WITH AN SCEC FOR THE BAYS DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME. WINDS
HAVE BEEN MARGINAL FOR THE SCA FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS BUT THERE
IS ENOUGH UNCERTAINTY TO KEEP THINGS IN PLACE. SIMILAR THEORY FOR
THE BAYS WITH THE SCEC. WINDS/SEAS TO LEVEL OFF AREAWIDE SAT AFTN
THROUGH SUN AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE AREA. THE NEXT COLD
FRONT IS STILL PROGGED TO CROSS INTO THE COASTAL WATERS SUN NIGHT
INTO MON WITH ADVISORIES LIKELY ONCE AGAIN.  41

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL)      18  31  23  36  23 /  10  20  70  50  10
HOUSTON (IAH)              22  33  27  36  23 /  10  40  70  60  10
GALVESTON (GLS)            27  35  30  36  32 /  10  50  70  60  10

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...HARD FREEZE WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...BRAZOS...BURLESON...CHAMBERS...
     COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...GRIMES...HARRIS...
     HOUSTON...JACKSON...LIBERTY...MADISON...MATAGORDA...
     MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...TRINITY...WALKER...
     WALLER...WASHINGTON...WHARTON.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
     MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...
     BRAZOS...BURLESON...CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...
     GALVESTON...GRIMES...HARRIS...HOUSTON...JACKSON...LIBERTY...
     MADISON...MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...
     TRINITY...WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON...WHARTON.

GM...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL
     20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP
     CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20
     TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.

&&

DISCUSSION...42
AVIATION/MARINE...31
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 2, 5:19 PM CST, 11 hours 23 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
519 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011

GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-
227-235>238-031200-
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GALVESTON BAY-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-
MADISON-MATAGORDA-MATAGORDA BAY-MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-
TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM-WHARTON-
519 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A HARD FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
WITH THE COLD ARCTIC AIR MASS IN PLACE. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN
THE UPPER TEENS TO AROUND 20 INLAND AND IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S ALONG
THE COAST. MOISTURE LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY INCREASE ACROSS
THE AREA...AND A FEW SNOW FLURRIES MIGHT OCCUR AS EARLY AS LATE TONIGHT
NEAR THE COAST. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY SENSITIVE TO PROLONGED FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

.DAYS TWO AND THREE..THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

THE COLD ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE. MOISTURE LEVELS WILL
CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA. A FEW SNOW FLURRIES WILL BE
POSSIBLE VERY EARLY ON THURSDAY NEAR THE COAST AND OVER THE SOUTHERN
HALF OF THE AREA THURSDAY MORNING. MORE SIGNIFICANT LIGHT PRECIPITATION
WILL DEVELOP BEGINNING MIDDAY NEAR THE COAST...MID AFTERNOON CENTRAL...AND
LATE AFTERNOON OVER THE NORTH. THE MAIN PRECIPITATION EVENT WILL GET
GOING IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS AND WILL PERSIST
THROUGH EARLY MORNING FRIDAY. CURRENT THINKING IS THE WESTERN EXTENT
OF THE FREEZING RAIN THREAT AREA WILL BE ALONG A LINE FROM MATAGORDA
TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO THE CLEVELAND AREA. WEST OF THIS LINE...SLEET
AND SNOW ARE EXPECTED...AND ALL SNOW IS EXPECTED OVER THE NORTHWEST
HALF OF THE AREA. EAST OF THIS LINE...A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND
SNOW IS EXPECTED...WITH MAINLY ICE CLOSE TO THE COAST. SNOW TOTALS
COULD AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES.
IN THE ICE AREA...ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

METEOROLOGISTS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION AND UPDATE
THE FORECAST AS NEEDED. RESIDENTS SHOULD CLOSELY TO MONITOR THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS UPCOMING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER
EVENT.

.DAYS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Texas, 2011Every winter storm warning in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.