Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Texas, December 20 to 21, 1997

Name: Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Texas, December 20 to 21, 1997
Start: 1997-12-20T21:00
End: 1997-12-21T12:00
Location: Texas

December 20 to 21, 1997 · NWS AMA · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong upper level storm system moved out of Old Mexico into the Texas Panhandle. Heavy snows fell across the southwest Texas Panhandle with amounts of four to five inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AMA wrote it up.

A strong upper level storm system moved out of Old Mexico into the Texas Panhandle. Heavy snows fell across the southwest Texas Panhandle with amounts of four to five inches. Over the southeast Texas Panhandle, freezing rain accumulated on power lines and trees causing numerous power outages and downed trees across Wheeler and Donley counties.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 ice storm, 3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Donley

When: December 20, 9:00 PM CST to December 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Donley forecast zone
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Collingsworth

When: December 20, 9:00 PM CST to December 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Collingsworth forecast zone
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Gray

When: December 20, 9:00 PM CST to December 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Gray forecast zone
Coordinates: 35.401, -100.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wheeler

When: December 20, 9:00 PM CST to December 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Wheeler forecast zone
Coordinates: 35.401, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Potter

When: December 21, 12:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Potter forecast zone
Coordinates: 35.401, -101.894 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Randall

When: December 21, 12:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Randall forecast zone
Coordinates: 34.966, -101.897 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Oldham

When: December 21, 12:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Oldham forecast zone
Coordinates: 35.405, -102.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5623688, 5623689, 5623690, 5623691, 5623685, 5623686, 5623687.