Ice Storm in Texas, December 22 to 24, 1998

Name: Ice Storm in Texas, December 22 to 24, 1998
Start: 1998-12-22T00:00
End: 1998-12-24T23:59
Location: Texas

December 22 to 24, 1998 · NWS FWD · 48 events in 48 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 48 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 6
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 48

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 FWD wrote it up.

A strong arctic cold front moved through North Texas on the 21st, bringing freezing temperatures to all of North Texas by the morning of the 22nd. Southwest winds aloft produced overrunning conditions, resulting in cloudy skies and a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. The precipitation began in the western part of North Texas and spread eastward covering the entire area by the 23rd.At various times, all North Texas counties had icy streets, bridges, overpasses, and highways. The ice caused at least 2,000 accidents, mainly in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, killing six persons, closing many highways, and cancelling over 400 flights at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Two homeless persons died of hypothermia, and dozens of people were injured from falling on the ice.December 22nd - A homeless male, age 56, died of hypothermia in Dallas.December 22nd - A vehicle ran off the ice covered road and sideswiped a tree, killing the driver, north of Sunset in Montague County. The driver was as male, age 44. December 23rd - A homeless male, age unknown, died of hypothermia in Ft. Worth.December 23rd - A car slid into a male pedestrian, age 55, killing the the pedestrian in Irving.December 23rd - A car slid into a signpost, killing the male driver, age 33, in Duncanville.December 23rd - An 18 wheeler slid into a car, killing the cars driver, in Grandview (Johnson Co.). The age of the male is unknown.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

48 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Anderson

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Anderson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Bell

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Bosque

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bosque forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.900, -97.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Collin

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Collin forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Comanche

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Comanche forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cooke

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cooke forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.639, -97.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Coryell

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Coryell forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.391, -97.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Dallas

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Delta

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Delta forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.386, -95.672 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Denton

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Denton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Eastland

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Eastland forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.327, -98.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ellis

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Erath

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Erath forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.236, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Falls

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Falls forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Fannin

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Fannin forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Freestone

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Freestone forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.705, -96.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Grayson

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hamilton

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Haskell

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Haskell forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.178, -99.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Henderson

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Henderson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.212, -95.854 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hill

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hill forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hood

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hood forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.430, -97.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hopkins

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hopkins forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hunt

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hunt forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jack

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jack forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.234, -98.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Johnson

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kaufman

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kaufman forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lamar

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lamar forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lampasas

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lampasas forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.196, -98.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Leon

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.297, -95.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Limestone

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Limestone forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.546, -96.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, McLennan

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McLennan forecast zone
Deaths: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.552, -97.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Milam

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Milam forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Mills

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Mills forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.495, -98.595 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Montague

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Montague forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.676, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Navarro

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Navarro forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Palo Pinto

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Parker

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Rains

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Rains forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.870, -95.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Robertson

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Robertson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.027, -96.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Rockwall

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Rockwall forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Somervell

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Somervell forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.222, -97.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Stephens

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Stephens forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.736, -98.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Tarrant

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tarrant forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Throckmorton

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Throckmorton forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.178, -99.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Van Zandt

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Van Zandt forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.564, -95.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wise

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wise forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Young

When: December 22, 12:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Young forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.177, -98.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-22	56	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-23		Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-23	55	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-23	33	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-23		Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct
Ice Storm, McLennan	1998-12-22	44	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, December 1998

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: 5673657, 5673658, 5673659, 5673660, 5673661, 5673662, 5673663, 5673664, 5673665, 5673782, 5673783, 5673784, 5673785, 5673786, 5673787, 5673788, 5673789, 5673790, 5673791, 5673792, 5673793, 5673794, 5673795, 5673796, 5673797, 5675011, 5675012, 5675013, 5675014, 5675015, 5675016, 5675017, 5675018, 5675019, 5675020, 5675021, 5675022, 5675023, 5675024, 5675025, and more.