Texas, 1998

Blizzard in Texas, March 7 to 8, 1998

March 7 to 8, 1998 · NWS AMA · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A low pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the Texas South Plains and a very cold and moist air mass across the northern Texas Panhandle produced blizzard conditions with sustained wind speeds of 35 mph to 40 mph and visibilities near zero. Snowfall amounts were generally in the one to three inch range.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
5

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 low pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the Texas South Plains and a very cold and moist air mass across the northern Texas Panhandle produced blizzard conditions with sustained wind speeds of 35 mph to 40 mph and visibilities near zero. Snowfall amounts were generally in the one to three inch range.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Dallam

When
March 7, 5:00 PM CST to March 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Dallam forecast zone
Coordinates
36.278, -102.602 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sherman

When
March 7, 5:00 PM CST to March 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Sherman forecast zone
Coordinates
36.278, -101.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hansford

When
March 7, 5:00 PM CST to March 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Hansford forecast zone
Coordinates
36.278, -101.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ochiltree

When
March 7, 5:00 PM CST to March 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Ochiltree forecast zone
Coordinates
36.278, -100.816 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lipscomb

When
March 7, 5:00 PM CST to March 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Lipscomb forecast zone
Coordinates
36.278, -100.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, March 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: 5639537, 5639538, 5639539, 5639540, 5639541.