Heavy Snow in Texas, December 4, 1999

An upper level low pressure system translated from the Pacific Northwest on the 2nd into the four corners region on the 3rd then into the Southern Plains on the 4th. At the same time, cold air associated with high pressure centered over the Northern Rocky Mountains deepened over West Texas. Snow began to fall over West Texas during the early morning hours of the 4th, falling most heavily over the Southwestern Panhandle and the Northwestern South Plains where four to six inches of snow was reported. This included Parmer, Castro, Briscoe, Bailey, and Hale Counties. Elsewhere, one to three inch accumulations occurred in parts of Cochran, Hockley, Lamb, and Swisher Counties. The snow diminished to flurries during the late afternoon as the storm moved northeast into Southwest Oklahoma. A 50-100 mile wide band of heavy snow extended from East-Central New Mexico through the Texas Panhandle and into Northern Missouri in the wake of the storm.Some specific effects of this storm included: All roads closed in Castro County due to zero visibility and 35 mph winds with blowing and drifting snow; power outages that lasted up to two days in parts of Castro County; five to six foot drifts in Parmer County; power outages that lasted up to four days in parts of Bailey County; and over 150 power poles broken in Bailey County due to the combination of snow and ice on the wires with the whipping action of the wind.