Heavy Snow in Texas, December 8 to 9, 1999

Another upper level storm developed into the Pacific Northwest on the 7th. This storm translated into the Southern Rocky Mountains on the 8th and into the Southern Plains during the early morning hours of the 9th. Cold air was already in place as the storm approached West Texas as a cold front had moved through the area on the 8th. Snow developed over the counties bordering New Mexico as the system approached from the west during the late evening of the 8th; the snow increased in coverage and intensity on the 9th. The atmosphere was moist and unstable with this system, resulting in a considerable amount of thunderstorm activity, in which snow fell at a rate of up to two inches per hour. Accumulations of four to six inches occurred in Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Lamb, Hale, Hockley, and Lubbock Counties with one to three inches widespread across the remainder of the Southern Panhandle and South Plains. Roads were closed in portions of Castro and Parmer Counties, with drifts reportedly 4 feet high. The snowpack persisted in Castro County for several days after the storm moved out of the area.