Sleet in Texas, January 12 to 14, 2007

Name: Sleet in Texas, January 12 to 14, 2007
Start: 2007-01-12T18:00
End: 2007-01-14T18:00
Location: Texas

January 12 to 14, 2007 · NWS AMA · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

Cold arctic air combined with an upper level storm system which moved through the Central Plains States produced accumulations of sleet across the central and eastern Texas panhandle.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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: 13

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.

Cold arctic air combined with an upper level storm system which moved through the Central Plains States produced accumulations of sleet across the central and eastern Texas panhandle.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 12, 5:49 PM CST, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 5:49 PM CST, 11 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
549 PM CST FRI JAN 12 2007

.AVIATION...
ARCTIC AIR BECOMING WELL ESTABLISHED OVER THE PANHANDLES. COLD AIR IS
DEEPER THAN FORECASTED OVER NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES...
INDICATED BY THE TRANSITION TO SNOW. GIVEN THAT THE WARM LAYER IS
VIRTUALLY ERODED...DO NOT EXPECT A TRANSITION BACK TO FREEZING RAIN
FOR KDHT AND KGUY. FOR KAMA...A COMBINATION OF FZDZ AND -SN IS
EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR MOST OF TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

FORECAST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST SATURATION THROUGH AN INCREASED DEPTH IN
THE 03Z TO 09Z TIMEFRAME...LIKELY IMPLYING THE PASSAGE OF A SHORTWAVE
TROF. WILL INCLUDE A TEMPO GROUP FOR 04Z TO 08Z AT ALL SITES
DEPICTING AN INCREASE IN PRECIPITATION INTENSITY. BEHIND THIS
WAVE...WILL SEE SOME MIDLEVEL DRYING DURING THE DAY TOMORROW...WITH
FZDZ OR FOG CONTINUING. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE -SN CONTINUE
AFTER 14Z IN NORTHERN TAF SITES...BUT AT THIS TIME WILL CARRY BR
ONLY AND EXAMINE CONDITIONS AS TOMORROW NEARS.

KRAMAR

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 508 PM CST FRI JAN 12 2007/

UPDATE...
SENT CORRECTED TEXT PRODUCTS. LAST MINUTE CHECK OF MIN TEMP FORECAST
SHOWED TEMPS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PANHANDLES WERE ALREADY AT OR BELOW
THE FORECASTED MIN TEMPS. WITH DRY ARCTIC AIR CONTINUING TO
INVADE...SEE NO REASON TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CONTINUE TO DROP.

KRAMAR

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 438 PM CST FRI JAN 12 2007/

DISCUSSION...
MUCH INDECISION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE WATCH THIS AFTERNOON...BUT
DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND UPGRADE THE ENTIRE WATCH INTO A WARNING.
FREEZING DRIZZLE FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING LEFT A GLAZE OF ICE 1/8
INCH THICK THANKS TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AT THE SURFACE. IN FACT
REPORTS OF DRIZZLE STICKING TO THE WINDSHIELDS OF WELL HEATED CARS
HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WHICH SHOWS JUST HOW COLD THE AIR IS. SO ANY RAIN
FALLING WILL ACCUMULATE INTO ICE LIKE PROBABLY NO OTHER SYSTEM IN
RECENT MEMORY...THUS INCREASING THE CHANCES FOR RECEIVING THE ONE
QUARTER INCH NEEDED TO JUSTIFY A WARNING.

TWO SEPARATE PRECIP EPISODES ARE EXPECTED WITH THE FIRST OCCURRING
TOWARD SUNRISE SATURDAY MORNING AND THE SECOND OCCURRING AFTER
MIDNIGHT VERY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THESE TWO EVENTS WARRANT ONE 48
HOUR WARNING AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO GET THE TIMING OF TWO SEPARATE
WARNINGS DOWN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO SINCE THE MODELS TYPICALLY DO
NOT HANDLE WELL THE TIMING OF THE S/W TROFS WHICH WILL CAUSE THE
PRECIP. SOME LIGHT SNOW IS BEING REPORTED AROUND THE AREA BUT THESE
ARE LIKELY SNOW GRAINS GENERATED IN THE NEAR SURFACE ATMOSPHERE AND
ARE NOT FALLING FROM ALOFT. THE ELEVATED WARM LAYER SHOULD STILL BE
IN PLACE WHICH WOULD CREATE FREEZING RAIN ONCE MID LEVEL MOISTURE
MOVES INTO THE AREA.

THE ELEVATED WARM LAYER SHOULD BEGIN TO ERODE FROM THE NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY CAUSING PRECIP TO GRADUALLY
TRANSITION FROM PREDOMINANTLY ICE TO SNOW. ONE TO THREE INCHES WITH
ISOLATED AMOUNTS TO FOUR INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE
PANHANDLES...BUT WITH RATIOS IN THE 20 TO 1 RANGE WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED TO SEE SOME HIGHER AMOUNTS OUT THERE. THE UPPER LOW SHOULD
MOVE ACROSS THE AREA SUNDAY BRINGING DRYER...YET STILL QUITE COLD AIR
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.

HENNIG

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: ARMSTRONG...CARSON...COLLINGSWORTH...
     DALLAM...DEAF SMITH...DONLEY...GRAY...HANSFORD...HARTLEY...
     HEMPHILL...HUTCHINSON...LIPSCOMB...MOORE...OCHILTREE...
     OLDHAM...POTTER...RANDALL...ROBERTS...SHERMAN...WHEELER.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM CST SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ARMSTRONG...CARSON...COLLINGSWORTH...DALLAM...DEAF
     SMITH...DONLEY...GRAY...HANSFORD...HARTLEY...HEMPHILL...
     HUTCHINSON...LIPSCOMB...MOORE...OCHILTREE...OLDHAM...
     POTTER...RANDALL...ROBERTS...SHERMAN...WHEELER.

OK...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM CST SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: BEAVER...CIMARRON...TEXAS.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 12, 3:46 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
346 PM CST FRI JAN 12 2007

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-131200-
ARMSTRONG-BEAVER-CARSON-CIMARRON-COLLINGSWORTH-DALLAM-DEAF SMITH-
DONLEY-GRAY-HANSFORD-HARTLEY-HEMPHILL-HUTCHINSON-LIPSCOMB-MOORE-
OCHILTREE-OLDHAM-POTTER-RANDALL-ROBERTS-SHERMAN-TEXAS-WHEELER-
346 PM CST FRI JAN 12 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLES.

.DAY ONE...

AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE...FREEZING FOG AND OCCASIONAL FREEZING
RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TODAY. A FREEZING RAIN
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE TEXAS
PANHANDLE. OCCASIONAL SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE TODAY. LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. FREEZING RAIN
AND SLEET ALONG WITH SOME SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AS AN UPPER
LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES TOWARD THE PANHANDLES. AS A RESULT...
A WINTER STORM WARNING IS EFFECT BEGINNING AT 6 PM THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

THE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TO MOVE SLOWER
ALLOWING THE WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION TO LINGER INTO SUNDAY
EVENING. THUS...THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN ONE QUARTER AND ONE HALF OF AN
INCH EXPECTED ACROSS SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS
PANHANDLES. IN ADDITION...WIND CHILL VALUES BELOW ZERO ARE LIKELY
BOTH SUNDAY AND MONDAY MORNINGS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

SCHNEIDER

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 sleet. Local standard time, as filed.

Sleet, Lipscomb

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lipscomb forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.278, -100.273 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of sleet was reported at Higgins.

Sleet, Roberts

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Roberts forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.839, -100.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Approximately one inch of sleet was reported in Miami.

Sleet, Hemphill

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hemphill forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.838, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Canadian.

Sleet, Oldham

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Oldham forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.405, -102.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Vega.

Sleet, Potter

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Potter forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.401, -101.894 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Amarillo.

Sleet, Carson

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Carson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.404, -101.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of sleet was reported in White Deer.

Sleet, Gray

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Gray forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.401, -100.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of sleet was reported in Pampa.

Sleet, Wheeler

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Wheeler forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.401, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One to two inches of sleet was reported in Shamrock.

Sleet, Deaf Smith

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Deaf Smith forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.966, -102.605 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half to one inch of sleet in Bootleg.

Sleet, Randall

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Randall forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.966, -101.897 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Amarillo.

Sleet, Armstrong

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Armstrong forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.965, -101.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Claude.

Sleet, Donley

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Donley forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One half inch of sleet was reported in Clarendon.

Sleet, Collingsworth

When: January 12, 6:00 PM CST to January 14, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.965, -100.270 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of sleet was reported in Wellington.

What these are

Sleet: Sleet accumulating half an inch or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2007

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: 10162, 10163, 10164, 10165, 10166, 10167, 10168, 10169, 10170, 10171, 10172, 10173, 10174.