An arctic cold front pushed southward over the west Texas South Plains during the evening hours of the 8th, and light snow began to fall over much of the South Plains region overnight and into the morning hours of the 9th. Although no snow accumulations occurred, the onset of freezing temperatures and light wintry precipitation contributed to at least one vehicular accident in Lubbock.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LUB wrote it up.
An arctic cold front pushed southward over the west Texas South Plains during the evening hours of the 8th, and light snow began to fall over much of the South Plains region overnight and into the morning hours of the 9th. Although no snow accumulations occurred, the onset of freezing temperatures and light wintry precipitation contributed to at least one vehicular accident in Lubbock. A motorist lost control of his pickup truck on west Loop 289 near 23rd Street around midnight CST, and was treated for minor injuries.
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 Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 8, 8:22 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 822 PM CST MON DEC 8 2008 .UPDATE... VIGOROUS UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTH PLAINS WILL RAPIDLY TRANSLATE EAST AND EXIT THE SOUTH PLAINS REGION IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. SUBSIDENCE HAS KICKED IN WITH CLEARING SKIES AND SLIGHTLY DRIER LOW LEVELS ON THE CAPROCK. REMAINING LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS OVER THE ROLLING PLAINS WILL LIKELY DISSIPATE BY 03Z. WELL ADVERTISED WIND SHIFT NOW PUSHING THROUGH THE PANHANDLE AND APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY FASTER. BRUNT OF THE COLD AIRMASS STILL FURTHER NORTH OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO AND KANSAS. HAVE UPDATED WIND GRIDS TO ACCOUNT FOR A SLIGHTLY FASTER WIND SHIFT OVER THE NORTHERN COUNTIES AND TWEAKED WINDS OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES FOR THE OVERNIGHT. IN ADDITION...LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE SHOWING UP OVER SOUTHERN UTAH AND NEAR THE NORTHERN ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO STATE LINE. THIS AHEAD OF THE NEXT UPPER LOW STILL PROGGED TO IMPACT THE SOUTH PLAINS TOMORROW. INHERITED FORECAST POPS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS STILL LOOK ON TRACK AND NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES ARE NEEDED ATTM. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVISORY LEVEL WINDS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT TOMORROW. GUIDANCE IS CLUSTERED AROUND THE 27 TO 30KT SUSTAINED WIND SPEED FOR MIDDAY TOMORROW. WILL RE-EVALUATE THIS POTENTIAL ONCE ALL OF THE 00Z GUIDANCE COMES IN. KW && .AVIATION... RAPIDLY IMPROVING CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT BOTH TERMINALS FOR THE CRITICAL TAF PERIOD. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE NIGHT FOLLOWED BY A STRONG EARLY MORNING COLD FRONT AND ONSET OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION LATER IN THE DAY. DETAILS OF THIS TO BE HASHED OUT WITH LATER FORECAST PERIODS. KW && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FRIONA 32 36 16 50 24 / 70 80 0 0 0 TULIA 34 38 16 49 24 / 40 80 0 0 0 PLAINVIEW 35 39 17 50 25 / 30 70 0 0 0 LEVELLAND 37 37 21 51 26 / 30 70 0 0 0 LUBBOCK 38 39 22 50 28 / 20 60 0 0 0 DENVER CITY 38 38 23 51 26 / 20 60 10 0 0 BROWNFIELD 39 39 23 51 28 / 20 50 10 0 0 CHILDRESS 39 39 25 49 28 / 20 50 10 0 0 SPUR 43 43 25 50 28 / 10 50 10 0 0 ASPERMONT 45 45 26 50 28 / 10 50 10 0 0 && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: TXZ021>023-027>029-033. && 33/17/33
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 718 PM CST MON DEC 8 2008 TXZ021>044-091200- PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE- FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING- YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- 718 PM CST MON DEC 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A STRONG COLD FRONT AND VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING A COMBINATION OF STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL ON TUESDAY. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST PANHANDLE AND NORTHWEST SOUTH PLAINS. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS MAY ALSO CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES TUESDAY AFTERNOON. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. KW
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
406 PM CST MON DEC 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW DENVER CITY 33.01N 102.94W
12/08/2008 E65.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N PLAINS 33.23N 102.83W
12/08/2008 E58.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0335 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE MORTON 33.73N 102.74W
12/08/2008 E59.00 MPH COCHRAN TX MESONET
&&
KWIDELSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
503 PM CST MON DEC 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0453 PM NON-TSTM WND GST REESE CENTER 33.59N 102.03W
12/08/2008 E58.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUST TO 58 MPH AT THE TOWER.
0455 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW WOLFFORTH 33.43N 102.05W
12/08/2008 E60.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX MESONET
&&
KWIDELSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
504 PM CST MON DEC 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0453 PM NON-TSTM WND GST REESE CENTER 33.59N 102.03W
12/08/2008 M58.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUST TO 58 MPH AT THE TOWER.
0455 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW WOLFFORTH 33.43N 102.05W
12/08/2008 M60.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX MESONET
&&
KWIDELSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
505 PM CST MON DEC 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW DENVER CITY 33.01N 102.94W
12/08/2008 M65.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N PLAINS 33.23N 102.83W
12/08/2008 M58.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0335 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE MORTON 33.73N 102.74W
12/08/2008 M59.00 MPH COCHRAN TX MESONET
&&
KWIDELSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
710 PM CST MON DEC 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW DENVER CITY 33.01N 102.94W
12/08/2008 M65.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N PLAINS 33.23N 102.83W
12/08/2008 M58.00 MPH YOAKUM TX MESONET
0335 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE MORTON 33.73N 102.74W
12/08/2008 M59.00 MPH COCHRAN TX MESONET
0453 PM NON-TSTM WND GST REESE CENTER 33.59N 102.03W
12/08/2008 M58.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUST TO 58 MPH AT THE TOWER.
0455 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW WOLFFORTH 33.43N 102.05W
12/08/2008 M60.00 MPH LUBBOCK TX MESONET
&&
KWIDELSKISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 723 PM CST MON DEC 8 2008 TXZ024>026-030>032-034>044-090930- BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY- DICKENS-KING-YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SILVERTON...QUITAQUE...MEMPHIS... TURKEY...CHILDRESS...FLOYDADA...LOCKNEY...MATADOR... ROARING SPRINGS...PADUCAH...LEVELLAND...LUBBOCK...SLATON... WOLFFORTH...CROSBYTON...RALLS...DICKENS...SPUR...GUTHRIE... PLAINS...DENVER CITY...BROWNFIELD...TAHOKA...ODONNELL...POST... JAYTON...ASPERMONT 723 PM CST MON DEC 8 2008 ...WINTRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW POSSIBLE... A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL COMBINE TO BRING A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AND STRONG NORTH WINDS ON TUESDAY. ALTHOUGH ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL FOR SNOW APPEARS LOW...FORECAST SOLUTIONS SUGGEST AT LEAST A POSSIBILITY FOR MORE STEADY SNOW OVER SOME AREAS ACROSS THE NORTH AND WEST LATER ON TUESDAY. NORTH WINDS WILL GUST CLOSE TO 40 MPH WHILE TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 40S DROP INTO THE 30S DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS MAY PRODUCE WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE 20S OR EVEN TEENS AT TIMES.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2008
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: 137893.