Texas, 2009Winter Storm in Texas, January 27 to 28, 2009
January 27 to 28, 2009 · NWS EWX · 10 events in 10 counties and zones
An arctic airmass came through all of central and south central Texas before an upper level disturbance and strong jet stream moved overhead during the overnight hours on January 27 and the early morning of January 28. Freezing rain was reported across much of the hill country and the interstate 35 corridor from New Braunfels up through Georgetown and Williamson County.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 10
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.
An arctic airmass came through all of central and south central Texas before an upper level disturbance and strong jet stream moved overhead during the overnight hours on January 27 and the early morning of January 28. Freezing rain was reported across much of the hill country and the interstate 35 corridor from New Braunfels up through Georgetown and Williamson County. Many traffic accidents were reported with ice buildup from one tenth of an inch up to one quarter of an inch. Heaviest ice was up through Williamson County where major impacts on roads and bridges were observed. Elsewhere, bridges were iced and dangerous with ice accumulation on outside surfaces.
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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 27, 5:28 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 5:28 PM CST, 32 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
528 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2009
.AVIATION...THE COLD FRONT HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE ENTIRE REGION
AT THIS HOUR. WINDS WILL CONTINUE OUT OF THE NORTH AT 10-15 KNOTS
WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS. CIGS WILL REMAIN MVFR/IFR THROUGH THE
NIGHT. THERE ARE SOME CHANCES FOR THE LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR
DRIZZLE AT THE TAF SITES LATE TONIGHT AS THE TEMPERATURES DIP
BELOW FREEZING. CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL CLEAR OUT ON
WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 15-17Z...WITH VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILING THE REST
OF THE DAY.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 346 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2009/
DISCUSSION...
COLD ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO SPILL OVER THE REGION FROM THE
NORTH...AND THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT.
WITH THIS LATE JANUARY OF 2009 PATTERN SHOWED LOWS IN THE 20S
ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY TO AROUND 30 TO LOWER 30S OVER
ADJACENT PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...AND IN THE MID 30S OVER
THE SOUTHERN PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. SHOWED A GOOD CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION AS THE 500 HPA TROF TO THE WEST MOVES QUICKLY ACROSS
THE AREA TONIGHT AND THEN MOVES OFF TO THE EAST WEDNESDAY. AS THE
LATE JANUARY OF 2009 WEATHER SYSTEM ALOFT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA
TONIGHT...THIS WILL CAUSE INCREASING CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION
TONIGHT. WILL SHOW A WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO 11 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
BANDERA...BASTROP...BEXAR...CALDWELL...COMAL...FAYETTE...GUADALUPE...
HAYS...KENDALL...KINNEY...LEE...MEDINA...REAL...TRAVIS...UVALDE...
VAL VERDE...AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES. WILL STILL INDICATE ICE
ACCUMULATIONS IN THE WINTER STORM WARNING AREA OF NEAR OR LESS
THAN 1/10 OF AN INCH TO 1/4 OF AN INCH.
FORECAST SOLUTIONS STILL CONTINUE WITH DRYING FROM THE WEST
WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH PRECIPITATION
ENDING FROM THE WEST WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER SUNRISE. WILL SHOW
CONDITIONS BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY TO MOSTLY SUNNY ON WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. AFTER A MOSTLY CLEAR...DRY AND COLD NIGHT WEDNESDAY
NIGHT...A SUNNY DAY IS EXPECTED THURSDAY...WITH HIGHS MOSTLY IN
THE 60S.
WILL CONTINUE WITH DRY LATE JANUARY WEATHER FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
FOLLOWED BY INCREASING CLOUDS LATE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT WEATHER SYSTEM COMING FROM THE
WEST. WILL CONTINUE WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS MAINLY OVER THE EAST
HALF OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...FROM THE
EASTERN HILL COUNTRY TO ADJACENT PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND
EXTENDING EAST AND SOUTHEAST TO THE COASTAL PLAINS. SHOWED
DECREASING CHANCES OF RAIN FROM THE WEST SUNDAY NIGHT. A COLD
FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT.
SHOWED MOSTLY SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY CONDITIONS ON MONDAY IN WAKE
OF THE COLD FRONT. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND COLD OVERNIGHT LOWS
ARE EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT OF NEXT WEEK...FOLLOWED BY A SUNNY AND
PLEASANT DAY ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 30 54 31 63 34 / 90 20 - - -
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 31 54 24 63 29 / 90 20 - - -
DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 32 64 33 67 35 / 50 10 0 - -
SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 32 59 31 66 35 / 80 20 - - -
&&
.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: BANDERA...BASTROP...BEXAR...CALDWELL...COMAL...FAYETTE...
GUADALUPE...HAYS...KENDALL...KINNEY...LEE...MEDINA...REAL...
TRAVIS...UVALDE...VAL VERDE...WILLIAMSON.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: BLANCO...BURNET...EDWARDS...GILLESPIE...KERR...LLANO.
&&
03/02
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 27, 3:51 PM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
351 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2009
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-281200-
LLANO-BURNET-WILLIAMSON-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA-
GILLESPIE-KENDALL-BLANCO-HAYS-TRAVIS-BASTROP-LEE-KINNEY-UVALDE-
MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA-
FRIO-ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT-
351 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2009
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 11 AM
WEDNESDAY. THE WARNING AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY
90. FREEZING RAIN AND DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF
THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE WARNING AREA WILL
RANGE FROM A TRACE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH.
.DAY TWO...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN AND DRIZZLE IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 11 AM WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONAL ICE ACCUMULATION WEDNESDAY MORNING
WILL GENERALLY BE CONFINED TO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE WARNED AREA.
.DAYS THREE THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jan 27, 5:03 PM CST, 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
503 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM FREEZING RAIN 1 N KERRVILLE 30.06N 99.14W
01/27/2009 E0.00 INCH KERR TX TRAINED SPOTTER
A SPOTTER REPORTED A TRACE OF ICE ON AN EXPOSED WOODEN
STAIRWAY.
&&
EVENT NUMBER EWX0900258
BFWinter Storm, Williamson
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Williamson forecast zone
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 30.648, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Jarrell Fire Department reported that all overpasses between Jarrell and Georgetown were iced over. Numerous roads had ice accumulation countywide with multiple traffic accidents. Portions of Highway 45 were closed due to ice. Public reported ice accumulation up to 1/4 inch in many locations including Georgetown, Round Rock, and Pflugerville.
Winter Storm, Travis
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Travis forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 30.335, -97.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Austin Emergency Management reported icing across many roads in Austin. Traffic accidents were reported across the city.
Winter Storm, Burnet
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Burnet forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.788, -98.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Icing was reported on roads and overpasses in Marble Falls.
Winter Storm, Llano
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Llano forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.706, -98.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Llano County Sheriffs office reported icing on bridges and roads.
Winter Storm, Blanco
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Blanco forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.266, -98.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Ice was being reported on bridges and roads causing traffic accidents. State official with TX Parks and Wildlife reported up to 1/4 inch of ice on the roadways 4 miles east of Blanco.
Winter Storm, Gillespie
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Gillespie forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.318, -98.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
There were several reports of traffic accidents across the county. The LBJ ranch reported vehicle doors were iced shut and ice/rain accumulation of 0.18 inches. A major traffic accident involving a jackknifed 18 wheeler occurred on Highway 87 North about 10 miles north of Fredericksburg.
Winter Storm, Kerr
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Kerr forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.062, -99.350 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters and law enforcement reported iced up bridges in the county causing traffic accidents. The reports indicated between 1/8 and 1/4 inch of ice.
Winter Storm, Comal
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Comal forecast zone
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Ice was reported on some roads and bridges. Fatality accident occurred on Highway 281 on the Cibolo Creek bridge. Most of the ice occurred in the western half of the county well west of Interstate 35. Additional ice buildup was reported out by Canyon Lake and Spring Branch.
Winter Storm, Real
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Real forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 29.832, -99.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Highway 41 near the intersection of 83 was heavily iced over.
Winter Storm, Edwards
- When
- January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Edwards forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 29.983, -100.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy ice accumulation was observed on guide wires around Rock Springs.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, January 27 to 28, 20092 deaths · 139 injured · $1.1 million · 27 events
- Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 27 to 28, 20097 deaths · 45 events
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, January 27 to 28, 200934 injured · 10 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Delaware, January 27 to 28, 200920 injured · $100,000 · 4 events
- Winter Storm in Ohio, January 27 to 28, 2009$7.2 million · 29 events
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, January 27 to 28, 2009$1.3 million · 3 events
- Winter Storm in West Virginia, January 27 to 28, 2009$400,000 · 27 events
- Heavy Snow in New York, January 27 to 29, 2009$320,000 · 16 events
- Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 27 to 28, 2009$175,000 · 4 events
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, January 27 to 29, 200960 events
- Ice Storm in Virginia, January 27 to 28, 2009$41,000 · 6 events
- Heavy Snow in Ohio, January 27 to 28, 200932 events
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: 143588, 143589, 143590, 143591, 143592, 143596, 143599, 143636, 143637, 143638.