Winter Weather in Texas, January 5, 2009

Name: Winter Weather in Texas, January 5, 2009
Start: 2009-01-05T02:00
End: 2009-01-05T10:00
Location: Texas

January 5, 2009 · NWS LUB · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Where it happened

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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $150,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LUB wrote it up.

The month of January began with unseasonably warm temperatures across west Texas, as daytime highs topped out in the 70s during the first three days of the month. Temperatures, however, plunged on the 4th as a shallow cold Canadian airmass invaded the South Plains. Southerly winds above the low-level cold dome intensified in advance of an approaching storm system during the pre-dawn hours of the 5th, and the weak upglide atop the cold air was sufficient to produce a band of light freezing rain and sleet across the southeastern South Plains and the Rolling Plains.

Although the wintry precipitation was very light, with measurable amounts between a trace and 0.05 inches, ambient air temperatures in the lower to mid 20s allowed the dampness to freeze upon roadways and elevated surfaces. The icy Monday morning commute contributed to more than 100 automobile accidents in Lubbock (Lubbock County). No injuries were reported.

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 Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 4, 11:33 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 4, 11:33 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1133 PM CST SUN JAN 4 2009

.AVIATION...
MODELS CONTINUE TO KEEP THE BULK OF THE PRECIP SOUTH AND EAST OF
THE TAF SITES AND HAVE OPTED TO NOT MENTION ANY FROZEN PRECIP IN
THE TAFS ONCE AGAIN. HOWEVER...A FEW MODELS DO HAVE BRIEF PERIODS
OF PRECIP BUT TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY REMAINS TO TRY AND PINPOINT
WHEN THIS MIGHT OCCUR. SHOULD PRECIP DEVELOP...TEMPERATURE
PROFILES CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW IS
POSSIBLE AT KLBB WHILE KCDS COULD SEE MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SLEET. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MENTION OF PRECIP COULD BE HELD OUT OF
THE TAFS UNTIL THE 12Z ISSUANCE. CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED THAT ANY
CIGS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL REMAIN VFR.

STILL APPEARS PRECIP WILL END BY MIDDAY MONDAY WITH CLEARING FROM
WEST TO EAST. WINDS SHOULD VEER OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST AROUND 10 KTS
WITH VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT.

JORDAN

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 535 PM CST SUN JAN 4 2009/

AVIATION...
ATTENTION REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE 09Z TO 15Z MONDAY TIME FRAME FOR
THE TAFS. UNTIL THEN VFR CONDITIONS WITH NORTH TO NORTHEASTERLY
WINDS BECOMING LIGHT AND VARIABLE TOMORROW MORNING.

QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY EXISTS FOR THE TAFS TOMORROW MORNING.
AFTERNOON FORECAST MODEL RUNS HAVE BACKED OFF THE PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS BUT STILL SHOW THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME PRECIP IMPACTING
KLBB AND KCDS AROUND 14-17Z TOMORROW MORNING. WARM LAYER STILL
LOOKS TO DEVELOP BETWEEN 2000 TO 6000 FT AGL WHICH FAVORS FREEZING
RAIN/SLEET AT THE SFC...IF...PRECIP DOES DEVELOP. ALSO APPEARS
THAT A DEEP LAYER OF IN-CLOUD ICING COULD DEVELOP FROM 6000 TO
16000 FT AGL AT KLBB AND KCDS STARTING AROUND 10Z AND ENDING
AROUND 18Z.

AS FOR CIGS AND VISBYS...MODELS HAVE KEPT BOTH ELEMENTS IN THE
VFR RANGE HOWEVER CIGS COULD BRIEFLY PUSH DOWN INTO MVFR RANGE IF
PRECIP DEVELOPS. HAVE OPTED TO LEAVE MENTION OF MVFR CONDITIONS
AND PRECIP OUT OF THE TAFS TO SEE WHAT THE 00Z MODEL DATA
INDICATES. HOPEFULLY THAT CAN TAKE OUT A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY
THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE WINDOW FOR FROZEN PRECIP IS FAIRLY
SHORT AS TEMPERATURE PROFILE WARMS BY MONDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 21Z
AND UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT MOVES EAST OF THE TAF SITES BY THEN.
SHOULD SEE WINDS VEER TO THE SOUTHWEST AT THE SFC THROUGH THE DAY
WITH CIGS IMPROVING TO VFR CONDITIONS AFTER 21Z AS WELL.

JORDAN

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 351 PM CST SUN JAN 4 2009/

SHORT TERM...
MAIN CONCERN FOR THE FORECAST PERIOD IS THE POSSIBILITY OF FROZEN
PRECIPITATION FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS. GUIDANCE MODELS GENERALLY
AGREE THAT A POTENT UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS
THE BAJA OF CALIFORNIA TOWARDS NORTHERN MEXICO BY MONDAY MORNING.
WITH THE ALREADY PRESENT DOME OF COLD AIR...WAA WILL OVERRIDE
CREATING THE POSSIBILITY FOR FROZEN PRECIP. BEST CHANCES FOR
FROZEN PRECIP /FREEZING RAIN/SLEET/ WILL BE ACROSS THE
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH PLAINS...NEAREST THE BEST MOISTURE AND
FRONTOGENESIS. THUS...ONE CAN NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR
SNOW/FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN
SOUTH PLAINS. IT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON IF THERE IS ENOUGH MOISTURE
AND LIFT IN THE RESPECTIVE AREAS. BY MID TO LATER AFTERNOON...DAY
TIME HEATING WILL LEAD TO PRECIPITATION IN A LIQUID FORM...AS
TEMPERATURES SHOULD GET ABOVE FREEZING. MONDAY NIGHT SHOULD BE
DRIER AS THE ENERGY FOCUS GETS PUSHED FURTHER TO THE EAST.

TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL BE COLD AS THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
NOSES IN ACROSS THE CWA...CREATING LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS.
THEREFORE...DUE TO 12 SOLID HOURS OF COLD TEMPERATURES...IF FROZEN
PRECIP WERE TO FALL...IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH FOR IT TO STICK.
PRECAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AS ROADS AND BRIDGES BY SLICK.

LONG TERM...
DRY PATTERN RETURNS WITH COOL NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY BACKING TO WESTERLY AS REMNANTS OF WESTERN RIDGE
TRANSLATE ACROSS SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS THURSDAY. MINOR SURFACE
RIDGING THURSDAY NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. THE
NEXT PACIFIC ENERGY APPEARS WILL RACE QUICKLY EAST ON NORTH END
FRIDAY...WHILE SOUTHERN END SPLITS OFF AND DIGS THROUGH THE
SOUTHWEST THROUGH ESTABLISHED ENERGY TRACK BEFORE TRENDING TOWARDS
A CUTOFF SYSTEM WELL TO OUR WEST. RESULT FOR TEXAS SOUTH PLAINS IS
PASSAGE OF ANOTHER MODERATELY STRONG CANADIAN- PACIFIC FRONT LATE
FRIDAY BUT NO SIGNIFICANT DYNAMICS OR MOISTURE. GFS REMAINS IN
GOOD AGREEMENT WITH ECMWF ON BASIC PATTERN. DRY AND WARM BREEZES
SHOULD BE UP BOTH WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY...UNSURE ABOUT
THURSDAY...ENOUGH FOR ELEVATED FIRE CONCERNS BUT NOT EXPECTED TO
EXCEED CRITICAL LIMITS AT THIS TIME. MCQUEEN

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FRIONA        12  46  27  50  25 /  10  10   0  10   0
TULIA         13  43  27  51  25 /   0  10   0  10   0
PLAINVIEW     15  43  27  53  26 /  10  20   0  10   0
LEVELLAND     16  44  30  54  25 /  10  30  10  10   0
LUBBOCK       16  42  31  54  26 /  10  30  10  10   0
DENVER CITY   19  43  31  55  26 /  20  40  10  10   0
BROWNFIELD    20  42  31  55  27 /  10  40  10  10   0
CHILDRESS     17  42  28  56  26 /   0  30  10  10   0
SPUR          18  41  32  58  29 /  10  40  10  10   0
ASPERMONT     19  40  32  59  30 /  10  50  10  10   0

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 4, 6:05 AM CST, 19 hours 55 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
605 AM CST SUN JAN 4 2009

TXZ021>044-051215-
PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE-
FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING-
YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL-
605 AM CST SUN JAN 4 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS
PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

LIGHT SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR THE SHOWERS TO BRING A WINTRY MIX
OF LIGHT SNOW...SLEET AND POSSIBLY SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN ACROSS
THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. ROAD CONDITIONS MAY BECOME HAZARDOUS ACROSS
THE ROLLING PLAINS DUE TO ICE.

OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Terry

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Terry forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lynn

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lynn forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.177, -101.816 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lubbock

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hockley

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Hockley forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Crosby

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Crosby forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.615, -101.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Dickens

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Dickens forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Motley

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Motley forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.074, -100.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.072, -101.303 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Cottle

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Cottle forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.078, -100.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Garza

When: January 5, 2:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Garza forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.180, -101.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2009

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: 145049, 145050, 145051, 145052, 145053, 145054, 145056, 145057, 145058, 145059.