Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, March 20 to 21, 2010

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, March 20 to 21, 2010
Start: 2010-03-20T16:45
End: 2010-03-21T14:30
Location: Texas

March 20 to 21, 2010 · NWS FWD · 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: 2
Injuries: 6
Property damage: $210,000
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 FWD wrote it up.

The last snow event of the memorable winter season of 2009-2010 occurred on the night of March 20th. The highest storm total snowfall was 8 inches in Collin County where a narrow band of heavy snow persisted through much of the night. The band of heavy snow set up along a line from southeastern Cooke County and southwestern Grayson County into Collin, Rockwall, and Kaufman counties. Many areas which surrounded the heavy band received between 1 and 5 of snow. There were many accidents across the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex which resulted in several injuries and 2 fatalities.

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 Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 2:54 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 2:54 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
354 PM CDT SAT MAR 20 2010

.DISCUSSION...
UPPER LEVEL LOW IS NOW SITUATED OVER CHILDLESS AND CONTINUES TO
PROPAGATE EAST-SOUTHEAST JUST SOUTH OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY.
LATEST TRENDS AND MODEL DATA SUGGEST THAT THE ONGOING FORECAST IS
IN REASONABLY GOOD SHAPE AND NO MAJOR CHANGES WERE MADE WITH THIS
FORECAST PACKAGE. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL AND MOST SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS FROM THIS SYSTEM STILL LOOK TO BE NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM
GAINESVILLE TO MCKINNEY TO CANTON WHERE ACCUMULATIONS OF 2-4
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. TO THE WEST OF THIS LINE...SNOW SHOULD BE
LIGHTER WITH ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN A TRACE AND 2 INCHES. TEMPS
WILL BE CLOSE TO FREEZING...AND WARM GROUNDS MEAN MOST ROADS WILL
REMAIN WET...EXCEPT IN THE HEAVIER SNOW AREA IN THE NORTHEAST CWA.
ONE OF THE IMPACTS WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE REDUCED VISIBILITIES
FROM SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...BUT ALL IN ALL EXPECT A RATHER LOW
IMPACT EVENT FOR SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE ADVISORY FROM GRAHAM INTO
THE METROPLEX.

WRAP AROUND SNOW BAND HAS DEVELOPED NW OF THE CWA AND WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE EASTWARD DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THE 12Z NAM /WHICH WAS DISCARDED/...MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT
WITH THE TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW...AND ALL SHOW SIGNIFICANT
DEEPENING OF THE 500 MB HEIGHT CENTER BY MORNING. THIS SHOULD
ENHANCE THE ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE OVER THE NORTHEAST ZONES WHERE THE
MORE SIGNIFICANT SNOW IS FORECAST LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING.
SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO LINGER ACROSS THE NE INTO THE AFTERNOON
BEFORE FINALLY ENDING WITH THE DEPARTING UPPER LOW. THERE IS STILL
A POSSIBILITY OF A HEAVY SNOW WARNING BEING ISSUED FOR THE PARIS
REGION FOR AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES...BUT THE CURRENT 3-4
INCH AMOUNT FORECAST IS IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL PERFECT PROG DATA
FROM GLOBAL MODELS AND SREF MEAN. SOME LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES MAY
EXTEND AS FAR SOUTH AS THE WACO AREA TONIGHT BUT ACCUMULATING
SNOWS BECOME LESS LIKELY SOUTH OF I-20.

VERY GRADUAL CLEARING SHOULD OCCUR BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT IN THE
SW ZONES AND SPREADING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW. AS FAR
AS LOW TEMPS...A LIGHT FREEZE APPEARS LIKELY OVER THE WESTERN AND
NORTHERN ZONES TONIGHT...BUT MANY LOCATIONS WILL BE SAVED FROM A
DAMAGING LATE SEASON FREEZE BY THE CLOUDS AND WINDS TONIGHT. WINDS
WILL REMAIN STRONG ALL EVENING AND THE WIND ADVISORY MAY NEED TO
BE EXTENDED INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. REGARDLESS...A WIND ADVISORY
WILL BE NEEDED TOMORROW WHEN DEEP MIXING OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER
WILL OCCUR. SOME GUSTS TO 40-45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY
OVER THE SUNNY SOUTHWEST ZONES. WINDS WILL CONTINUE AT 5-15 MPH
SUNDAY NIGHT WITH WARMING THERMAL PROFILES VIA SUBSIDENCE. THE
WEAK MIXING OF ABOVE FREEZING AIR ALOFT SHOULD COUNTER THE
RADIATIVE HEAT LOSS FROM CLEAR SKIES...AND AGAIN EXPECT MOST OF
THE AREA TO BE SAVED FROM A HARD FREEZE.

A RAPID WARM UP WILL OCCUR BY MONDAY AND ESPECIALLY TUESDAY WITH
LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND WARMER SOUTHERLY WINDS. THE NEXT SYSTEM WILL
ARRIVE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR THURSDAY...AND IT LOOKS LIKE
MOISTURE/LIFT/INSTABILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A GOOD CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND STORMS. SLIGHTLY COOLER AND DRIER WEATHER IS EXPECTED
FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

TR.92

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  32  45  34  66  43 /  40  20   0   0   0
WACO, TX              33  54  33  69  40 /   5   5   0   0   0
PARIS, TX             32  38  31  56  36 /  80  70  10   0   0
DENTON, TX            31  43  32  65  39 /  50  20   0   0   0
MCKINNEY, TX          32  41  31  62  36 /  50  50   0   0   0
DALLAS, TX            32  44  34  65  42 /  40  20   0   0   0
TERRELL, TX           33  43  33  62  39 /  40  40   0   0   0
CORSICANA, TX         33  45  34  66  41 /  10  10   0   0   0
TEMPLE, TX            32  57  34  71  39 /   5   5   0   0   0

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR TXZ091-092-
100>103-115>119-129>134-141>146-156>161-174-175.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM CDT
SUNDAY FOR TXZ094-095-105>107-120>123.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR TXZ093-104.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT SUNDAY FOR TXZ091-092-
100>103.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM CDT
SUNDAY FOR TXZ118-119.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 2:10 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
310 PM CDT SAT MAR 20 2010

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-211130-
MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN-
HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS-
ROCKWALL-KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL-
JOHNSON-ELLIS-HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL-NAVARRO-
FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS-LIMESTONE-
LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON-
310 PM CDT SAT MAR 20 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR AREAS NORTH OF A
GRAHAM TO FORT WORTH TO CANTON LINE. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF NORTH
TEXAS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE
RED RIVER WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS. FARTHER SOUTH...AMOUNTS
BETWEEN A TRACE AND 2 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED. IN ADDITION TO THE
SNOW...STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN
BLOWING SNOW.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS THROUGH LATE
EVENING. NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF
40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

AREAS OF SNOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY MORNING ACROSS
NORTHEAST PORTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS ON
THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Tarrant

When: March 20, 4:45 PM CST to March 21, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Tarrant forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Injuries: 0 direct, 5 indirect
Property damage: $80,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Icy road conditions on Interstate 30 resulted in a seven vehicle accident that killed one person and injured 5 others. The accident occurred around 6:30 am CDT on the 21st on westbound Interstate 30 and Fielder Road in Arlington. The highway was closed for nearly 8 hours due to the accident. Five accidents were also reported on the southbound ramp from East Loop 820 onto Interstate 30 due to ice, and the ramp had to be closed for 4 hours. Another person was killed in one of accidents on the ramp. Up to 1 of snow was reported around the county.

Winter Weather, Cooke

When: March 20, 5:00 PM CST to March 21, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Cooke forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.639, -97.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Up to 2 of snow was reported around the county but some icy spots on bridges were reported by the local TXDot. Higher snowfall totals close to 5 of snow were reported in the southeastern portions of the county, and the Emergency Manager estimated 5 of snow near Lake Kiowa.

Winter Weather, Denton

When: March 20, 5:00 PM CST to March 21, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Denton forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 2-4 of snow fell across the county, but some locations across the eastern third of the county reported 4-6 of snow. Six and a half inches of snow was reported in Pilot Point, and 5.5 of snow was reported near Frisco. The city of Denton reported 40 minor traffic accident and 7 major traffic accidents between the hours of 4:30 am and 10 am on the 21st.

Winter Weather, Dallas

When: March 20, 5:45 PM CST to March 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to six inches of snow fell in the northeastern corner of the county. The public reported 4.3 of snow 1 mile east of White Rock Lake, and 4.5 of snow in Mesquite. Elsewhere in the county, an average of 0.5-2 of snow was reported. The City of Dallas police reported about 284 accidents from midnight to 10 am on the 21st. A motorcyclist was injured on North Central Expressway after skidding on an icy patch.

Heavy Snow, Grayson

When: March 20, 6:40 PM CST to March 21, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 3-7 of snow fell across the county with the highest amounts reported in the southwestern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow, Collin

When: March 20, 7:00 PM CST to March 21, 10:30 AM CST
Where: Collin forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 6-8 of snow fell across the county. Eight inches of snow was reported in Plano by the Emergency Manager, and the COOP observer in Frisco reported 8 of snow.

Heavy Snow, Kaufman

When: March 20, 8:30 PM CST to March 21, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Kaufman forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 4-6 of snow fell across the county with the highest snowfall totals across the northern half of the county. The Emergency Manager reported 5.4 of snow in Terrell with the light snow was tapering off. The public reported 4 of snow in the city of Kaufman. A local newspaper reported 1-4 of snow had fallen around Cedar Creek Lake.

Heavy Snow, Rockwall

When: March 20, 8:30 PM CST to March 21, 10:40 AM CST
Where: Rockwall forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to five and a half inches of snow fell across the county. A report of 5.2 of snow in the western part of the county was received.

Heavy Snow, Hunt

When: March 20, 9:00 PM CST to March 21, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Hunt forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 4 of snow fell across the county. Local newspapers reported that 4 of snow had fallen in Greenville, and 4-5 of snow had fallen in Commerce.

Heavy Snow, Fannin

When: March 20, 10:30 PM CST to March 21, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Fannin forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An average of 4 of snow fell across the county. The COOP Observer in Monkstown reported 4 of snow, and Trenton reported 5 of snow.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, Tarrant	2010-03-21	22	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect
Winter Weather, Tarrant	2010-03-21		Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, March 2010

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: 218469, 215159, 215161, 215160, 218468, 218467, 218465, 218466, 221502, 221499.