The second winter storm of the week brought heavy snow to most of the eastern and northeastern counties of north Texas. However, much of the area received at least some snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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 FWD wrote it up.
The second winter storm of the week brought heavy snow to most of the eastern and northeastern counties of north Texas. However, much of the area received at least some snow. The heaviest snowfall totals were measured in the far northeastern counties where 6-9 of snow was reported. North Texas was still crippled from the prolonged cold spell that had arrived earlier in the week, and therefore the impacts from this snow event were minimal.
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 Feb 3, 8:54 PM CST, 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 854 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011 .UPDATE... RADAR SHOWS RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF RETURNS ACROSS THE AREA SOUTHWEST OF A COMANCHE TO CENTERVILLE LINE. THE 00Z NAM AS WELL AS THE 18Z GFS AND 12Z ECWMF SHOW VERY STRONG LIFT ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM CURRENTLY LOCATED WEST OF THE BIG BEND. INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS COOLING CLOUD TOPS ACROSS THE ARA BETWEEN SNYDER AND KILLEEN. HAVE EXPANDED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TO INCLUDE THE AREA ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A GOLDTHWAITE...TO DECATUR TO GAINESVILLE LINE. LOOKING FURTHER AT THE NAM...WE MAY EXTEND THE ADVISORY FARTHER WEST TO INCLUDE THE REST OF NORTH TEXAS IN THE NEXT HOUR. 58 && .AVIATION... /00Z TAFS/ CONCERNS...SNOW WITH MVFR CIGS. UPPER LOW NOW APPROACHING THE TRANS-PECOS WILL TRACK TOWARD NORTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT. IN ADVANCE OF THE SYSTEM...MID-LEVEL LIFT WILL INCREASE THIS EVENING...MAINLY SOUTH OF I-20. DEPTH OF UPGLIDE WILL INCREASE...EVENTUALLY LOWERING CIGS TO MVFR...AS LIGHT SNOW IS FINALLY ABLE TO PENETRATE THE SURFACE LAYER. WACO IS CURRENTLY WITHIN PROGGED SWATH OF 2- TO 3-INCH SNOWFALL. METRO TAF SITES ARE EXPECTED TO BE WITHIN THE NORTHWESTERN FRINGE OF THE SNOWFALL...ON ORDER OF 1-INCH ACCUMULATION. BUT WITH HEAVIER TOTALS JUST TO THE SOUTHEAST...AND 18Z NAM PROGGING SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT LIFT FURTHER NORTH...THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE METROPLEX. THE WINDOW FOR SNOWFALL AT TAF SITES REMAINS 2-3 AM CST THROUGH LATE MORNING. THEREAFTER...CIGS WILL IMPROVE SOMEWHAT...EVENTUALLY CLEARING NEAR NIGHTFALL FRIDAY EVENING...AT WHICH POINTS SOUTHERLY SFC FLOW WILL RETURN. 25 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 337 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011/ WINTER CONTINUES IN FULL FORCE ACROSS NORTH TEXAS WITH TEMPERATURES REMAINING IN THE TEENS AND 20S ACROSS THE REGION TODAY AND ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SNOW LATER TONIGHT. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A STRONG UPPER LOW NOW LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL MEXICO WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EJECT EASTWARD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY MOVE ACROSS TEXAS OVERNIGHT AND THEN BECOME PROGRESSIVELY SHEARED AS IT GETS ABSORBED INTO A LARGER MEAN TROF OVER THE EASTERN US BY SATURDAY. THE UPPER LOW CURRENTLY HAS A POSITIVE TILT WITH ABUNDANT HIGH LEVEL PACIFIC MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHEAST OVER THE WESTERN GULF AHEAD OF IT. THIS ORIENTATION IS USUALLY UNFAVORABLE FOR GETTING SUFFICIENT MOISTURE INTO NORTH TEXAS...HOWEVER A POTENT VORT MAX IS NOTED ON WATER VAPOR WHICH THE MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON. THIS VORT MAX WILL SWING THROUGH THE BASE OF THE TROF LATER THIS EVENING ORIENTING THE OVERALL FEATURE IN A MORE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR BETTER UPWARD FORCING AND MOISTURE TO SPREAD FARTHER NORTH ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A 15Z SOUNDING FROM COLLEGE STATION SHOWED A SATURATED LAYER BETWEEN 800-700MB WITH A DRY LAYER ABOVE THAT TO NEAR 500MB. THE DRY LAYER FALLS WITHIN THE SNOW GROWTH ZONE SO WE WILL NEED SOME MOISTENING FOR SNOW PRODUCTION. ALL OF THE GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN LATE THIS EVENING WITH PRECIPITATION BEGINNING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. A NEAR SURFACE LAYER ALSO REMAINS DRY SO INITIAL PRECIPITATION WILL LIKELY EVAPORATE UNTIL SATURATION OCCURS. THERMAL PROFILES ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN BELOW FREEZING SO SNOW IS THE PREDOMINANT PRECIP TYPE FOR THIS EVENT. CONCERNING ACCUMULATIONS AND ADVISORIES...AS OF NOW IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST FORCING AND MOISTURE WILL REMAIN SOUTHEAST OF THE METROPLEX SO WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS THERE. SNOW RATIOS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER THAN USUAL FOR NORTH TEXAS...SO SMALL AMOUNTS OF LIQUID QPF WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HIGHER SNOWFALL AMOUNTS GIVEN THE FLUFFY POWDERY TYPE OF SNOW EXPECTED. WE HAVE GONE CLOSER TO A 15 TO 1 RATIO RESULTING IN AREAS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST COUNTIES AND CLOSER TO 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE METROPLEX. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL OF THE SREF AND WRF ENSEMBLE MEMBERS WHICH CLUSTER BETWEEN 2-3 INCHES. THESE AMOUNTS ARE BELOW WARNING CRITERIA SO WILL KEEP THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY GOING AND EXPAND IT NORTH A ROW OF COUNTIES. WHILE THERE COULD BE 1 TO 2 INCHES IN PORTIONS OF THE METROPLEX...WILL FORGO ISSUING AN ADVISORY NOW GIVEN THE LOWER POPS IN THOSE AREAS. THIS SNOW MAY ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME TRACTION IN AREAS WHERE ICE REMAINS ON THE ROAD. ONE CONCERN REGARDING NEWEST MODEL DATA ARRIVING...LATEST RUN OF THE NAM AND SOME SREF ENSEMBLE MEMBERS ARE NOW DEVELOPING AN AREA OF LIFT CLOSE TO A DEFORMATION ZONE WHICH SETS UP JUST NORTHWEST OF THE TRACK OF THE UPPER LOW...FARTHER NORTH AND WEST THAN EXPECTED. AS A RESULT...THESE SOLUTIONS NOW INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW OVER A LARGER AREA THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED THROUGH THE EVENING FOR POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF ADVISORIES AND SNOWFALL AMOUNTS. BEYOND TONIGHT...THE SYSTEM QUICKLY DEPARTS THE AREA HOWEVER THE SUBFREEZING TEMPS WILL LINGER THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY AS MOST OF NORTH TEXAS WILL REMAIN IN THE UPPER 20S. IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL FINALLY RISE ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAY SATURDAY AS WESTERLY FLOW FROM THE SURFACE THROUGH THE LOW LEVELS PREVAILS. THIS WILL BE SHORT LIVED THOUGH AS A COUPLE OF STRONG FRONTS ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. THE FIRST WEAKER FRONT SHOULD ARRIVE ON SUNDAY WITH A REINFORCING SHOT OF COLDER AIR ON MONDAY. PRECIP CHANCES DONT LOOK IMPRESSIVE BUT HAVE RETAINED 20 POPS FOR SOME LIGHT SNOW ALONG THE RED RIVER ON SUNDAY NIGHT. A MUCH STRONGER SYSTEM MOVES IN ON WEDNESDAY WITH ANOTHER SHOT OF VERY COLD AIR. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE QPF WITHIN THE GUIDANCE AND SURPRISINGLY GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GFS AND ECMWF FROM RUN TO RUN. AS OF THE LATEST RUN...THE GUIDANCE HAS WARMED THIS SYSTEM CONSIDERABLY. SINCE THIS IS STILL 7 DAYS OUT...WILL HAVE 30 POPS IN AND MENTION RAIN/SNOW. PRECIP TYPE AND AMOUNTS WILL BE FINE TUNED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. DUNN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 17 27 20 42 28 / 40 40 5 5 5 WACO, TX 17 31 21 50 27 / 60 30 5 5 5 PARIS, TX 18 27 18 45 28 / 40 50 5 5 5 DENTON, TX 13 27 18 41 26 / 30 30 5 5 5 MCKINNEY, TX 15 26 17 42 27 / 40 50 5 5 5 DALLAS, TX 18 27 20 42 29 / 40 40 5 5 5 TERRELL, TX 19 28 18 46 28 / 50 50 5 5 5 CORSICANA, TX 20 31 20 49 29 / 60 50 5 5 5 TEMPLE, TX 17 32 20 52 27 / 60 20 5 5 5 MINERAL WELLS, TX 14 28 20 41 26 / 30 20 5 5 5 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY FOR TXZ121-122-134- 135-142>148-156>162-174-175. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY FOR TXZ092>095-102>107-117>120-123-131>133. && 25/58
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 348 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-041200- 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- 348 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF SNOW LATE TONIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES WILL OCCUR ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A TERRELL...HILLSBORO...TO KILLEEN LINE WHERE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING. LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION WITH ACCUMULATIONS GENERALLY ONE INCH OR LESS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY MORNING. AREAS ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A TERRELL...HILLSBORO...TO KILLEEN LINE WILL REMAIN UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH MIDDAY FRIDAY. LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION FRIDAY MORNING WITH ALL SNOW ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN SECTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT WITH LIGHT RAIN OR LIGHT SNOW POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 340 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>120-123-129>133-141>144-156-157-040500- MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN- HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS- ROCKWALL-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL-JOHNSON-COMANCHE- MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-LAMPASAS-CORYELL- 340 PM CST THU FEB 3 2011 ...SNOW TO RETURN TO NORTH TEXAS TONIGHT... A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT. AREAS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT AND MOVE NORTHEAST. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 1 INCH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WITH ISOLATED SPOTS RECEIVING SLIGHTLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS. THIS SNOW IS EXPECTED TO STICK TO THE GROUND GIVEN THE COLD TEMPERATURES BUT MAY ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME TRACTION ON ROADS WHICH ARE COVERED IN ICE. PORTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS ARE UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AND IF IT APPEARS THAT MORE SNOW WILL FALL THAN CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED... THESE MAY BE EXPANDED LATER TONIGHT. DUNN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 heavy snow, 3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Approximately 4-7 of snow fell across the county. In Eureka, 6.5 of snow was reported, and 6.8 of snow was reported in Rice. North of Corsicana, 6.2 of snow was reported.
Approximately 2 of snow fell across the county. Two vehicle accidents involving injuries were reported. The first occurred the night of the 3rd on SH 171. A car slid into oncoming traffic while trying to avoid another car and crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler. The driver and passenger of the car were transported to the local hospital. On the night of the 4th, another car traveling on US 84 hit an icy patch and slid into oncoming traffic. Both occupants of a vehicle that the car slid into were transported to area hospitals. Several other minor vehicle accidents were reported.
Around 2 of snow and a little amount of sleet fell across the county. A one vehicle rollover accident on TX 19 between Montalba and Bois d'Arc due to the slick roads injured two people.
Approximately 5-6 of snow fell across the northeastern half of the county. The COOP Observer in Ennis reported a snowfall total of 5.5, but the COOP Observer in Maypearl only reported 2.75 of snow.
Total snowfall reports varied, but an average of 4-8 of snow fell across the western half of the county. In Gun Barrel City, around 8 of snow was reported. In Athens, a total of 4 of snow was reported. However, the COOP Observer in Athens reported 2.5 of snow. Four miles north of Chandler, the public reported 2.5 of snow.
Snowfall totals of 5-8 were reported around the county. Up to 8 of snow was reported in the Cedar Creek Lake area. In Canton, a total of 7-8 of snow was reported. In Terrell and Mabank, over 6 of snow was reported. In Forney, about 5-6 of snow was reported. Many minor vehicle mishaps were reported on the snow covered roads.
Snowfall totals across the county averaged 4-6 with the higher amounts across the eastern half of the county. Dallas police responded to 74 major traffic accidents and 121 minor accidents during the morning hours. Dallas Love Field had to close during the morning hours to remove the snow from the runways but was open by noon.
Six to eight inches of snow fell across the county.
Approximately 4-6 of snow fell across much of Tarrant County, with lesser amounts of 2-4 reported elsewhere in the county. In Mansfield, 6 of snow was reported, and about 5 of snow was reported in Arlington and Saginaw. A total of 4 of snow was reported 5 miles north of Azle. At the NWS Office in north Fort Worth, 4 of snow was measured. At Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, ice and snow fell off the roof of the stadium in large chunks on the 4th, injuring 6 workers on the ground preparing for Superbowl 45. The incident happened at about 1:15 pm after the sun came out. Five of the injuries were minor but one worker was hit in the head and hospitalized. In Fort Worth, a large cast-iron water main burst at about 2 pm on the 4th at Alta Mere Drive and Calmont Avenue. A driver slid off the road near the water break and into a ditch. The car nearly filled with water.
Snowfall totals ranging from 4-7 fell across the county. The COOP Observer in Frisco reported a snowfall total of 5, but public reports of 6 in Wylie, Farmersville, and McKinney, and 7 in Anna and Melissa were also received. Six and a half inches of snow was also reported about 3 miles north of Princeton. An unknown number of injuries were reported due to broken bones from falling on ice.
Snowfall totals of 5-6 were reported around the county. In Greenville, Quinlan, and the Lake Tawakoni area, 6 of total snow was reported. A total of 5.5 was reported in Wolfe City. Just under 5 of snow was reported in Caddo Mills.
Approximately 6-8.5 of snow fell across the county. The COOP Observer in Wills Point measured 8.5 of snow. Five to six inches of snow was reported in Emory.
A total of 5-6.5 was reported through the county. In Royse City, 5.5 was measured, and in Rockwall, 6.5 was measured.
Approximately 2-4 of snow fell across the county. A firefighter was injured in Trophy Club and had to be transported to the hospital after falling on a frozen, snow covered surface.
About 5-6 of snow fell across the county.
Approximately 4-5 of snow fell across the county. Four inches of snow was reported in Bonham, and 5 of snow was reported in Trenton.
Snowfall totals of 5-9 were reported around the county. The heaviest totals were in the southeast portions of the county. In Sulphur Springs, the reports varied from 6-9. The COOP Observer in Sulphur Springs reported 8.75 of snow. In Cumby, a total of 5.5 was reported. The snow caused many motorists to get stuck on the roadways.
About 4-6 of snow fell across the county. A total of 6.25 was reported in Roxton. In Paris, COOP Observers reported 4-5 of snow, but the public reported around 6 in some locations in the city. Six inches of snow was reported 7 miles north of Paris.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2011
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: 285454, 285215, 284759, 284888, 285195, 285199, 284762, 285453, 285455, 284760, 285198, 285458, 285461, 285456, 284765, 284892, 285196, 285209.