Drought conditions improved in January after a wet winter season continued across North Texas. Up to 7 inches of rain fell across the area and by the end of the month only 14 of our 46 counties remained in severe drought or worse.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 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.
Drought conditions improved in January after a wet winter season continued across North Texas. Up to 7 inches of rain fell across the area and by the end of the month only 14 of our 46 counties remained in severe drought or worse. Due to wet soils from abundant rainfall in November and December, area lakes finally saw improvements. Many lakes in the northern half of the County Warning Area (CWA) rose 2-4 feet in elevation; approaching normal conservation levels. Dry lake conditions still existed in the southern areas of the CWA, where drought conditions remained poor. Even with the rise in lake elevations, all municipalities with water restrictions continued with the restrictions based on a drier than normal forecast for the spring and summer and given the lakes still were slightly below normal.
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 Dec 31, 11:25 PM CST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1125 PM CST SAT DEC 31 2011 .AVIATION... CONCERNS... BRIEF STRONG/GUSTY NW WINDS BEHIND STRONG FROPA...THEN TRENDS OF WIND SPEEDS AFTERWARD FOR 06Z TAF CYCLE WITH FROPA NOW OCCURRING AT WACO. OTHERWISE...VFR NEXT 24-30 HRS. STRONG COLD FRONT NOW PUSHING THROUGH KACT AREA. THE WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT HAVE BEEN ENHANCED BY A STRONG MOUNTAIN/GRAVITY WAVE PUSHING SE ACROSS WEST TX AS SEEN ON SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS EVENING. PRESSURE RISES ON THE MAGNITUDE OF 10 MB/3 HRS ARE OCCURRING IN THE KABI/KSPS CORRIDOR. THE INTENSE PRESSURE RISES WILL BRIEF HOWEVER AS THE FRONT CONTINUES TRANSLATING TOWARD THE TX COAST TONIGHT. DO NOT EXPECT INTENSE WINDS TO LAST MORE THAN 2-3 HRS AT WACO WITH DFW TERMINALS ALREADY INDICATING A DOWNWARD TREND BACK INTO A 15G25KT RANGE. OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO BETWEEN 20-25 KTS SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT BEFORE DIMINISHING TO BETWEEN 10-15 KTS BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING AND THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY SUNDAY. STRONGER WINDS IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER MAY MIX AT WACO FOR SOME GUSTS AGAIN LATE MORNING SUNDAY...BUT CONFIDENCE NOT THERE TO ADD ANY GUSTS TO THEIR TAF AT THIS TIME. WINDS DECOUPLE AS SURFACE HIGH SETTLES INTO THE REGION BY EARLY SUNDAY EVENING WITH WNW WINDS LESS THAN 10 KTS. 05/ && .UPDATE... COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH THE METROPLEX THIS HOUR...WHICH IS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT ARE A BIT STRONGER AND HAVE INCREASED BOTH SPEEDS AND GUSTS FOR 3-6 HOURS BEHIND THE FRONT. SPEEDS AND GUSTS WILL DIMINISH AROUND DAYBREAK...BUT REMAIN BRISK ON NEW YEARS DAY. ALSO...HAD TO ADJUST TEMP/DEWPOINT GRIDS TO BETTER MATCH CURRENT TRENDS SINCE THE COLDER AIR LAGS ABOUT 2 HOURS BEHIND THE FRONT. NEW WORDED PACKAGE AND GRIDS FORTHCOMING. 75 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 338 PM CST SAT DEC 31 2011/ A COLD FRONT...CURRENTLY MOVING INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA...WILL REACH THE WESTERN COUNTIES OF NORTH TEXAS EARLY THIS EVENING AND MOVE THROUGH THE ENTIRE REGION SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT WILL BRING GUSTY NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE ALONG WITH MUCH DRIER AND COOLER AIR. THE ONLY PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WILL BE OVER THE TEXAS COAST. A COOLER AND SUNNY DAY IS EXPECTED TO START 2012 AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS QUICKLY INTO THE REGION. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL STILL MANAGE TO WARM INTO THE 50S TO LOWER 60S BUT IT WILL BE A BIT BREEZY...ESPECIALLY SUNDAY MORNING. WIND SPEEDS WILL DECREASE SUNDAY NIGHT AND TEMPERATURES WILL RAPIDLY COOL WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE 20S TO THE MIDDLE 30S. MONDAY WILL REMAIN SEASONALLY COOL WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S...BUT A GRADUAL WARM UP IS EXPECTED THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK WITH DRY NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND ONLY ONE WEAK COLD FRONT EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK AHEAD OF ANOTHER COLD FRONT EXPECTED AROUND SATURDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT SOME RAIN COULD ACCOMPANY THIS COLD FRONT. HOWEVER...THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE EXTENDED MODELS ON THE TIMING OF THE FRONT AND THE EVOLUTION OF A DEVELOPING TROUGH. FOR NOW WE WILL LEAVE POPS AT 10 PERCENT NEXT SATURDAY. 79 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 38 60 32 57 31 / 0 0 0 0 0 WACO, TX 41 61 27 56 29 / 5 0 0 0 0 PARIS, TX 38 58 31 54 24 / 5 0 0 0 0 DENTON, TX 38 58 27 56 27 / 0 0 0 0 0 MCKINNEY, TX 39 60 27 57 26 / 0 0 0 0 0 DALLAS, TX 40 59 34 55 33 / 0 0 0 0 0 TERRELL, TX 42 59 30 58 27 / 5 0 0 0 0 CORSICANA, TX 42 60 32 56 30 / 5 0 0 0 0 TEMPLE, TX 41 61 29 57 28 / 5 0 0 0 0 MINERAL WELLS, TX 34 57 25 57 27 / 0 0 0 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 05/75
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 300 PM CST SAT DEC 31 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-011200- 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- 300 PM CST SAT DEC 31 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 25
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as exceptional drought (D4) throughout the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as exceptional drought (D4) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall and was classified as extreme drought (D3) at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as exceptional drought (D4) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall and was classified as extreme drought (D3) at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as exceptional drought (D4) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall and was classified as extreme drought (D3) at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as exceptional drought (D4) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall and was classified as extreme drought (D3) at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as extreme drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as extreme drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as extreme drought (D3) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 5 inches of rainfall and was classified as severe drought (D2) at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 2 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 5 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 3 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 4 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) throughout the month. The county received up to 6 inches of rainfall but drought conditions did not improve.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D3) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 5 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 6 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 5 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 6 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 7 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 7 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the county was classified as severe drought (D2) at the beginning of the month. The county received up to 6 inches of rainfall and was not classified in drought at the end of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2012
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: 360708, 360710, 360711, 360712, 360713, 360717, 360718, 360719, 360720, 360721, 360722, 360723, 360724, 360725, 360726, 360727, 360728, 360729, 360730, 360731.