Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Texas, December 5 to 6, 2013

Up to 4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Grayson County. On average, 3-4 of ice and sleet was reported and most of the reports were sleet accumulations. One media station in Denison reported 0.10 ice with 3 of sleet accumulations. Traffic became very difficult, including Highway 82 and Highway 289. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Due to the weight of the ice, the Lonestar Lanes Bowling Alley in Sherman collapsed on the 6th and the gymnasium roof at the Boys and Girls Club in Sherman also caved in. The roof of the Cooper-B building sagged inward due to the ice. In Denison, an awning collapsed at the Main Street Lumber, and several porch covers on house also collapsed. Tom Bean ISD reported minor damage to some of their buildings including roof leaks at the elementary school and a portion of the high school roof was sagging, plus a shed in the bus barn was crushed by the weight of the ice. Power lines were also knocked down by the ice resulting in many power outages. Sherman police reported 6 vehicle accidents with injuries and the Texoma Medical Center reported approximately 30 injuries due to slips and falls. The county preliminarily estimated $5 million in damage.

Up to 3-4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Montague County. On average, 2 of ice and sleet was reported on the roads. The highest accumulations were in the southeastern half of the county.

Up to 4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Cooke County. On average, 2-3 of ice and sleet was reported. The COOP Observer in Muenster reported 1 of ice and sleet. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Interstate 35 through the county was closed for an extended period as many vehicles and semis became stranded on the icy highway.

Up to 3-4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Denton County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts were across the northern parts of the county. A trained spotter reported 2.5 of sleet with 0.3 of freezing rain to the NW of Sanger. The public reported 3.5 of sleet in Little Elm. Up to 4 of ice and sleet was reported on the streets in Lewisville. Numerous traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Interstate 35 between Denton and Oklahoma was closed at one point due to the icy conditions and motorists were stranded in their vehicles along I-35E. On I-35E on the bridge over Lake Lewisville, a 21-year old female died during the early morning hours on the 7th when she lost control on the icy bridge and her car plunged over the guardrail into the lake below. Also at Lake Lewisville, a portion of the Pier 121 Marina collapsed on the 6th, damaging at roughly 50 boats. The popular TopGolf in The Colony sustained damage to several poles that hold the net up and remained closed for several days. Several power lines across the county also snapped due to the weight of the ice. As temperatures began to warm by the 8th and 9th, falling ice continued to be a hazard for several days and several more roof collapses were reported as the thaw continued. One large business sign in Sanger crashed into a parking lot on the 9th. In Lewisville, 2 people were injured when a carport collapsed on the 11th from the weight of the ice. The clean-up from the ice storm took several weeks.

Up to 4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Palo Pinto County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. Amateur radio reported 3 of sleet in Palo Pinto and 3-4 of sleet in Mineral Wells. The COOP Observer in Strawn reported 2 of ice and sleet. The metal roof/awning of a strip center in Mineral Wells collapsed under the weight of the ice.

An average of 2-3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Tarrant County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell in the northwestern portions of the county. Up to 0.50 of freezing rain/ice occurred. 2.5 of sleet was reported in Hurst, 2 of ice and sleet was reported in Keller, 2 of sleet was reported in Haslet, 2 was reported in North Richland Hills, and 2.25 of sleet was reported in the Benbrook area. 2 of sleet and ice was reported at the NWS Office in north Fort Worth. The I-20/I-30 split in west Fort Worth was especially treacherous to travel through due to cobblestone ice and so was I-35W north of North Tarrant Parkway. Numerous traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets. Fort Worth police reported nearly 40 major accidents and several smaller ones. A 7-car accident occurred on I-20 at Forest Hill around 9 pm on the 5th, and a 15-car wreck occurred on TX 121 in Grapevine. Only 3 people sustained minor injures in both of those accidents, but a male died in a separate accident on I-20 in Arlington. Hundreds of ice related falls were reported by area hospitals. Several power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice and more than 200,000 customers were without power on the 6th. Several thousand people were stranded at DFW Airport throughout the weekend. The clean-up from the ice storm took several weeks. Hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. An elderly man died from hypothermia in Fort Worth.

Up to 3-4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Collin County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts were across the northern parts of the county. The COOP Observer in Frisco reported 3.5-4 of ice and sleet. The public reported 3.25 of sleet in McKinney. Numerous traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. In McKinney, one tree fell through a house in the downtown area. Several power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. In Plano, carports tumbled under the weight of the ice, damaging some cars underneath. A few days later, as the ice finally started to melt on the 8th and 9th, ice tumbled off of multi-story apartment buildings in Plano and damaged several cars that were parked below. The clean-up from the ice storm took several weeks.

Up to 4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Parker County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell in the northwestern and southeastern portions of the county. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Interstate 20 was impassable at times and many motorists were stranded on the highway. TX 180 between Weatherford and Mineral Wells was also closed. Several power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. A male died when his ATV lost control and flipped on an icy road.

Up to 4 of ice and sleet accumulated in Fannin County. On average, 2.5-3 of ice and sleet was reported and most of the reports were sleet accumulations. In Bonham, law enforcement reported 2.5 of sleet accumulation. Numerous tree branches broke under the weight of the ice. In Bonham, the roof of JCS Whiskey River caved in and the awning at Bonham Barber Stylists collapsed. In Ector, part of the roof of the junior high school caved inward and two of the main beams in the high school gym were twisted under the weight of the ice.

Up to 1 of freezing rain fell across the county causing significant damage to trees, tree branches, utility poles and lines due to the heavy collection of ice. The COOP Observer in Paris reported 0.75 of ice. Hundreds of trees, tree branches, and power lines were knocked down and travel was difficult across the county. The EOC in Paris lost power and all communications due to a power outage. All emergency radio communications were also knocked out by the power outage. Falling tree branches and ice damaged cars and roofs. In addition, an estimated $10.5 million in damage to roads and bridges was caused by the ice storm.

An average of 1-3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Dallas County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell in the northwestern portions of the county. 2.5 of sleet was reported on Coppell, and 0.30 of freezing rain was reported in Mesquite. Irving reported 2.75 of ice and sleet. Half an inch of freezing rain/ice was reported in Dallas. Hundreds of traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Several power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. The clean-up from the ice storm took several weeks. A male died after his car lost control on icy roads at Preston and Royal in Dallas, an elderly woman died after falling on some ice in her yard, and another woman died from exposure to the cold.

Up to 2 of ice and sleet accumulated in Hood County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. A trained spotter reported 2 of ice and sleet in Oak Trail Shores. More than 1 of ice and sleet was reported in Granbury by the public. Lake Granbury Medial Center reported 75 patients from fall-related injuries due to the ice. Of that 75, 39 had fractures. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and numerous tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Some power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice.

Up to 3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Wise County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. Three inches of sleet was reported near Decatur. US 380 between Decatur and Bridgeport was shut down on the 7th. Traffic was very slow or stopped on parts of Highway 287 due to ice, and numerous accidents had been reported.

Up to 1 of ice and sleet accumulated in Eastland County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. Amateur radio reported 1 of ice and sleet in Cisco. Many people were stranded on Ranger Hill and forced to seek nearby shelter or were stranded in their cars for several hours.

Up to 2 of ice and sleet accumulated in Young County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell across the southeastern half of the county. Amateur radio reported 2 of ice and sleet accumulations in Loving and throughout the county.

Up to 3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Jack County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell across the southeastern two-thirds of the county.

Up to 2 of freezing rain and sleet fell across the county causing significant damage to trees, tree branches, utility poles and lines due to the heavy collection of ice. A trained spotter reported 0.50 of freezing rain in Cumby. The newspaper in Sulphur Springs reported over 1.75 of sleet. Hundreds of trees, tree branches, and power lines were knocked down. Falling tree branches and ice damaged cars and roofs. Bridges, overpasses, and elevated surfaces became icy but other roads were largely not impacted by the ice. One railroad employee was injured when a tree fell on him as he was working to remove tree debris from the railroad tracks.

Up to 2-3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Comanche County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. Amateur radio reported 2 of sleet at Lake Proctor with more ice underneath the sleet.

Up to 3.5 of ice and sleet accumulated in Erath County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts were located across the northern portions of the county. The COOP Observer in Chalk Mountain reported 3.5 of sleet. Amateur radio reported 1 of ice and sleet in Stephenville, and a retired NWS Employee reported 1.75 of ice and sleet in Bluff Dale. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and many tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice.

Up to 1 of ice and sleet accumulated in Hunt County. Several traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and numerous tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Some of the falling branches damaged buildings and cars. Some power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. A 3-vehicle accident on the Two-Mile Bridge over Lake Tawakoni resulted in 3 hospital transports and closed the bridge for some time.

According to the sheriff's office, up to 2 of ice and sleet accumulated in Mills County. Roads became covered in ice and several accidents due to vehicles sliding off the roadways were reported. The local police reported Highway 84 west of Evant was especially treacherous. Many tree branches and trees were broken or damaged from the weight of the ice.

Up to 2 of ice and sleet accumulated in Johnson County. The COOP Observer in Burleson reported 1.75-2 of sleet and ice. The COOP Observer in Cleburne reported 1 of sleet and ice. Many tree branches were broken and power lines were knocked down due to the weight of the ice. The Burleson police reported 65 minor vehicle accidents and 3 major accidents.

Up to 2 of ice and sleet accumulated in Hamilton County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. Amateur radio reported 2 of ice and sleet throughout the county.

Accumulations of ice and sleet resulted in significant tree damage across Rockwall County. The ice also brought down power lines, resulting in a few hundred power outages, and some carports toppled.

Up to 3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Somervell County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet. A few traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and numerous tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Some power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. A few injures due to slips and falls on the ice were reported.

Icy road conditions resulted in numerous accidents or vehicles off the roadway along Interstate 35 from Hillsboro to the north. The icing was the result of freezing rain that left a thin layer of ice in the county.

Accumulations of sleet and ice resulted in tree and power line damage in Ellis County. The COOP Observer in Maypearl reported 1.25 of ice and sleet. On December 8th, a tree limb fell on power lines in the 500 block of North Rogers Street in Waxahachie, which sent a charge into a nearby home that started a fire in the kitchen.

A 53-year old male died on I-35 in Temple due to icy conditions on a bridge near mile marker 303A. His car had struck the guardrail, and when he got out to check the damage, another vehicle lost control on the icy bridge and struck the male killing him. The local police reported icy roadways and bridges throughout the city.