Blizzard and Ice Storm in Texas, December 26 to 28, 2015

Name: Blizzard and Ice Storm in Texas, December 26 to 28, 2015
Start: 2015-12-26T22:00
End: 2015-12-28T03:00
Location: Texas

December 26 to 28, 2015 · NWS LUB · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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: 0
Property damage: $33 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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.

Following a mild Christmas, a strong cold front arrived early on the morning of the 26th ahead of temperatures falling to freezing territory throughout the course of the afternoon all in advance of a slow-moving upper low in the Desert Southwest and far north-central Mexico. Northerly winds increased in intensity during the day and by early evening were frequently gusting between 50 and 60 mph over the entire South Plains. These winds created several power outages, minor roof damage, downed tree limbs, and even toppled some trees completely. By mid-evening on the 26th, exceptionally rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico deepened over the shallow dome of cold air and resulted in large areas of freezing rain and sleet punctuated by thunderstorms. This wintry mix quickly changed over to all snow by late evening over the western South Plains as an elevated layer of warm air was eroded. With winds still frequently gusting to 60 mph, instant whiteout conditions were reported from Morton south to Seminole from heavy snow and blowing snow.

The blizzard expanded slowly east through the night to the edge of the Caprock until mid-level dry slotting arrived on the morning of the 27th which produced a distinct lull in snow and sleet. Even without falling snow, winds were still gusting from 50 to 60 mph which created ground blizzard conditions even in the city of Lubbock where a mere 2.7 inches of sleet and snow was measured through 6 A.M. NWS forecasters were keen to alert residents that a second and more potent round of snow was to arrive later in the day once the upper low lifted northeast across central Texas. Although this second round was initially complicated by sleet at times thanks to a redeveloping warm nose, by late afternoon on the 27th the warm nose disappeared for good as several bands of heavy snow enveloped the South Plains before shifting into the Rolling Plains and the southeast Texas Panhandle overnight and slowly dissipating. Until that point, areas off the Caprock contended with as much as three inches of sleet and up to 1/2 inch of freezing rain. Several snowbursts with rates measured as high as 2.7 inches at the NWS Lubbock office produced whiteout conditions and compounded already treacherous travel conditions. The snow and strong winds quickly tapered off in coverage and intensity from southwest-to-northeast late on the 27th through the pre-dawn hours of the 28th.

Unfortunately, there were two fatalities from this blizzard. A homeless man in Lubbock succumbed to hypothermia late in the night on the 27th. He was found wearing only a light jacket, jeans and a thin blanket. No information was known on the second fatality.

Despite full sun and high temperatures reaching the middle 30s on the 28th, thousands of South Plains residents found themselves marooned by tall snow drifts that blocked roads and driveways. In Lubbock alone, the city Police Dispatch estimated that about 1400 motorists became stuck in snow drifts. In many areas of the southwest South Plains, rescue operations were conducted for up to 32 consecutive hours to free stranded motorists. Fortunately, there were very few vehicle accidents as most people became stuck in snow instead of sliding into obstacles or other vehicles. A large percentage of area residents heeded warnings and avoided travel altogether for several days. The alarming lack of snow removal resources, particularly in the city of Lubbock which only owned two snow plows at the time, was heavily criticized by taxpayers and some city council members as a total of 98 emergency vehicles became immobilized in snow and were unable to respond to Lubbock residents in a timely manner. Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson declared a state of disaster for Lubbock during the height of the blizzard which opened the door to additional state aid and resources, however he later stated the city diverted a disaster and could not have prepared any more than it did. Regional commerce was ground to a halt for two days following the blizzard as many roads were simply too dangerous for travel even for high clearance 4x4 trucks and SUVs. All flights into and out of Lubbock International Airport were cancelled from the evening of the 26th through the morning of the 28th which left thousands of post-Christmas travelers stranded. Even USPS Offices region wide were forced to suspend all services on the 28th and 29th due to streets and roads being blocked with snow, although many rural areas did not see normal mail service resume until the following weekend.

Combined economic losses from businesses being closed for up to four days and regional commerce impacts due to impassable roads may approach $200 million. Direct losses from the storm were most significant to area ranchers and dairy farmers who suffered combined losses of at least $20 million. The USDA estimated 15,000 head of dairy cattle alone died from snow suffocation in the western South Plains and far southwest Panhandle with similar numbers for non-dairy cattle. This region accounts for 40 percent of Texas' milk supply. Regional commercial power utilities were also dealt a severe blow from the prolonged high winds that downed hundreds of miles of power lines and toppled some power poles outright. Scores of rural residents were left without commercial power for up to two days. Damage estimates for each county listed below also take into account sporadic damage to roofing and shingles, utility sheds, pole barns, gas station overhangs, and countless garage ports. Some businesses and residential buildings reported sections of roofs failing from heavy snow. At Texas Tech University, the inflatable roof to the iconic Athletic Training Center (also known as The Bubble) collapsed in the days following the storm from strain caused by 12+ inches of snow on the roof. The roof was deemed a total loss valued around $8 million, but ironically was scheduled for demolition in Spring of 2016.

Historically, this blizzard was the worst to ever strike Lubbock given the magnitude and duration of strong winds combined with record snow totals for both the 27th and the entire month of December. Officially at Lubbock Airport, this storm ranked third for the greatest snow ever with 11.2 inches. From a forecast perspective, the historic potential of this blizzard was explicitly cited three days ahead of time by forecasters at the NWS Lubbock office. Also, NWS Lubbock decision support members provided local and regional disaster planning officials with six days of advance notice that a significant winter storm stood a high probability of impacting much of the region by Christmas weekend - a feat that would have been impossible decades earlier due to lower quality weather models.

Select storm total snow measurements:|Friona...20.0 inches with 10-foot drifts / |Wolfforth 5S...14.0 inches with 7-foot drifts / |Plains...12.0 inches with 7-foot drifts /|Lubbock Airport...11.2 inches with 6-foot drifts / |Denver City...11.0 inches with 6-foot drifts / |Plainview...10.0 inches / |Hart...9.0 inches / |Shallowater, Levelland, Muleshoe, and Tahoka...8.0 inches /|Post...7.0 inches on top of 2 inches of sleet / |Brownfield, Littlefield, Matador, and Morton...6.0 inches / |Abernathy, Lake Alan Henry and Paducah...5.0 inches / |Childress, Crosbyton, and Tulia...4.0 inches /|Floydada...3.0 inches / |Dickens...2.0 inches snow / 0.50 inches of freezing rain.|Aspermont...1.0 inch snow / 3 inches of sleet.

Notable wind gusts (mph) and times as measured by the West Texas Mesonet (except where noted):|Anton and Olton...67 at 905 PM on the 26th / |Sundown...65 at 815 PM on the 26th / |Morton...65 at 805 PM on the 26th / |Muleshoe...65 at 520 AM on the 27th / |Amherst...65 at at 220 AM on the 27th / |Reese Center...64 at 930 PM on the 26th / |Levelland...64 at 925 PM on the 26th / |Tulia...64 at 605 AM on the 27th / |Hart...64 at 455 AM on the 27th / |Memphis...63 at 955 PM on the 26th / |Dimmitt...63 at 510 AM on the 27th / |Turkey...62 at 445 AM on the 27th / |Lubbock Int'l Airport ASOS: 61 at 655 AM on the 27th / |Friona...61 at 715 PM on the 26th / |Wolfforth...61 at 540 AM on the 27th / |Denver City...61 at 625 AM on the 27th / |Roaring Springs...60 at 1020 PM on the 26th / |White River Lake...60 at 530 AM on the 27th / |Brownfield...60 at 800 AM on the 27th / |Plains...60 at 445 AM on the 27th / |Abernathy...60 at 755 PM on the 26th / |Spur...59 at 1145 PM on the 26th / |NWS Lubbock Office...52 mph at 817 AM on the 27th.

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 Dec 26, 7:44 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 26, 7:44 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
744 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

.UPDATE...
A BROAD AREA OF LIFT WAS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE WESTERN ZONES
OUT OF EASTERN NM...WELL AHEAD OF THE PARENT LOW NEAR THE BOOTHILL
OF NM. ENOUGH ELEVATED INSTABILITY WAS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT SOME
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES...AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO ADD A
THUNDER MENTION TO THE GRIDS THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION...WE HAVE
SEEN A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN REPORTED AT KHOB AND UNKNOWN
PRECIPITATION AT KCVS WITH THIS LEADING SWATH OF PRECIPITATION. WE
DO STILL EXPECT THE WINTRY MIX TO QUICKLY CHANGE TO ALL SNOW NEAR
THE TX/NM LINE THIS EVENING...BUT WE HAVE ADDED A MENTION OF
SLEET TO THE GRIDS ACROSS THE WEST IN THE 00-06Z TIMEFRAME. THIS
SWATH OF MODERATE TO HEAVY WINTRY PRECIP SHOULD ADVANCE EASTWARD
ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE SOUTH PLAINS THROUGH THE LATE EVENING
HOURS AND OFF THE CAPROCK AFTER MIDNIGHT...WITH MORE ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED ACTIVITY DEVELOPING IN AHEAD OF THE BROAD SHIELD. A
WINTRY MIX WILL LIKELY PREVAIL OFF THE CAPROCK OVERNIGHT...WHILE A
GRADUAL CHANGEOVER TO SNOW OCCURS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
SOUTH PLAINS LATE TONIGHT. ASIDE FROM THE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
MENTIONED ABOVE...THE FORECAST REMAINS IN GOOD SHAPE AND NO OTHER
CHANGES WERE MADE ATTM.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 544 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015/

AVIATION...

..AN AVIATION WEATHER WARNING CONTINUES AT KLBB THROUGH 6 AM
MONDAY...

BEGINNING ABOUT 03 TO 04 UTC THIS EVENING...A 24 TO 30
HOUR PERIOD OF LOW FLIGHT CATEGORIES WITH OCCASIONAL HEAVY FROZEN
PRECIP IS EXPECTED AT ALL TERMINALS. IFR TO LIFR CEILINGS AND
VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THIS PERIOD. IN
ADDITION...THE CURRENT STRONG NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KTS WITH
GUSTS TO NEAR 50 KTS WILL ONLY GRADUALLY DIMINISH THROUGH THE DAY
SUNDAY. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIP AT KPVW AND KLBB OVERNIGHT SHOULD
BECOME ALL SNOW BY SUNDAY MORNING...BUT THE CHANGEOVER WILL LIKELY
OCCUR LATE IN THE DAY AT KCDS. THERE MAY BE A TEMPORARY
IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA SOMETIME
LATE SUNDAY MORNING INTO SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT A RETURN TO VFR
CONDITIONS IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 400 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015/

SHORT TERM...
OVERVIEW...SATELLITE WATER VAPOR CHANNEL AT 21Z SHOWED A TEXTBOOK
UPPER CYCLONE CENTERED OVER THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS OF SERN ARIZONA
COMPLETE WITH TWO WARM CONVEYOR BELTS...THE FIRST OF WHICH EXTENDED
FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE NORTH TO OKLAHOMA WITH THE SECOND CONVEYOR
QUICKLY MATERIALIZING JUST EAST OF THE LOW IN NEW MEXICO AS NOTED BY
IMPRESSIVE TRANSVERSE CLOUD BANDING. THIS LATTER BELT HAS SHOWN
STRONG CLOUD TOP COOLING IN RECENT HOURS AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
OUR FIRST ROUND OF HEAVY WINTRY PRECIP THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SUNDAY BEFORE THE DEFORMATION ZONE DELIVERS THE SECOND ROUND OF
HEAVY PRECIP. DRY SLOTTING IN BETWEEN THESE TWO ZONES OF LIFT IS
COMMON WITH MATURING CYCLONES AND OFTEN AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT TO
HEAVIER PRECIP AMOUNTS IN SOME AREAS...BUT HOW MUCH THIS HINDERS
SNOW TOTALS IS OBVIOUSLY UNCLEAR THIS FAR OUT AND WILL NOT BE KNOWN
UNTIL THE EVENT IS PLAYING OUT. REGARDLESS...THE PROS FOR A HEAVY
SNOW EVENT STILL OUTWEIGH THE CONS...SO WE WON/T DEVIATE MUCH FROM
THE RECENT FORECAST STRATEGY THAT STILL FAVORS HIGH IMPACT SNOW
AMOUNTS.

THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...LOW LEVEL SATURATION WILL RAMP UP AS
ISENTROPIC ASCENT FEEDS UNSEASONABLY RICH MOISTURE ATOP OUR SHALLOW
COLD DOME BEHIND THIS MORNING/S COLD FRONT. OBSERVED VERTICAL TEMP
PROFILES AS CONFIRMED BY ACARS DATA AT LUBBOCK SHOWED A STOUT WARM
NOSE OF +6C AROUND 4000 FEET AT 21Z. THIS WARM NOSE IS MUCH WEAKER
FARTHER WEST WHERE SNOW WILL LIKELY BECOME THE PRIMARY PRECIP TYPE
BEFORE MIDNIGHT. UNTIL THEN...SATURATION WILL BE LARGELY CONFINED TO
THE LOW LEVELS RESULTING IN DRIZZLE/FREEZING DRIZZLE EARLY THIS
EVENING BEFORE DEEPENING TO SUPPORT SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW.
RAP...GFS AND NAM INDICATE GRADUAL COOLING OF THE WARM NOSE AT
LUBBOCK THROUGH MIDNIGHT BEFORE ERODING THEREAFTER BEFORE DAYBREAK.
THIS WILL SUPPORT MOSTLY SNOW BEFORE 12Z AT LUBBOCK WITH POTENTIALLY
HEAVY SNOW AMOUNTS ALREADY HAVING STACKED UP NEAR THE NM STATE LINE.

DAYBREAK SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...IT APPEARS PESKY DRY SLOTTING
WILL BEGIN CURLING N-NWWD EARLY SUN MORNING WHICH COULD PRESENT A
DISTINCT LULL IN PRECIP FOR MANY AREAS. LOWERED POPS A TOUCH FROM 12Z
UNTIL 18Z TO CAPTURE THIS DRYING POTENTIAL ALOFT...BUT RESIDENTS
SHOULD NOT THINK THE STORM WAS A DUD AS THE DEFORMATION FIELD WILL BE
LOOMING UPSTREAM COMPLETE WITH HEAVY SNOW. AS THE LOW DEEPENS TO OUR
SE...WOULD EXPECT THIS DEFORMATION ZONE SNOW TO BECOME QUITE
IMPRESSIVE AT TIMES ESPECIALLY WITH WEAK ELEVATED CAPE STILL
LINGERING. FARTHER EAST OFF THE CAPROCK...WARM NOSING SHOULD NOT
FULLY ERODE UNTIL MID-LATE AFTERNOON WITH SNOW THE PRIMARY TYPE A
GOOD BET BY EARLY EVENING. THIS SHOULD THWART SNOW AMOUNTS RELATIVE
TO POINTS FARTHER WEST...BUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM EARLIER HEAVIER
SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN STILL IMPLY PROBLEMS FOR TRAVELERS WITH
HEAVY SNOW LATER ON WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STILL LIKELY.

LONG TERM...
BY 12Z MONDAY...SYSTEM SHOULD BE LARGELY EXITING THE REGION WITH THE
LOW CENTER ALONG THE OK/AR STATE LINE.  AFTER A BRIEF BOUT OF SUBTLE
RIDGING MONDAY EVENING...SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW RETURNS AGAIN EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING AS NEXT UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM DIGS INTO THE FOUR
CORNERS.  GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO DEPICTS THIS FEATURE AS AN OPEN WAVE
WITH MIN HEIGHT OF 541 DAM.  THIS SYSTEM WILL SWIFTLY SWEEP ACROSS
THE REGION BY TUESDAY EVENING AS YET ANOTHER SHORTWAVE INTENSIFIES
ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN INTO THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL REMAIN QUITE
WEAK WITH A STRONG POSITIVE TILT WITH FLOW ACROSS WEST TEXAS LARGELY
REMAINING ZONAL.

WITH THE WINDS REMAINING ABOVE 20 MPH...BLOWING SNOW IS LIKELY TO
CONTINUE INTO MID-DAY MONDAY AND HAVE KEPT MENTION GOING IN THE WX
GRIDS.  THE TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK WILL BE TRICKY GIVEN THE
ANTICIPATED SNOWPACK.  WE MAY NOT SEE TEMPS ABOVE FREEZING WEST OF
THE ESCARPMENT UNTIL LATE THIS WEEK.  HIGH ALBEDO...EVEN WITH
RESPECTABLE SUNSHINE...WILL INHIBIT LOW LEVEL WARMING.  WITH THE
PASSAGE OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WE STILL COULD SEE SOME FLURRIES
OR EVEN POSSIBLY LIGHT SNOW MAINLY NORTH.  ACCUMULATIONS...IF ANY
OCCUR...ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT AS MOISTURE WILL BE VERY LIMITED.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 9 AM CST MONDAY FOR TXZ021>044.

&&

33/23

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 26, 5:13 AM CST, 16 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
513 AM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

TXZ021>044-271115-
PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE-
FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING-
YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL-
513 AM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A BLIZZARD IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP STARTING EARLY THIS EVENING
WITH A COMBINATION OF SLEET...FREEZING RAIN...AND HEAVY SNOW
SPREADING INTO THE AREA. VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS...WITH GUSTS
OVER 50 MPH...WILL QUICKLY LEAD TO LARGE SNOW DRIFTS.

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

THE BLIZZARD WILL INTENSIFY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. MASSIVE SNOW
DRIFTS ARE LIKELY FOR MANY AREAS. TRAVEL MAY BECOME NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL EASE
MONDAY...HOWEVER BLOWING SNOW WILL PERSIST. SNOWPACK IS LIKELY TO
REMAIN THROUGH THE COMING WEEK FOR MANY AREAS.

.TRAVELERS INFORMATION STATEMENT...

MOTORISTS PLANNING TRAVEL SATURDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WILL RISK
BECOMING STRANDED AND EXPOSED TO LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS...
THUS ALSO INCREASING THE RISK FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. PLEASE
CONSIDER ALTERING TRAVEL PLANS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 26, 8:35 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
835 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0825 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S LEVELLAND           33.53N 102.36W
12/26/2015  M64 MPH          HOCKLEY            TX   MESONET

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500395

GDS

Local storm report, Dec 26, 8:42 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
842 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0840 PM     SLEET            BROWNFIELD              33.18N 102.27W
12/26/2015  U0.0 INCH        TERRY              TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MIX IN BROWNFIELD. SLEET IS
            COVERING THE GROUND.

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500396

GDS

Local storm report, Dec 26, 8:44 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
844 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0834 PM     FREEZING RAIN    WOLFFORTH               33.51N 102.01W
12/26/2015  U0.00 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   STORM CHASER

            LIGHT FREEZING RAIN JUST BEGINNING

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500397

GDS

Local storm report, Dec 26, 9:18 PM CST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
918 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 N LUBBOCK             33.65N 101.88W
12/26/2015                   LUBBOCK            TX   PUBLIC

            TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED BY THE STRONG WINDS

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500399

GDS

Local storm report, Dec 26, 9:25 PM CST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
925 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0905 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW ANTON             33.73N 102.19W
12/26/2015  M67 MPH          HOCKLEY            TX   MESONET

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500400

GDS

Local storm report, Dec 26, 9:34 PM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
934 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0905 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 S OLTON               34.09N 102.12W
12/26/2015  M67 MPH          LAMB               TX   MESONET

&&

EVENT NUMBER LUB1500401

GDS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 blizzard, 7 winter storm, 1 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Yoakum

When: December 26, 10:00 PM CST to December 27, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Yoakum forecast zone
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.173, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Swisher

When: December 26, 10:00 PM CST to December 27, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Swisher forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cochran

When: December 26, 10:30 PM CST to December 27, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Cochran forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kent

When: December 26, 10:30 PM CST to December 28, 2:30 AM CST
Where: Kent forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.181, -100.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Parmer

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 27, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Parmer forecast zone
Property damage: $8.0 million
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Terry

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 27, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Terry forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hockley

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 27, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hockley forecast zone
Property damage: $350,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Bailey

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 27, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Bailey forecast zone
Property damage: $6.0 million
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lynn

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 27, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Lynn forecast zone
Property damage: $400,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.177, -101.816 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stonewall

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 28, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Stonewall forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.179, -100.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Dickens

When: December 26, 11:00 PM CST to December 28, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Dickens forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lamb

When: December 26, 11:10 PM CST to December 27, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Lamb forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Castro

When: December 26, 11:30 PM CST to December 27, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Castro forecast zone
Property damage: $4.0 million
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, King

When: December 26, 11:30 PM CST to December 28, 2:30 AM CST
Where: King forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lubbock

When: December 26, 11:30 PM CST to December 27, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $12 million
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Motley

When: December 27, 12:00 AM CST to December 28, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Motley forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.074, -100.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cottle

When: December 27, 12:00 AM CST to December 28, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Cottle forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.078, -100.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hall

When: December 27, 12:30 AM CST to December 28, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.531, -100.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Childress

When: December 27, 1:00 AM CST to December 28, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Childress forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.529, -100.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hale

When: December 27, 2:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hale forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.071, -101.827 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Briscoe

When: December 27, 3:00 AM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Briscoe forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Garza

When: December 27, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Garza forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.180, -101.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Crosby

When: December 27, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Crosby forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.615, -101.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Floyd

When: December 27, 4:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.072, -101.303 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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
Blizzard, Lubbock	2015-12-26			Unknown	Direct
Blizzard, Lubbock	2015-12-26	61	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, December 2015

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: 606319, 606344, 606320, 606336, 606321, 606322, 606324, 606325, 606332, 606337, 606559, 606326, 606330, 606339, 606345, 606340, 606341, 606342, 606343, 606327, 606331, 606333, 606334, 606335.