Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, March 4 to 5, 2015

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, March 4 to 5, 2015
Start: 2015-03-04T22:00
End: 2015-03-05T12:00
Location: Texas

March 4 to 5, 2015 · NWS SHV · 21 events in 21 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

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 SHV wrote it up.

A cold, arctic airmass entered the region from the northwest during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Wednesday, March 4th. The flow aloft was from the west southwest and disturbances embedded in this flow produced the lift necessary for precipitation to overspread the region from west to east. The precipitation began as a cold rain but quickly transitioned to sleet during the late night hours of March 4th with the precipitation transitioning over to a sleet/snow mixture during the morning hours of March 5th. Along and north of the Interstate 20 corridor of Northeast Texas...freezing rain amounts were near one tenth of an inch with sleet accumulations mainly near one half to one inch. Snow amounts were near 1 to 3 inches for the event.

Further south of the Interstate 20 corridor of Northeast Texas, freezing rain, sleet and snow amounts were much less.

A cold, arctic airmass entered the region from the northwest during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Wednesday, March 4th. The flow aloft was from the west southwest and disturbances embedded in this flow produced the lift necessary for precipitation to overspread the region from west to east. The precipitation began as a cold rain but quickly transitioned to sleet during the late night hours of March 4th with the precipitation transitioning over to snow during the morning hours of March 5th. Freezing rain amounts were near one tenth of an inch with sleet accumulations mainly less than one half inch. Snow amounts were less than 4 inches with widespread one to three inches reported across the northern half of Northeast Texas...mainly north of the Interstate 20 corridor. South of the Interstate 20 corridor of Northeast Texas...ice and snow amounts were much less.

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 4, 9:54 PM CST, 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 4, 9:54 PM CST, 6 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
954 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015

.DISCUSSION...

WILL NOT BE UPDATING THE FORECAST SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE IN LINE
WITH WHAT IS EXPECTED. HAVE REPORTS OF SLEET MIXED IN WITH THE
RAIN OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS...ALONG
WITH NORTHERN PARTS OF EAST AND NORTHEAST TEXAS...AND ALONG THE
ARKANSAS/LOUISIANA BORDER. SUSPECT A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SLEET OVER SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR AND BELOW
FREEZING. /06/

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 552 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015/

AVIATION...
VERY STG BUT SHALLOW ARCTIC COLD FRONT HAS JUST FINISHED MOVG
ACROSS KMLU AND KLFK TERMINALS...WITH WINDS ABRUPLY SHIFTING TO
NORTH. THESE NORTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 KTS...WITH GUSTS TO OVER 30
KTS AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...ALONG WITH IFR TO LOW
MVFR CIG...AND WIDESPREAD RAIN....WITHIN A 2 TO 4 HOUR PERIOD OF TIME
AFT FROPA. EMBEDDED THUNDER WITH ELEVATED INSTABILITY ABOVE SHARP
LOW LAYER INVERSION POSSIBLE UNTIL AROUND 05/06Z. PRECIP WILL
CONTINUE INTO MID/LATE MORNING THUR...WITH FRZG LINE REACHING
KTXK AND KELD AROUND 05/09Z...I-20 TERMINALS AROUND 05/12Z. FRZG
RAIN...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH IP WITH CHANGOVER TO FRZG...AND
POSSIBLE BRIEF -SN BEFORE PRECIP ENDING. NORTH WINDS TO DECREASE
TO 10 TO 15 KTS MOSTLY DURG THIS PERIOD OF TIME...BUT WILL
MAINTAIN SPEED INTO AFTN AS SKIES PARTIALLY CLEAR TO HIGH MVFR OR
SCT DECKS ACROSS AREA./VII/.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 444 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015/

DISCUSSION...
THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS MOVING INTO DEEP EAST TEXAS AND NORTH
CENTRAL LOUISIANA. MOS WAS RIGHT ON AT MCALESTER AT 18Z...BUT NAM
WAS COLDER BY 2 DEGREES. IT IS HARD TO IGNORE ACTUAL OBS WHICH ARE
NOW FREEZING OVER ALL OF OKLAHOMA AND THE NORTHERN THIRD OF
ARKANSAS. SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE FRONT DOOR AND THE BACK DOOR. THE
SURFACE COLD FRONT WAS AHEAD OF MODEL GUIDANCE BY ALMOST TWO
HOURS. AS SUCH...THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF FALLING TEMPERATURES IS OR
MAYBE ON A SLIGHTLY FASTER PACE. ALSO...THE VAD WIND PROFILER AT
FORT SMITH AND NORMAN WAS UP TO 5KFT OF COLD AIR DEPTH A COUPLE OF
HOURS AGO. SO...NO CHANGES TO PREVIOUS WINTER STORM WARNING ASIDE FROM
EXTENDING OUT IN TIME TO NOON. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS A
TAIL SECTION NOW OVER NORTH CENTRAL LA FOR A BIT LONGER WITH
FREEZING TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE PAST NOON...TO NEAR MID AFTERNOON
WITH WHAT EVER REMAINS BACK TO JUST LIGHT RAIN.

ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY GREATLY OVER BOTH THE WARNING AND
ADVISORY IF POCKETS OF SLEET EMERGE ON TOP OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.
THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR GROUND TEMPS TO
CHILL ENOUGH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS...THEY MAY NOT EVER SOUTH OF I-20. THE
RAIN TODAY WILL HELP THE COLD PENETRATE...BUT WE WENT FROM MID 40S
TWO DAYS AGO TO 55 THIS AFTERNOON AT LEAST FOR SHREVEPORT. SOIL
TEMPS NORTH OF I-30 ARE COLDER AND HAVE REMAINED COLDER WITH MUCH
LESS WARM AIR OVER THE LAST DAY OR TWO. ROADS MAY SEE ISSUES AND
ELEVATED STRUCTURE IS IN FOR IT WITH PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL BY
DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...IT IS LIKELY THAT SOUTH OF I-30...MOST ROADS
MAY HAVE ENOUGH RESIDUAL HEAT TO MELT FROM BELOW KEEPING A SLUSH
PRESENT COMPARED TO FROZEN ICE. OF COURSE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
WILL ACCUMULATE ANYWHERE NORTH OF THE FREEZING LINE AS IT
PENETRATES SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE CWA. SLEET CAN FALL EVEN WITH AIR
TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING...WHICH WILL HELP LOWER THAT AIR...AT
LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE NAM LIKES. AT THIS TIME...WE HAVE SEEN PATCHY
UP AND SNOW KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AT PARIS TX AND JUST NORTH OF
LITTLE ROCK AT THIS TIME. AS SUCH WE HAVE LEFT THE START TIMES ON
THE PRODUCTS AS IS WITH SUCH UNCERTAINTY. ALSO...KEEP IN MIND
NORTHERN PARTS OF COUNTIES AND PARISHES WILL BE AFFECTED PERHAPS
HOURS SOONER THAN SOUTHERN PARTS. AND CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSE
WITH ICE IN SHELTERED VALLEYS COMPARED TO UP ON WINDY RIDGES...SO
BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND JUST HAVE A LOOK SEE IN
THE MORNING AND GET A GOOD CHECK OF THE ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE
BEFORE HEADING OUT.

LASTLY...KEEP IN MIND THE COLDEST AIR WILL ONLY REACH THE SOUTHERN
TIER OF OUR CWA AROUND DAYBREAK AND ESPECIALLY INTO THE MID
MORNING HOURS. RAIN MAY WILL TRANSITION LATE FOR THE SCHOOL DAY
ANYWHERE SOUTH OF I-20...IT IS JUST TOO UNPREDICTABLE CONSIDERING
EVAPORATIONAL COOLING THAT IS NOT MODELED WELL. TO NOTE...THIS
EVENT IS NOT LIKE THE LAST 3 DAY PERIOD OF ICE AND
SNOW...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING A 15 DEGREE WARMER SOIL TO START.

AS IT TURNS OUT THIS MAY BE WINTERS LAST GASP FOR SUCH ON A WIDE
SPREAD SCALE WITH ICE. OF COURSE SNOW CAN HAPPEN UNDER ANY CLOSED
LOW EVEN INTO APRIL. IN THE SHORT TERM WE ARE IN FOR SOME MORE
VERY COLD AIR IN THE WAKE OF THE CLOUDS WITH A POSSIBLE HARD
FREEZE IN A SPOT OR TWO TOMORROW NIGHT AND STILL VERY COLD FOR
THIS TIME OF YEAR ON THE HIGH END AS WELL. LITTLE CHANGE TO THE
EXTENDED PORTION OF THE PERIOD WITH MODELS ON THE FENCE WITH QPF
HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF OUR CWA. /24/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  29  36  23  44  27 /  90  50  10  10  10
MLU  28  32  19  40  22 /  90  70  10  10  10
DEQ  25  37  19  44  19 /  90  10  10  10  10
TXK  25  34  20  43  25 /  90  20  10  10  10
ELD  25  35  17  40  21 /  90  50  10  10  10
TYR  30  37  24  46  28 /  90  20  10  10  10
GGG  29  37  23  45  25 /  90  50  10  10  10
LFK  32  39  25  50  30 /  90  50  10  10  10

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073.

LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: LAZ001>006-014.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CST THURSDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: LAZ013-019>022.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: LAZ010>012-017-018.

OK...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: OKZ077.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: OKZ077.

TX...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-138.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: TXZ136-137-149>153-165>167.

&&

06

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 4, 12:10 PM CST, 9 hours 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015

LAZ010>013-017>022-TXZ136-137-149>153-165>167-051815-
DE SOTO-RED RIVER-BIENVILLE-JACKSON-SABINE LA-NATCHITOCHES-WINN-
GRANT-CALDWELL-LA SALLE-SMITH-GREGG-CHEROKEE-RUSK-PANOLA-
NACOGDOCHES-SHELBY-ANGELINA-SAN AUGUSTINE-SABINE TX-
1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
LOUISIANA...NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...EAST TEXAS AND NORTHEAST TEXAS
GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND A COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE
WINDY CONDITIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME A COL RAIN BY THIS EVENING AND
TO TRANSITION TO FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET OVERNIGHT. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH MAY BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN TO EXIT THE REGION BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATORS AND STORM SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SHOULD BE
AWARE OF POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS. ANY
REPORTS OF SUCH SHOULD BE REPORTED VIA OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/SHV.

ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-014-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-
108>112-124>126-138-051815-
SEVIER-HOWARD-LITTLE RIVER-HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-MILLER-LAFAYETTE-
COLUMBIA-UNION AR-CADDO-BOSSIER-WEBSTER-CLAIBORNE-LINCOLN-
UNION LA-OUACHITA-MCCURTAIN-RED RIVER-BOWIE-FRANKLIN-TITUS-CAMP-
MORRIS-CASS-WOOD-UPSHUR-MARION-HARRISON-
1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
ARKANSAS...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHEAST
TEXAS...GENERALLY NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND A COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE
WINDY CONDITIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS WILL
TRANSITION TO A COLD RAIN BY THIS AFTERNOON TO FURTHER TRANSITION
TO FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW LATE THIS EVENING AND
ESPECIALLY DURING THE OVERNIGHT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A QUARTER
OF AN INCH MAY BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW TO EXIT THE REGION BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATORS AND STORM SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SHOULD BE
AWARE OF ISSUES WITH EXPECTED ICE ACCUMULATIONS. ANY REPORTS OF
SUCH SHOULD BE REPORTED VIA OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/SHV.

24

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 winter storm, 10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Smith

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Smith forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.375, -95.269 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Gregg

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Gregg forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.481, -94.817 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Cherokee

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Cherokee forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.837, -95.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Rusk

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Rusk forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.108, -94.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Panola

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Panola forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.162, -94.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Nacogdoches

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.616, -94.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Shelby

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.792, -94.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Angelina

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Angelina forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.255, -94.612 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, San Augustine

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: San Augustine forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.394, -94.168 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Sabine

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Sabine forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.343, -93.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Red River

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Red River forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.621, -95.050 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bowie

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Bowie forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.446, -94.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.176, -95.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Titus

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Titus forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.217, -94.966 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morris

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.114, -94.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Camp

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Camp forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.973, -94.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cass

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.078, -94.344 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wood

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wood forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.786, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upshur

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Upshur forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.736, -94.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Harrison

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.548, -94.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marion

When: March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.798, -94.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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, March 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: 555179, 555180, 555181, 555182, 555183, 555184, 555185, 555186, 555187, 555188, 555569, 555570, 555571, 555572, 555573, 555574, 555575, 555576, 555578, 555579, 555580.