An arctic cold front brought freezing temperatures to a large part of West Central Texas. Then, as light freezing drizzle fell across the area on the morning of December 30th and continued into New Years Eve morning, it made many roads and bridges icy across a large part of West Central Texas along and north of a line from Mertzon to San Angelo to Brady.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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 SJT wrote it up.
An arctic cold front brought freezing temperatures to a large part of West Central Texas. Then, as light freezing drizzle fell across the area on the morning of December 30th and continued into New Years Eve morning, it made many roads and bridges icy across a large part of West Central Texas along and north of a line from Mertzon to San Angelo to Brady.
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 San Angelo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 30, 4:28 AM CST, 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Angelo TX 428 AM CST Sat Dec 30 2017 .SHORT TERM... (Today and Tonight) Low clouds and fog cover much of West Central Texas early this morning. Arctic front is making quick progress across the Panhandle and Western Oklahoma, and will make a run into the Big Country to near I-20 by sunrise. With temperatures falling to freezing behind the front, may see a short lived episode of freezing drizzle and/or freezing fog across the central and northern Big Country. Drier air looks like it will move into the area for the afternoon, and although temperatures will continue to fall, looks like the freezing precip will come to an end briefly. Farther south, the arctic front will move across the remainder of West Central Texas. Highs will come early in the day, with temperatures falling behind it. For tonight, the NAM continues to show isentropic lift redeveloping over the arctic boundary as early as mid evening north of I-20 and then spreading south into the Concho Valley and Heartland overnight. Lift is fairly weak, but doesn't take much freezing drizzle to cause problems with temperatures falling below the 30 degree mark. Reinforcing arctic front plunges into the area right around sunrise and temperatures begin to drop once again. .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Saturday) Another strong cold front will move through on Sunday morning bringing a reinforcing shot of cold air into the region. Primary concerns are going to be the slight chance for freezing drizzle on Sunday. Areas at risk include location that are north of the Interstate 10 corridor. Some slick spots may develop on bridges and overpasses as high temperatures are expected to stay below freezing in those areas. Additionally, there appears to be a model consensus that another band of precipitation will move in from the northwest and pass across the Interstate 10 corridor on Monday. Conditions are favorable for a mixture of freezing rain and sleet. Once again, some bridges and overpasses may become slick. Otherwise, the other main concern is the bitterly cold low temperatures on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. Temperatures in the teens are largely expected with some single digits being possible across the Big Country on Monday and Tuesday morning in particular. A gradual warming trend is expected to begin on Wednesday with temperatures reaching into the 50s by Saturday afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 38 26 28 11 / 10 10 20 5 San Angelo 45 32 32 18 / 5 10 20 10 Junction 53 37 38 20 / 0 10 20 20 Brownwood 46 29 30 16 / 10 10 20 10 Sweetwater 37 26 26 12 / 10 10 20 5 Ozona 54 38 38 20 / 0 10 20 10 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 07/41
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service San Angelo TX 327 AM CST Sat Dec 30 2017 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-310930- Fisher-Nolan-Sterling-Coke-Runnels-Irion-Tom Green-Concho- Crockett-Schleicher-Sutton-Haskell-Throckmorton-Jones-Shackelford- Taylor-Callahan-Coleman-Brown-McCulloch-San Saba-Menard-Kimble- Mason- 327 AM CST Sat Dec 30 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of west central Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Areas of freezing drizzle and freezing fog will be possible across portions of the Big Country this morning, and then spread to areas north of a San Angelo to Brownwood line later tonight. Although accumulations are not expected, icy spots may develop on area roadways, especially bridges and overpasses. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday An arctic airmass will filter into West Central Texas this weekend and into early next week, with wind chill readings dropping into the single digits for most of the area Sunday night and Monday night. There is also a chance for light wintry precipitation. Although widespread travel difficulties are not expected, icy spots on area roadways will be likely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle resulted in icy roadways across much of the region.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
Light freezing drizzle fell from the morning of the 30th through the morning of the 31st, resulting in icy roadways across the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2017
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: 732335, 732337, 732338, 732339, 732340, 732341, 732342, 732346, 732352, 732354, 732355, 732357, 732358, 732359, 732362, 732363.