S. brought about a shift to a colder weather pattern across the region.
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.
The development of a deep upper trough across the Central U.S. brought about a shift to a colder weather pattern across the region. A couple of rounds of light sleet and snow occurred across the southern half of the forecast area. Though there were many reports of wintry precipitation, little to no impacts occurred.
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 5, 10:03 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1003 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017 .UPDATE... After taking a look at the 00z NAM, what is in of the 00z GFS and the 01z run of the HRRR, am not planning on making significant changes to the afternoon forecast. Have lowered PoPs a little across the north for the overnight period where the layer of dry air will remain the deepest. Have kept the POPs high across Central Texas where a band of showers is already moving across the region. There has even been some lightning east of San Angelo and will have to keep an eye on that as we do not have thunder in the forecast at this time. It still looks like some sleet will be possible with temperatures remaining well above freezing overnight. Sorry to you snow-lovers but that -SN at Lampasas (KLZZ) is not actually snow. Forecast soundings when taking into account evaporative cooling will support some wintry mix Wednesday mainly south of US281 and along and west of the I-35 corridor but with temperature expected to be in the upper 30s to mid 40s, little is any travel issues are expected across Central Texas. 58 && .AVIATION... /Issued 653 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017/ Concerns...A light rain/sleet mix possible overnight through 18z Wednesday but surface temperatures are expected to only fall into the upper 30s. As of 00z, radar was already displaying reflectivity returns over the Trans-Pecos region into the western Hill Country and a band of light returns extending from southern New Mexico east into the western parts of North Texas. The 00z KFWD RAOB indicates that the atmosphere below 13000 feet is quite dry and the band of light returns to the west of the Metroplex is not likely reaching the ground. Although the returns over the Trans-Pecos into the western Hill Country are not going over many METAR sites at this time, this activity is composed of showers and a few thunderstorms and some of the rain is likely reaching the ground. As the precipitation continues to spread eastward, expect the atmosphere to gradually moisten. Some sprinkles/light rain are possible in the Metroplex by 10z and some sleet may mix in during the morning hours as denoted by the TEMPO -RAPL for the 11 to 15z period. Temperatures will remain well above freezing at the area TAF sites with some upper 30s expected 11z-16z Wednesday. Some light rain is expected during the afternoon before ending around 00z Thursday. Generally VFR conditions are expected with north winds 6 to 10 knots becoming northwest by 18z Thursday. At Waco, the light rain should start around 04z and a mix of light rain and sleet is possible after 06z. A rain/sleet mix is expected 12-18z as the atmospheric column cools as evaporative cooling occurs as the rain falls through the dry air. Light rain is expected after 18z with a light rain/snow mix possible. Have indicated VFR conditions through the forecast, but will likely have to lower ceilings into the MVFR category after 12z Wednesday with later updates. Some IFR conditions in precipitation Wednesday are not out of the question. Temperatures should fall into the upper 30s before daybreak but are NOT expected to reach freezing through 00z Thursday. 58 && .SHORT TERM... /Issued 320 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017/ /Tonight/ Wind speeds will diminish this evening as the surface high slides into the region, but isentropic lift above the surface layer will result in widespread rain across mostly Central Texas and parts of North Texas. The isentropic lift will occur ahead of a weakening shortwave disturbance that is currently located in southern California. Model guidance is in good agreement that precipitation should start to arrive into our western counties around or after 00Z (6 pm). However, this precipitation will have a layer of dry air below 800 mb (~6500 feet) to overcome before measurable precipitation reaches the ground, and it will more likely be between 03-06Z (9pm-12am) before we start receiving reports of rain reaching the ground. Forecast soundings continue to indicate light sleet may occasionally mix with the rain overnight tonight south and west of a line from Graham to Rockwall to Hearne. There is a fairly decent difference between the soundings on the temperature and wet-bulb temperature profile below about 700 mb, but the wet bulb temperature profile is close enough to or below zero at times down to just above the surface to introduce a slight chance of light sleet mixing with the rain after midnight. Surface temperatures will remain above freezing due to a lack of cold air advection and overcast skies; therefore, no impacts are expected due to frozen precipitation. Very little accumulations of sleet are possible in Central Texas, mainly west of Interstate 35, but it is more likely any sleet will quickly melt as it reaches the surface thus resulting in no accumulations. Overall, this event is expected to be very minimal in the grand scope of winter weather events. IF sleet is reported tonight at DFW Airport and/or Waco Airport, our two official climate sites, it will be the earliest observed snow/sleet since November 13, 2014 and November 23, 2013 respectively. JLDunn && .LONG TERM... /Issued 320 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017/ /Wednesday through next Tuesday/ A very energetic upper-air pattern will continue on Wednesday (and really through the weekend and beyond) as an exceptionally amplified ridge persists across the western CONUS and sharp longwave troughing prevails to its east. Several shortwave disturbances embedded within this troughing will be heading east into our region on Wednesday. These features will facilitate the persistence of forcing for ascent in the form of isentropic lift centered right around the 310 K theta surface Wednesday and into Wednesday evening. Before going any further into the details, we'll highlight the main point here that: while a mix of light wintry precipitation is possible for parts of the area, above- freezing surface temperatures will greatly limit any impacts to perhaps some very minor sleet/snow accumulations on grassy surfaces across parts of Central Texas. As we start the long term period on Wednesday morning, isentropic upglide across the I-20 corridor will start to be replaced by increasingly subsident air, resulting in slowly diminishing precipitation chances into the early afternoon hours. While the atmospheric column above 700 mb will be nearly saturated, much drier air will be present in the lowest 5 kft or so. As a combination of ice and water fall through this dry layer, diabatic cooling due to a combination of evaporation and sublimation will allow the thermodynamic profile to continue to cool towards the wet bulb temperature. Given wet bulb zero heights perhaps just 1-2 kft off the surface, we'll continue to advertise a slight chance for a bit of sleet to mix in with the rain for locations west of I-45 and south of a Graham to Rockwall line through the morning hours on Wednesday. Isentropic downglide looks to gradually take control of the weather along and north of the I-20 corridor late Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon, which will shunt the highest precipitation chances south of I-20 and across Central Texas into the evening hours. Temperatures across the northern half of the CWA will likely manage to climb into the lower to middle 50s as precipitation ends, while temperatures will stay steady or even slowly fall to the south where precipitation persists. By late Wednesday morning, top-down moistening should send enough of the thermal profile (above 5 kft) below freezing to result in a mixture of rain and snow for locations south of a Breckenridge to Waxahachie line and west of I-45 through Wednesday evening. Even the coldest model solutions continue to depict temperatures remaining above freezing through the duration of precipitation, with wet bulb temperatures remaining in the mid 30s. As such, while some VERY MINOR accumulations of snow are possible on grassy surfaces, roadways are just expected to remain wet. As always, precautions should be taken while driving on any elevated roads or bridges when roadways become wet. Precipitation chances will linger Wednesday night across our far southern counties, but will be on the downswing as drier and more subsident air slowly moves in from the north. It's possible that future shifts may be able to remove precipitation chances overnight Wednesday and into Thursday given the degree of downglide progged to swing through. Below normal temperatures on Thursday and Friday (in the 40s to near 50 Thursday, and in the 50s Friday) will moderate into the 60s over the weekend and into next week as the core of the coldest continental polar airmass heads well east of Texas. Another cold front is slated to move into the region next Tuesday, but latest indications are this will come through dry as it moves into an airmass parched of lower-level moisture. Carlaw && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 41 51 37 50 31 / 20 20 10 0 0 Waco 38 38 36 51 31 / 80 80 30 10 0 Paris 38 53 33 46 26 / 10 10 5 0 0 Denton 38 51 33 48 28 / 20 20 5 0 0 McKinney 37 52 34 48 28 / 20 10 5 0 0 Dallas 41 52 37 50 32 / 20 20 10 0 0 Terrell 39 50 35 51 27 / 20 20 10 5 0 Corsicana 40 46 37 51 30 / 60 50 20 10 0 Temple 39 39 37 51 31 / 90 90 50 20 5 Mineral Wells 38 48 32 48 27 / 20 30 10 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 58/25
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 320 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-061300- 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- 320 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a slight chance for light sleet to mix with the rain late tonight south and west of a line from Graham to Rockwall to Hearne. No accumulations are expected overnight, however, caution is always advised on elevated roads and bridges when wintry precipitation is occurring. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There is a chance for light sleet or light snow to mix with the rain Wednesday morning west of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 20. On Wednesday afternoon and night, some light snow may mix with the rain across parts of Central Texas. No accumulations are expected at this time, however, caution is always advised on elevated roads and bridges when wintry precipitation is occurring. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time but reports of observed wintry precipitation are appreciated.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1116 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017 TXZ115>117-129>134-141>146-156>161-174-175-061430- Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell-Johnson- Ellis-Comanche-Mills-Hamilton-Bosque-Hill-Navarro-Lampasas- Coryell-Bell-McLennan-Falls-Limestone-Milam-Robertson- Including the cities of Breckenridge, Mineral Wells, Weatherford, Briar, Cisco, Eastland, Ranger, Gorman, Stephenville, Dublin, Granbury, Oak Trail Shores, Glen Rose, Cleburne, Burleson, Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Comanche, De Leon, Goldthwaite, Hamilton, Hico, Clifton, Meridian, Valley Mills, Hillsboro, Corsicana, Lampasas, Copperas Cove, Gatesville, Killeen, Temple, Fort Hood, Waco, Marlin, Mexia, Groesbeck, Cameron, Rockdale, Hearne, Franklin, and Calvert 1116 PM CST Tue Dec 5 2017 ..A wintry mix is possible across Central Texas and parts of North Texas Wednesday and Wednesday night... Areas of light rain have developed across Central Texas and it may become mixed with light sleet at times before daybreak Wednesday and through the morning hours. Farther north, across North Texas, some light rain is expected to develop overnight and may become mixed with light sleet. The most probable location for sleet to mix with the rain tonight is south and west of a line from Graham to Rockwall to Hearne. No accumulations of sleet are expected due to above freezing surface temperatures. Temperatures are expected to continue to cool through the day Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, some light snow could mix with rain west of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 20, and continue across parts of Central Texas Wednesday night before all precipitation comes to an end. Surface temperatures are expected to remain in the mid 30s during this time, so any wintry precipitation should melt rather quickly. Any light accumulations on Wednesday would be confined to grassy or elevated surfaces. As always, precautions should be taken while driving on any elevated roads or bridges when wintry precipitation is occurring. WHAT... A wintry mix possible. WHERE... South and west of a line from Graham to Rockwall to Hearne. WHEN... Overnight Tuesday night through Wednesday night. AMOUNT... Little if any, mainly on grassy surfaces. IMPACTS... Precautions are always advised when driving on elevated roads and bridges when wintry precipitation is occurring.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Bosque County Sheriff's Department reported that sleet had fallen periodically across the county since the overnight hours, with only trace accumulations reported.
A public report indicated light sleet approximately 3 miles south-southeast of the city of Haslet, TX.
A public report of light sleet was received from the city of De Leon, TX.
Public and social media reports of sleet were received from Dublin, TX and just west of Chalk Mountain near the Somervell County line.
Several public reports of sleet were received across Bell County during the day of December 6, 2017.
Several public and social media reports of sleet were received across McLennan County the morning of December 6, 2017. Trace amounts were reported to have fallen.
Emergency management reported of sleet in the cities of Groesbeck, Shiloh, Marquez, and Mexia the morning of December 6, 2017. Trace amounts were reported to have fallen.
A social media report indicated sleet near the city of Abbott, TX, with only trace accumulations reported.
Lampasas County Sheriff's Department reported sleet in the city of Lometa, TX, with only trace amounts reported.
Reports from social media and a trained spotter indicated sleet near the city of Palestine, TX, with trace accumulations.
A broadcast media report indicated light sleet in the city of Leona, TX, with only trace accumulations.
Several reports of light snow were received across Tarrant County the morning of December 7, 2017. Only trace amounts were reported.
Reports from social media, broadcast media and emergency management indicated light snow across Denton County. Only trace accumulations were reported.
Reports from social media, broadcast media and trained spotters indicated light snow across Dallas County amounting to only trace accumulations.
Reports of light snow were obtained from a trained spotter and social media across Collin County. Only trace occumulations occurred.
A trained spotter reported sleet about a mile east of the city of Breckenridge, TX, amounting to trace accumulations.
Erath County Emergency Management reported light snow flurries at Tarleton State University.
A trained spotter and a social media report indicated snow grains in both Cleburne and Alvarado. No accumulations were reported.
Kaufman County Emergency Management reported sleet and snow in the city of Terrell, TX. Precipitation melted as it hit the ground.
A social media report indicated flurries in the city of Midlothian, TX.
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: 731578, 731579, 731580, 731581, 731582, 731583, 731584, 731585, 731586, 731587, 731588, 731525, 731573, 731575, 731576, 731577, 731890, 731891, 731892, 731893.