A cold Canadian airmass moved into West Central Texas on December 7, dropping temperatures into the lower 30s. Then, a deep upper trough of low pressure moved across the area early Saturday morning, resulting in snowfall amounts mostly from 1 to 3 inches along and west of a line from Bronte to Abilene to Throckmorton.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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.
A cold Canadian airmass moved into West Central Texas on December 7, dropping temperatures into the lower 30s. Then, a deep upper trough of low pressure moved across the area early Saturday morning, resulting in snowfall amounts mostly from 1 to 3 inches along and west of a line from Bronte to Abilene to Throckmorton.
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 8, 5:36 AM CST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Angelo TX 536 AM CST Sat Dec 8 2018 .AVIATION... /12Z TAFS/ LIFR/IFR conditions with areas of light to moderate rain will continue through 15Z, with rain decreasing 15Z-21Z, conditions lifting to MVFR around 17Z-22Z, and then becoming primarily VFR conditions 22Z Today to 06Z Sun. VFR conditions will then continue through 12Z Sun. Rain will end by 00Z Sun. There's a chance for frozen precipitation (snow/sleet) in the northern half of the forecast area through 00Z Sun (although best chances will be before 18Z), with best chances for frozen precip being in the Big Country. Winds will be from the N to NW at 7-12 KT through 00Z Sun, with winds weakening after 00Z Sun. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 358 AM CST Sat Dec 8 2018/ SHORT TERM... (Today and Tonight) Water vapor satellite shows an upper level trough moving east into the Panhandle of Texas, and radar imagery shows a shield of precipitation associated with this trough over the Permian Basin, with some clusters of showers moving into the Big Country and Concho Valley. The nearest observations of frozen precipitation are just west of our forecast area in Snyder, where light snow was reported with a temperature of 32 degrees. In our Big Country and northwest Concho Valley, temperatures were mostly above freezing, at around 33- 35 degrees, and models indicate temperatures staying at around this level until at least sunrise. Thus, precipitation until then will be mainly rain across those areas, with just a small chance for freezing rain or sleet. As the cold core of the trough moves into West Central Texas after sunrise through the rest of the morning, there's a better shot of frozen precipitation and accumulating snow to occur in those same areas. However, confidence isn't as high in much (if any) accumulating snow where we currently have Winter Weather Advisories in effect, due to latest models having shown a slight warming trend. Nevertheless, if the models end up being too warm by just a couple degrees, then that would make a big difference in the precipitation type and potential impacts, so will keep the Advisory in effect for now. Elsewhere, rain will likely be the only mode of precipitation. Generally, additional precipitation amounts in the range of 0.05-0.15 inches, with local amounts up to 0.30 inches, are expected through this afternoon. Precipitation chances end by early evening as the trough axis moves east. Highs today will only reach into the mid 30s to mid 40s, with lows tonight in the upper 20s to low 30s. SJH LONG TERM... (Sunday through Friday) Looks like quiet weather early this week through Wednesday as surface high pressure will mainly dominate. It will be cold Monday morning with lows in the mid to upper 20s and possibly a few degrees colder in river valleys and low lying areas. The next upper level trough will dig southeast into the Southern Plains by Thursday. Looks mainly dry for West Central Texas with this system due to mid level dry slot over the area. Also, have increase wind speeds and temperatures over NBM. Highs will be in the mid to upper 60s Thursday across southeast counties. Cooler and dry on Friday with highs in the 50s. 21 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 38 29 47 28 / 90 0 0 0 San Angelo 42 29 52 26 / 70 0 0 0 Junction 45 31 53 27 / 40 5 0 0 Brownwood 40 30 49 27 / 70 5 0 0 Sweetwater 37 29 47 29 / 80 0 0 0 Ozona 43 29 53 28 / 40 0 0 0 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST today for Coke-Fisher- Haskell-Jones-Nolan-Shackelford-Sterling-Taylor-Throckmorton. && PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...SJH/21 AVIATION 12Z TAFS...SJH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service San Angelo TX 540 AM CST Sat Dec 8 2018 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-091145- 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- 540 AM CST Sat Dec 8 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of west central Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A Winter Weather Advisory continues through noon today for locations generally along and west of a line from Sterling City to Abilene to Throckmorton. A mix of snow, rain and sleet will be possible. Snow accumulations of a half inch to an inch are possible. This could result in hazardous travel conditions. Bridges and elevated areas may be icy. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The threat for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 2 inches of snow in Sweetwater. The Nolan County Sheriff's department reported vehicles sliding off the roadways in and around Sweetwater, including Interstate 20.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 3 inches of snow in Abilene. This is also an all time record snowfall.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 4 inches of snow in Anson and 2 inches in Stamford.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 2 inches of snow in Weinert.|A photograph from Facebook showed a measurement of 3 inches in Haskell.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 1.5 inches of snow at Fort Griffin State Park.
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer measured 1.5 inches of snow in Throckmorton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2018
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: 789125, 789124, 789127, 789128, 789129, 789130.