In advance of a slow moving upper low across Far West Texas, bands of freezing rain developed late in the afternoon on the second and spread northeast through much of the Rolling Plains accompanied by sleet and even thunderstorms at times. Many roads from Post east to Aspermont, and north to Dickens and Guthrie became icy after around 1/10 of an inch of ice accumulated.
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 LUB wrote it up.
In advance of a slow moving upper low across Far West Texas, bands of freezing rain developed late in the afternoon on the second and spread northeast through much of the Rolling Plains accompanied by sleet and even thunderstorms at times. Many roads from Post east to Aspermont, and north to Dickens and Guthrie became icy after around 1/10 of an inch of ice accumulated. During the overnight hours as the upper low tracked just north of the I-20 corridor, light snow developed mainly off the Caprock and continued to expand in coverage through the morning hours before waning late in the afternoon on the third. Some of this snow became heavy at times, especially in Hall County where up to 5 inches of wet snow accumulated in Memphis causing many traffic slowdowns from snow packed and slushy roads. In neighboring counties such as Childress, Motley, and Cottle, snowfall was generally one inch or less.
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 Jan 2, 2:58 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 258 PM CST Wed Jan 2 2019 .DISCUSSION... Next upper level low center has just crossed into NM and is looking just a bit more vigorous than it has the past day or so. Expansive dry air is noted along the southern periphery of the system which does not bode well for precip chances for WTX but more on that later. This system's track is consistently a bit further north today than what was portrayed in yesterday's solution with lifting of the low center until it gets to about 98W before it starts to dig a bit once again. By that time, it will be of little consequence for us. Broad ridging builds in for the start of the weekend which gives way to another neutrally tilted trough which passes on Monday. Somewhat higher amplitude ridging builds in for mid-week with southwesterly flow returning late-week at our latitude though much variance exist on the mean flow along the Canadian border. Precipitation has developed across the Organ/Sacramento range in central NM and this activity may bring a bit of light snow across our northwest later this evening. Amounts should remain rather light. West of the Caprock, it's conceivable that 1" accumulations could be seen though confidence is particularly low in where and if this will actually occur given the across-the-board performance of NWP over the past few days. East of the escarpment, where available moisture could feed the trowal more efficiently, 2" totals could be seen although admittedly, confidence in widespread totals of this nature is not very high either. Nevertheless, it's a wait and see game. Have cancelled the winter storm watch given no supporting data for 4"+ totals and will hold off on any further highlights at this time deferring to later shifts to handle any threats as they become apparent. Into the day tomorrow, the concern will shift to areas under the trowal associated with the upper low. If sufficient mid level moisture can get pulled into the trowal (around 305K) then snow enhancement potential will exist. This is the reasoning behind the residual totals along our eastern boundary. But, as I keep saying, there are a lot of "ifs" in the snow forecast. Along that thread comes another and that is for high temps. Would expect temps to remain pretty chilly right under the core but a changeover to rain would obviously limit snowfall potential as well. Looking beyond this system, fairly tame weather is expected over the weekend as temperatures quickly warm. Windy conditions are still expected on Monday with perhaps some elevated fire weather conditions. RH values don't look terribly low at this point && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 26/99
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lubbock TX 238 PM CST Wed Jan 2 2019 TXZ021>044-030845- Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale- Floyd-Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King- Yoakum-Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall- 238 PM CST Wed Jan 2 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains, Rolling Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle. .DAY ONE...Tonight A light wintry mix of rain, sleet and some accumulating snow is possible in South Plains, Rolling Plains and extreme southwestern Texas Panhandle tonight. The most likely time for accumulating snow will be later this evening into tomorrow morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Some accumulating snowfall is possible for the Rolling Plains through tomorrow morning, before diminishing in the afternoon. A return of windy, warm and dry conditions on Monday could lead to an increase in fire weather concerns.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Freezing rain glazed over Highway 84 near Justiceburg. Minor car accidents reported.
Freezing rain caused slick roads.
Freezing rain caused slick roads.
Freezing rain caused slick roads.
Freezing rain caused slick roads.
Up to 5 inches of snow was measured in the city of Memphis.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2019
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: 791582, 791578, 791579, 791580, 791581, 791583.