Texas, 2020Winter Weather in Texas, January 28, 2020
January 28, 2020 · NWS AMA · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
A fast-moving low pressure system moved northeast across the Texas Panhandle during the evening of the 27th and early morning hours of the 28th. While snowfall totals remained below 6 inches, a band of snow developed across the northwest to north-central Texas Panhandle within the wrap-around moisture of the low.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
A fast-moving low pressure system moved northeast across the Texas Panhandle during the evening of the 27th and early morning hours of the 28th. While snowfall totals remained below 6 inches, a band of snow developed across the northwest to north-central Texas Panhandle within the wrap-around moisture of the low. Multiple reports of vehicles sliding off the road were received, along with a few reports of reduced visibility from blowing snow.
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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 27, 11:40 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 11:40 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1140 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020
.AVIATION...
For the 06Z TAFs, deteriorating weather conditions will continue
into Tuesday morning as an upper level storm system tracks across
the southern high plains. KGUY, KDHT, and KAMA will be impacted.
Expect precipitation to begin as light rain, transitioning to a
mix of light rain and light snow, and then eventually all light
snow overnight through Tuesday morning. Greatest snowfall
accumulation is forecast to occur at KGUY, followed by KDHT, with
KAMA expected to have minimal snowfall accumulation at this time.
In addition, gusty north winds may result in areas of blowing
snow. Improving weather is expected beginning late Tuesday morning
through the afternoon, leading to VFR conditions at the TAF sites
by mid to late afternoon.
02
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 1018 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020/
UPDATE...
Based on the latest model trends offered by the 00Z NAM, HRRR,
and other hi-res models plus early panels of the 00Z GFS, we have
expanded the Winter Weather Advisory west to include the western
Oklahoma Panhandle and northwest Texas Panhandle from 06Z tonight
until 18Z Tuesday. Will also have to watch any southward trends to
the accumulating snow. If this happens, parts of the southern
Texas Panhandle may need consideration for inclusion in the
Winter Weather Advisory. The new WSW bulletin plus updated public
products have been issued.
02
PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 604 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020/
AVIATION...
For the 00Z TAFs, deteriorating weather conditions are expected
this evening into Tuesday morning as an upper level storm system
tracks across the southern high plains. KGUY, KDHT, and KAMA will
be impacted. Expect precipitation to begin as light rain,
transitioning to a mix of light rain and light snow, and then
eventually all light snow late tonight into Tuesdqy morning.
Greatest snowfall accumulation is forecast to occur at KGUY,
followed by KDHT, with KAMA expected to have little to no snowfall
accumulation. Conditions will improve beginning late Tuesday
morning through the afternoon.
02
PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 337 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020/
SHORT TERM...Tonight through Tuesday...
The H5 shortwave trough that will be bringing precipitation to the
area has now positioned over the Four Corners Region down through
the New Mexico Boot Heel. As the shortwave trough gets to this
side of the Rocky Mountains a leeside low will develop over the
area. High PoPs are in the forecast across the area with PoPs
increasing in coverage from northwest to southeast starting around
6 PM and picking up by midnight. Warm temperatures today with a
weak cold front associated with the system will be a challenge to
get snow accumulations as temperatures at the surface are
expected to linger around 32 degrees. This is making it difficult
to determine how much snow will actually accumulate.
Areas in the north may see rain change to snow between midnight
and 3 AM. While areas further south like Amarillo may not see any
snow until between 6 AM and 8 AM Tuesday. Most of the models are
in agreement on the best chances for temperatures cold enough for
snow accumulations, remains in the central to eastern Oklahoma
Panhandle to include the two rows of Texas Counties south of
there. As of right now the greatest potential for accumulations
will be in Beaver county Oklahoma and north into Kansas, where up
to 5 inches with isolated higher amounts are possible in Beaver
County. Other counties west and south of Beaver County that are
in a Winter Weather Advisory have the potential to see between 1
and 3 inches of accumulations.
As the surface low passes to the southeast winds on the northwest
quadrant of the low are expected to become northerly with speeds
around 30 mph with higher gust by 6 AM in the morning. Winds are
expected to stay northerly tomorrow with speeds 20 to 30 mph in
the west and 15 to 25 mph in the east.
Hoffeditz
LONG TERM...Tuesday Night through Sunday...
The extended period is much quieter with very little going on. The
low pressure system that brings us snow tonight will push east out
of the area. Wednesday will see northwest flow aloft turn back to
the southwest by nightfall. The next upper level low digs into the
southwest US and looks to bowling ball across the El Paso, San
Angelo/southern Lubbock areas. This will leave the Panhandles dry
for the next round with just a wind shift on Friday as the cold
front pushes through. The temps will be warmer on Friday though as
things rebound from the snow being gone. Temps will continue
increasing to above climo over the weekend. We may see temps come
into the low 70s in some places.
Beat
&&
.AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
TX...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Tuesday for the following
zones: Dallam...Hansford...Hartley...Hemphill...
Hutchinson...Lipscomb...Moore...Ochiltree...Roberts...
Sherman.
OK...Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Tuesday for the following
zones: Beaver...Cimarron...Texas.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 27, 10:30 PM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1030 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020
OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-281200-
Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb-
Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson-
Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth-
Palo Duro Canyon-
1030 PM CST Mon Jan 27 2020
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles.
.DAY ONE...Rest of Tonight.
Light to moderate snow accumulations are expected tonight across
the Oklahoma Panhandle and the northern Texas Panhandle. A Winter
Weather Advisory is in effect for this area through tonight.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.
Accumulating snows will end by around noon Tuesday across the
Oklahoma Panhandle and the northern Texas Panhandle. A Winter
Weather Advisory is in effect until noon CST Tuesday for this
area. Total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 5 inches are
anticipated. The overall highest total snowfall accumulations
are expected across the eastern Oklahoma Panhandle and the far
northeast Texas Panhandle, where isolated total amounts to 6
inches may occur.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
02
Winter Weather, Moore
- When
- January 28, 1:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- Moore forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 35.838, -101.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An estimated 4 to 5 inches of snow fell from 3 miles northwest of Dumas to 1 mile east-northeast of Cactus. Multiple vehicles slid off roadways due to the slippery conditions, and reduced visibility from blowing snow was reported. U.S. Highway 287 was shut down following multiple tractor-trailers and a bus sliding off the road.
Winter Weather, Hansford
- When
- January 28, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
- Where
- Hansford forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 36.278, -101.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Five inches of snow with drifting over the roadway was reported along Texas State Highway 136 north of Gruver near the Oklahoma state line.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Rip Current in Puerto Rico, January 28, 20201 death · 1 event
- Debris Flow in Washington, January 28 to 31, 2020$100,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, January 28 to 29, 202028 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, January 28 to 29, 202069 kt wind · 7 events
- Dense Fog in California, January 28, 20204 events
- High Wind in California, January 28 to 29, 202070 kt wind · 3 events
- Winter Storm in Oklahoma, January 28, 20202 events
- Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, January 28, 20202 events
- Winter Weather in Texas, January 28, 20202 events
- Heavy Snow in Kansas, January 28 to 29, 20201 event
- Tornado in Texas, January 28, 2020$2,000 · EF0 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 28, 20201 event
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: 874045, 873688.