The first in a series of Arctic Cold Fronts arrived during the 12th pushing tide levels down along the coast, however the subfreezing temperatures and winter weather did not arrive until the 14th. The event on the 14th began at many places as a light glaze of freezing rain, but quickly changed over to sleet or snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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 LCH wrote it up.
The first in a series of Arctic Cold Fronts arrived during the 12th pushing tide levels down along the coast, however the subfreezing temperatures and winter weather did not arrive until the 14th. The event on the 14th began at many places as a light glaze of freezing rain, but quickly changed over to sleet or snow. Another round of winter weather occurred on the 17th, however this round was mainly freezing rain. The long duration event set many records in the area and rivaled the historic freezes of the region. The event was likely the longest and coldest since December 1989. Interior sections of Southeast Texas saw lows in the single digits and mid teens were recorded at the coast during the coldest night.
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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 12, 9:41 AM CST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
941 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021
.UPDATE...
Updated the pop grids to reflect current radar obs. Light
showers will continue through the morning. Overcast skies will
keep temperatures low for the duration of the day.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 38 32 41 28 / 60 40 20 20
LCH 40 37 45 34 / 50 40 20 30
LFT 40 39 46 35 / 60 50 40 20
BPT 41 38 46 35 / 50 40 20 30
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for GMZ450-452-
455-470-472-475.
Small Craft Exercise Caution until 9 PM CST this evening for
GMZ430-432-435.
&&
PUBLIC...87Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-131100- Vernon-Rapides-Avoyelles-Beauregard-Allen-Evangeline-St. Landry- Calcasieu-Jefferson Davis-Acadia-Lafayette-Upper St. Martin- Vermilion-Iberia-St. Mary-Lower St. Martin-West Cameron-East Cameron- Tyler-Hardin-Jefferson-Orange-Northern Jasper-Northern Newton- Southern Jasper-Southern Newton- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Patchy light rain will occur today and tonight. There is a chance that freezing rain may occur from interior Southeast Texas through Central Louisiana this morning and late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Regional temperatures will remain below normal through the end of next week. Multiple periods of wintry weather may be possible away from the coast, however all locations may experience freezing rain Monday. A severe freeze is expected Tuesday morning with low to mid 20s possible at the coast and teens possible well inland. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report ice amounts. GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-131100- Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA out 20 NM-Waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA from 20 to 60 NM- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory. A strong offshore flow will be in place today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. A moderate to strong offshore flow will remain in place through most of next week as Arctic high pressure moves across the country. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ430-432-435-131100- Sabine Lake-Calcasieu Lake-Vermilion Bay- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A strong offshore flow will be in place today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Small craft should exercise caution Friday morning. Additional hazards are possible through Monday. A moderate to strong offshore flow will remain in place through most of next week as Arctic high pressure moves across the country. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter storm, 8 ice storm, 1 astronomical low tide. Local standard time, as filed.
The tide levels along the coast at Sabine Pass fell below -1 foot MLLW for around 1 hour. The minimum tide level fell to -1.1 MLLW.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Jefferson County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from around half an inch on the coast to near 2 inches north of Beaumont. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous. A 65 year old man in Labelle died from hypothermia due to exposure.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Hardin County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 2 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Tyler County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 2 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Jasper County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Jasper County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Orange County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 2 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Newton County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Temperatures fell through the afternoon and evening across Newton County as showers developed. Rain turned to freezing rain during the evening and then quickly over to sleet. Light snow mixed in by the end of the event. Accumulations ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Bridges and overpasses became iced and closed. Most roads were hazardous.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain moved into the region during the early morning of the 17th. Ice accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch occurred coating the already in place sleet and snow from the event just 2 days prior. This also created more hazardous driving conditions.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Storm, Jefferson | 2021-02-21 | 65 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2021
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: 943337, 943342, 943349, 943350, 943351, 943352, 943347, 943353, 943354, 943358, 943363, 943365, 943367, 943368, 943360, 943369, 943370.