One last push of arctic air surged into Deep South Texas on February 19th and 20th as another strong arctic high settled in over the region. Though not as severe or prolonged as the earlier week freeze, this event still saw anomalously cold temperatures return to the region with the overwhelming majority of the area falling below freezing on both mornings of the 19th and 20th.
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 BRO wrote it up.
One last push of arctic air surged into Deep South Texas on February 19th and 20th as another strong arctic high settled in over the region. Though not as severe or prolonged as the earlier week freeze, this event still saw anomalously cold temperatures return to the region with the overwhelming majority of the area falling below freezing on both mornings of the 19th and 20th.
Unlike the prior events, conditions were drier in the low levels of the atmosphere, with mainly clear and breezy conditions on the 19th. Winds diminished by sunset that day, setting the stage for a frosty freeze early on the 20th.
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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 18, 7:14 PM CST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...DELAYED
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
Issued by National Weather Service San Juan PR
714 PM CST Thu Feb 18 2021
.DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.
&&
.AVIATION...Weather conditions are forecast to improve within the
next 24 hours, with a gradual increase in cloud ceilings through
19/18Z and clearing thereafter. Nonetheless, SCT-OVC ceilings at
FL015-025 and reduced visibility could result in brief periods of
MVFR conditions, particularly at KBRO through 19/09Z. Winds will
remain from the north at 10-16 knots through 19/18Z, decreasing to
5-10 knots thereafter.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued Issued by National Weather Service San Juan PR/
SHORT TERM (Tonight through Friday Night):
The Arctic high pressure continues to exert its influence over the
region overnight tonight. The pressure gradient across the region,
due to the ridge extending in from the north and a frontal boundary
over the Gulf of Mexico, will maintain breezy conditions, as well,
with winds out of the north. Sustained winds of around 10 to 15 mph
are expected to persist over land through the night. As a result,
cold air advection is anticipated. Additionally, the ridge will push
further south, leading to increased stability and subsidence over
the area; as such, some clear is anticipated overnight, especially
after midnight. This is likely to result in some additional
radiative cooling, contributing to the cold temperatures
anticipated. Therefore, temperatures in the 20s are forecast for
overnight tonight, and a hard freeze warning is in effect from
midnight tonight until 9 AM CST. And with wind chills, it will feel
even colder. Wind chills in the upper teens are likely for the
Brownsville area; in the ranchlands, wind chills are likely to be in
the range of 10 to 15F.
But, the clearing skies are not all bad news. It will contribute to
warming during the day tomorrow, and highs in the low to mid 50s are
expected; in portions of Zapata and Starr counties, highs in the mid
to upper 50s are possible. However, overnight tomorrow night, cold
conditions will return. In the ranchlands, low temperatures are
forecast to be below freezing - the upper 20s or low 30s. In coastal
areas and along the Rio Grande, temperatures around or above
freezing are forecast, in the low to mid 30s.
LONG TERM (Saturday through Thursday):
No changes have been made to the long-term forecast grids.
A warming trend is expected for the weekend. Diurnal heating will
help bring high temperatures into the 60s for Saturday, and to
around 70 for Sunday. And, low temperatures overnight are not
presently forecast to fall to near freezing; in fact, lows on
Saturday night into Sunday morning are forecast to be in the mid 40s
for the ranchlands, and in the low to mid 50s along coastal areas
and in the southern Rio Grande Valley. As the ridge continues its
march eastward, winds will also shift, becoming southeasterly by
Saturday. This is one of the major contributing factors to the
warmup for the weekend, as warm air advects into the region.
On Monday, the warming will stall somewhat, as a very weak cold
front passes through the region. High temperatures are still
forecast to reach the mid 60s to low 70s, however.
MARINE: Moderate to strong northerly winds between 15 and 25
knots will result in hazardous seas across the Gulf waters through
Friday afternoon, with wave heights expected to range between 6
and 10 feet. Therefore, Small Craft Advisories remain in effect.
Small Craft Advisories are also in effect for the Lagunas as the
strong northerly winds will result in rough conditions. Conditions
will become much more tranquil beginning late Friday and
continuing throughout the upcoming weekend.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 30 51 38 64 / 0 0 0 0
BROWNSVILLE 30 53 37 66 / 0 0 0 0
HARLINGEN 25 54 34 66 / 0 0 0 0
MCALLEN 29 55 34 67 / 0 0 0 0
RIO GRANDE CITY 27 57 31 68 / 0 0 0 0
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 37 49 44 61 / 10 0 0 0
&&
.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Hard Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for
TXZ248>255-351-353.
Wind Chill Advisory until noon CST Friday for TXZ248>257-351-353.
Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for
TXZ256-257.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM CST Friday for GMZ130-132-135.
Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Friday for GMZ150-155-170-
175.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV
ICP-SJUHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Brownsville TX Issued by National Weather Service San Juan PR 717 PM CST Thu Feb 18 2021 TXZ248>257-351-353-200130- Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo- Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Coastal Willacy-Coastal Cameron- Coastal Kenedy-Northern Hidalgo- 717 PM CST Thu Feb 18 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Deep South Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Hard Freeze Warning in effect for Zapata, Jim Hogg, Brooks, Inland Kenedy, Starr, Southern Hidalgo, Inland Willacy, Inland Cameron, Coastal Kenedy and Northern Hidalgo Counties. until 9 AM CST Friday. Freeze Warning in effect for Coastal Willacy and Coastal Cameron Counties until 9 AM CST Friday. Wind Chill Advisory in effect for all counties until 9 AM CST Friday. Very cold temperatures are expected tonight into Friday morning with lows in the 20s and to around 30 degrees along with northerly winds up to 20 mph, generating wind chill readings into the teens and 20s. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Another freeze is likely, especially across the northern Ranchlands, Friday night into early Saturday morning as temperatures drop below 30 degrees once again. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-200130- Laguna Madre from the Port of Brownsville to the Arroyo Colorado- Laguna Madre from the Arroyo Colorado To 5 NM north of Port Mansfield TX- Laguna Madre from 5 nm north of Port Mansfield to Baffin Bay TX- Coastal waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield out 20 nm- Waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande extending from 20 to 60 nm- Waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield extending from 20 to 60 nm- 717 PM CST Thu Feb 18 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of The Gulf of Mexico and The Laguna Madre. .DAY ONE...Tonight Small craft advisories in effect for the Gulf waters and Lagunas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Small craft advisories remain in effect for the Gulf waters through Friday afternoon due to hazardous seas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
24 frost/freeze. Local standard time, as filed.
Temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Brooks County around 10:30 PM on the 18th and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:30 AM on the 19th. The Brooks County Airport recorded a low temperature of 25 degrees, while the La Rucia Mesonet site recorded a low of 26 degrees.
Temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Jim Hogg County around 12:30 AM and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:30 AM on the 19th. The Hebbronville Airport recorded a low temperature of 25 degrees.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 1:30 AM on the 19th, and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low of 25 degrees was recorded at the Zapata Airport.
Temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Inland Kenedy County around 3:30 AM and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:30 AM on the 19th. The SARITA and ARMSTR Union Pacific Mesonet sites both recorded a low of 25 degrees.
Due to data outages across the region, it is estimated that temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Willacy County around 3:30 AM on the 19th, and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:30 AM. These times are estimated based off of nearby observations in adjacent portions of Cameron, Hidalgo, and Kenedy Counties. Lows in the lower 30s to upper 20s are estimated.
Based off of observations from Inland Kenedy and Coastal Kleberg Counties, temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Coastal Kenedy County around 4:00 AM and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:30 AM on the 19th. The nearby SARITA and ARMSTR Union Pacific Mesonet sites both recorded a low of 25 degrees, while some observations in Coastal Kleberg fell to 31 degrees.
Despite sparse and intermittent observation coverage, it is estimated that temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Coastal Willacy County around 4:00 AM and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:30 AM on the 19th. It is estimated that low temperatures fell into the upper 20s and lower 30s across the area. This is estimated from observations in adjacent Kenedy and Cameron Counties, as well as Inland Willacy.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 4:00 AM on the 19th, and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:30 AM. A low of 27 degrees was recorded at the Rancho Los Comitas Mesonet site, and a low of 28 degrees was recorded at the Falcon Lake RAWS site.
Despite sparse observation coverage, based off of observations from Inland Kenedy County and adjacent Kleberg County, it is estimated that temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Coastal Kenedy County around 4:00 AM and did not exceed 32 degrees again until 9:00 AM on the 19th. The nearby SARITA and ARMSTR Union Pacific Mesonet sites both recorded a low of 25 degrees.
Temperatures fell below freezing across Cameron County around 4:30 AM and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:00 AM on the 19th. Lows fell into the upper 20s and lower 30s across the area.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 5:30 AM on the 19th, and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low of 28 degrees was recorded at the San Manuel COOP site, and a low of 30 degrees was recorded at the Linn-San Manuel RAWS site.
Temperatures fell below freezing across northern portions of Southern Hidalgo County around 5:30 AM on the 19th, and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low of 28 degrees was recorded at Edinburg International Airport. The Mission CWOP site recorded a low of 30 degrees, and the Texas AgriScience TWDB site near Edcouch recorded a low of 31.
Temperatures fell below freezing across Coastal Cameron County from around 6:30 AM to about 8:30 AM. The Laguna Atascosa RAWS site fell to 31 degrees while the Laguna Vista CWOP site fell to 32 degrees.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 11:30 PM on the 19th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:30 AM on the 20th. A low temperature of 23 degrees was recorded at the Brooks County Airport.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 11:30 PM on the 19th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:30 AM on the 20th. A low temperature of 23 degrees was recorded at the SARITA Union Pacific Railroad Mesonet site, and a low of 29 degrees was recorded at the ARMSTR UPR site. Widespread frost likely joined the freeze for the duration of the event.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 11:30 PM on the 19th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 7:30 AM on the 20th. A low temperature of 25 degrees was recorded at the Ranco Los Comitas Mesonet site, and a low of 26 degrees was recorded at the Falcon Lake RAWS site.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 11:30 PM on the 19th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM on the 20th. A low temperature of 23 degrees was recorded at the Linn-San Manuel RAWS site, and a low of 28 degrees was recorded at the San Manuel COOP site.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 12:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low temperature of 28 degrees was recorded at the Hebbronville Airport.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 1:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low temperature of 27 degrees was recorded at the YTURIA Union Pacific Railroad Mesonet site. Widespread frost joined the cold temperatures for most of the time when temperatures were below freezing.
Despite sparse observation coverage in the area and based off of observations from Inland Willacy as well as other adjacent counties, it is estimated that temperatures fell below freezing around 2:00 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:00 AM. A low temperature of 27 degrees was recorded at the nearby YTURIA Union Pacific Railroad Mesonet site. Widespread frost likely joined the cold temperatures for nearly all of this event.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 2:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 9:00 AM. Lows fell into the lower 30s and upper 20s across the county. Widespread frost joined the cold temperatures, forming on roofs and vehicles under the clear skies prior to air temperatures falling below freezing, and as early as midnight; grass frost formed soon after.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 3:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 7:30 AM. Lows fell into the lower 30s and upper 20s across northern portions of Southern Hidalgo County.
Widespread frost joined the freezing temperatures for the entire event, likely beginning as early as midnight on vehicles, roofs, and grass.
Temperatures fell below freezing across portions of Coastal Cameron County around 3:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 7:30 AM. A low of 30 degrees was recorded at the Laguna Atascosa RAWS site. Widespread frost joined the freezing temperatures, likely beginning as soon as midnight on vehicles and roofs, with grass frost soon after.
Temperatures fell below freezing around 5:30 AM on the 20th and did not rise back above 32 degrees until around 8:30 AM. A low of 27 degrees was recorded at the Zapata Airport.
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: 944631, 944632, 944988, 944633, 944989, 944634, 944639, 944990, 945007, 944638, 944993, 944994, 944640, 944996, 944998, 945000, 945001, 945002, 945003, 945008, 945004, 945005, 945009, 945006.