A shallow arctic airmass moved into the West Central Texas on February 9, and continued to slowly move south across the region on February 10. Warm gulf moisture overran the frontal boundary and resulted in periods of widespread freezing drizzle across West Central Texas.
Every event with a place to put it; 24 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 shallow arctic airmass moved into the West Central Texas on February 9, and continued to slowly move south across the region on February 10. Warm gulf moisture overran the frontal boundary and resulted in periods of widespread freezing drizzle across West Central Texas.
Roads became covered with an icy glaze, making travel difficult. This ice also caused some power lines to sag in Nolan County. A traffic fatality was reported in Tom Green County on the morning of February 11.
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 Feb 9, 5:52 AM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Angelo TX 552 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 240 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 Early this morning, infrared satellite imagery showed low clouds spreading across the Big Country from the north and also moving into the Northwest Hill Country from the southeast. A cold front has made its way through most of the region, just now reaching the I-10 corridor. Expect the front to move through the I-10 corridor by sunrise. The stratus behind the cold front is rather low and there could be some fog that develops in the Big Country this morning, and freezing fog in the northern Big Country where temperatures will dip below freezing. Today, the front will push back to the northeast as a warm front, but not as far north as was previously forecast. Right now, hi-res models, which tend to do the best with front/boundary placement, place the warm front roughly from Barnhart to Junction by the afternoon, with highs in the mid 60s to upper 70s south of the front (I-10 corridor), and much cooler highs in the upper 30s/low 40s (Big Country) to mid 40s/mid 50s (Concho Valley/Heartland) north of the front. Expect skies to gradually clear across the western and southern counties today and partially clear elsewhere, before the widespread low clouds start re-develop across the eastern counties this evening and spread west overnight. The front tonight will probably push a little south and west, to a location roughly from Barnhart to Sonora, with lows in the mid to upper 50s south of the front (Northern Edwards Plateau), and lows in the low 30s (Big Country) to upper 30s/mid 40s (Concho Valley/Heartland/Northwest Hill Country) north of the front. Some enhanced isentropic lift tonight through the early morning hours Wednesday could result in drizzle across much of the region, and potentially freezing drizzle across the northern Big Country where temperatures will be at or below freezing. Also, patchy fog will likely re-develop as well (and freezing fog across the northern Big Country). && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 257 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 ...Arctic Air moves in Friday into the weekend... Cold air will continue to advect into the region Wednesday into Thursday. The NAM model usually does better with shallow cold air, so will trend toward its cooler temperatures. Interestingly the GFS also trends toward the colder temperatures, with the NBM being the warmer. Have mention of drizzle Wednesday morning with upslope east to northeast winds. An upper trough approaching from the west, will also bring a chance of precipitation, particularly Wednesday night into Thursday. Amounts will be light, but a mixture of rain, freezing rain and sleet is possible in the Big Country and Concho Valley...mainly late Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Models are better in agreement with a secondary surge of cold air Friday into Sunday. Lows in the teens are indicated in the Big Country Friday/Saturday mornings with 20s south. It will only get colder with highs Saturday in the mid 20s in the Big Country and 30s south. Single digits are expected Sunday morning, with wind chills from 0 to -11 F...as northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph combine with the cold temperatures. Highs Sunday may remain in the teens in the Big Country with 20s farther south. Light wintry precipitation of snow/sleet/freezing rain possible Saturday in the Big Country, but there is a better chance of light snow late Sunday night into Monday across much of West Central Texas as yet another upper trough moves across. Soundings are well below freezing so mainly looking for snow. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 538 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 LIFR to local VLIFR conditions will continue to expand across the forecast area through 15Z, then conditions will gradually improve to mainly VFR (except across some eastern counties where MVFR conditions may linger) through 00Z Wed. 00Z Wed to 06Z Wed, MVFR to IFR CIGs will quickly re-develop across the forecast area, then mainly become IFR through 12Z Wed, with patchy drizzle and patchy fog developing as well. N to NE to E winds of 6-11 KT will occur through 12Z Wed. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 41 33 42 27 / 5 10 20 40 San Angelo 53 43 46 35 / 0 5 20 60 Junction 64 46 50 40 / 0 5 20 70 Brownwood 43 38 39 30 / 0 10 20 60 Sweetwater 44 34 41 26 / 0 5 20 30 Ozona 72 56 60 41 / 0 5 20 60 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...SJH LONG TERM....04 AVIATION...SJH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service San Angelo TX 428 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-101200- 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- 428 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of west central Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Areas of freezing fog are possible this morning, mainly north of a Sweetwater to Abilene to Albany line. Tonight, patchy freezing fog and freezing drizzle will be possible north of a Sweetwater to Clyde line. There is a small chance of very light ice accumulations on some bridges and overpasses. Otherwise, no impacts expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Expect frigid temperatures Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the 20s to 30s Saturday, and teens to 20s Sunday. Lows will be in the single digits to low teens Sunday and Monday mornings, with wind chills ranging from the low single digits to several degrees below zero. A light mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet is possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning, north of the I-10 corridor. Little to no accumulation is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service San Angelo TX 318 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-101100- 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- Including the cities of Gannon, Sweetwater, Broome, Sterling City, Robert Lee, Sanco, Silver, Bronte, Tennyson, Ballinger, Benoit, Hatchel, Rowena, Crews, Winters, Pumphrey, Barnhart, Arden, Mertzon, Sherwood, Carlsbad, San Angelo, Wall, Eden, Live Oak, Lowake, Ozona, Eldorado, Sonora, Irby, Haskell, Throckmorton, Woodson, Stamford, Stith, Anson, Funston, Truby, Tuxedo, Hamlin, Albany, Abilene, Clyde, Eula, Dudley, Baird, Cross Plains, Coleman, Echo, Fisk, Valera, Voss, Trickham, Brownwood, Indian Creek, Brady, Fife, Lohn, Rochelle, Voca, Chappel, Cherokee, Harkeyville, San Saba, Erna, Fort Mckavett, Hext, Menard, Cleo, Junction, London, Roosevelt, Segovia, Telegraph, Fredonia, Katemcy, Koockville, Loyal Valley, Mason, Pontotoc, and Streeter 318 AM CST Tue Feb 9 2021 ...FRIGID AIR TO MOVE INTO TEXAS THIS WEEKEND... ...CHANCES FOR WINTER PRECIPITATION AT TIMES... An air-mass originating from the Arctic will bring frigid temperatures to West Central Texas this weekend. Highs Saturday are currently forecast to be in the mid 20s in the Big Country, low to mid 30s in the Concho Valley and Heartland, and mid 30s to low 40s in the I-10 corridor. However, there are some indications that it could be significantly colder than this for Saturday afternoon. Then highs Sunday currently look to be in the upper teens in the Big Country, low to mid 20s in the Concho Valley and Heartland, and mid to upper 20s in the I-10 corridor. Once again, there's a chance that highs for Sunday could end up being several degrees colder than this, so stay tuned for further forecast updates. For Saturday and Sunday nights, expect lows to fall down into the single digits to low teens area-wide. Look for the frigid temperatures to continue on Monday before we finally warm up on Tuesday. Also, expect wind chills to reach the single digits to potentially several degrees below zero during the early morning hours Sunday and Monday, with the winds early Sunday morning being particularly breezy. Very cold conditions may burst pipes and may cause harm to pets left outside, sensitive plants, and any particularly cold sensitive livestock. Make sure they are properly sheltered and fed. If you have any outdoor sprinkler system still activated, now is the time to disable the system ahead of these very cold conditions. Low wind chills could cause frostbite. Dress in layers and cover your head if you plan on being outside. Remember to dress in layers and cover exposed skin. Do not remain outside for prolonged periods of time unless necessary. If you have travel plans, you are encouraged to check on the latest conditions and forecasts before you leave. Keep an extra blanket or two in your vehicles to remain warm in case you become stranded. Before the frigid temperatures arrive this weekend, well below normal temperatures are expected through Friday as cool air will continue to move in from the north. With temperatures reaching near to below freezing late tonight into Wednesday morning across the Big Country, freezing drizzle and freezing fog will be possible. For late Wednesday night through Thursday morning, a weak upper level system could bring some showers to the region, and with surface temperatures near or below freezing, a wintry mix of light rain, freezing rain and sleet could occur north of the I-10 corridor. Another weak system could bring some light snow showers to the Big Country Saturday morning. Any accumulations of ice, snow or sleet from these weak systems look to be very light. However, even light ice accumulation can cause hazardous driving conditions, especially on overpasses and bridges. A stronger system could bring a little heavier snowfall to all of West Central Texas Sunday night through Monday. You can stay up to date with our latest forecast by visiting our website at www.weather.gov/sjt, listening to our NOAA Weather Radio broadcast, by following National Weather Service San Angelo on Facebook and Twitter, and by following your local media outlets. SJH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
24 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice. On February 11, an 84 year old male lost control of his vehicle on the icy highway and rolled his truck and trailer into a borrow ditch on U.S. Highway 87 near Carlsbad at around 11 AM. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
Roads became covered with a glaze of ice.
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 Weather, Tom Green | 2021-02-11 | 84 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | 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: 940557, 940558, 940559, 940560, 940562, 940563, 940564, 940565, 940651, 940652, 940653, 940654, 940655, 940656, 940657, 940658, 940660, 940661, 940662, 940663, 940664, 940665, 940666, 940667.