The drought improved over a large part of West Central Texas as rain and snow brought much needed moisture to the area. However, parts of the Northwest Hill Country remained in a severe drought through January 19.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
The drought improved over a large part of West Central Texas as rain and snow brought much needed moisture to the area. However, parts of the Northwest Hill Country remained in a severe drought through January 19.
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 Dec 31, 10:25 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Angelo TX 1025 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday) Issued at 212 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 ...Winter Weather Ends... The winter weather will finally come to an end overnight tonight. The upper-level storm system will slowly move toward the east and northeast. As it does, the winter precipitation will end, across West Central Texas. For now, given low confidence regarding how quickly this system will exit West Central Texas, maintaining the Winter Storm Warning, for all of West Central Texas, through the original expiration times, looks best. Otherwise, New Year's Day will be relatively cold, with surface winds, from the northwest continuing, and afternoon highs well below usual New Year's Day highs. && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through next Thursday) Issued at 212 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 ...Dry with a Slow Warm Up... The long-term forecast remains dry, with a warm-up, which will be slow to begin. Afternoon highs won't be back above seasonal normals, until Monday; that's when surface winds finally return, from the west and southwest. Surface winds, from the south, really increase on Tuesday, and that will help create afternoon highs some 5 to 10 degrees above usual early January highs. On Wednesday, another weak cold front move across West central Texas, and bring surface winds, from the northwest, along with slightly cooler temperatures. This will stall the warming trend slightly, on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the warming trend resumes Thursday, when afternoon highs will again reach above usual early January highs. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1025 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 Bands of light to moderate snow across the Big Country and northern Heartland counties will continue to move northeast through 09Z before exiting the region. IFR to MVFR CIGs, with areas of IFR to LIFR/VLIFR VIS, will gradually improve to VFR from southwest to northeast through 19Z. By 19Z, expect VFR conditions everywhere through 06Z Sat. Gusty N to NW winds of 12-15 KT with gusts of 20-24 KT will weaken after 08Z. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 30 41 28 49 / 100 0 0 0 San Angelo 29 42 24 48 / 80 0 0 0 Junction 29 42 22 52 / 70 0 0 0 Brownwood 30 40 25 52 / 90 0 0 0 Sweetwater 28 43 30 48 / 90 0 0 0 Ozona 25 38 23 45 / 70 0 0 0 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for Brown-Callahan- Coleman-Concho-Fisher-Haskell-Jones-Mason-McCulloch-Runnels-San Saba-Shackelford-Taylor-Throckmorton. Winter Storm Warning until midnight CST tonight for Coke- Crockett-Irion-Kimble-Menard-Nolan-Schleicher-Sterling-Sutton- Tom Green. && SHORT TERM...04 LONG TERM....23 AVIATION...SJH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service San Angelo TX 214 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-012015- 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- 214 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of west central Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Winter storm watches are in effect through tonight. A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow will transition to mainly snow late afternoon and tonight. Snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are likely, with up to 6 inches in the Big Country. This will create hazardous driving conditions. The wintry precipitation will end by midnight in the Concho Valley southward to the Interstate 10 corridor, but slick roadways are expected to continue...as rain and melted snow refreezes with temperatures in the 20s. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Slick and icy bridges and overpasses are possible through mid morning Friday. The threat for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
702 PM CST THU DEC 31 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0702 PM SNOW ELDORADO 30.86N 100.60W
12/31/2020 M3.0 INCH SCHLEICHER TX PUBLIC
&&
KBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
856 PM CST THU DEC 31 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0855 PM SNOW STERLING CITY 31.84N 100.98W
12/31/2020 E8.0 INCH STERLING TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
ESTIMATE OF 6-8 INCHES IN STERLING COUNTY.
&&
SJHSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service San Angelo TX 926 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-010530- 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, Drasco, 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 926 PM CST Thu Dec 31 2020 ...Winter Storm Warning In Effect... A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect across all of west central Texas until 6 AM CST Friday. The highest snowfall totals have been 6 to 8 inches across the Sterling City area. Otherwise, most areas have seen 1 to 4 inches of snow. You can expect additional moderate to heavy snow over the next few hours across areas north of a San Angelo to Brady line. We have also received reports of icy or snowy road conditions across much of our area. Many roads will continue to deteriorate with slick spots resulting from the additional snowfall. Slick conditions will remain in place for a few more hours across areas near Interstate 10 despite the snowfall moving off to the north. For the latest road conditions, please check out drivetexas.org.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
1029 PM CST THU DEC 31 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1027 PM SNOW 1 NNE BROWNWOOD 31.73N 98.98W
12/31/2020 E3.0 INCH BROWN TX PUBLIC
2-3 INCHES REPORTED.
&&
SJHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
1032 PM CST THU DEC 31 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0917 PM SNOW 1 SSW ABILENE 32.44N 99.74W
12/31/2020 M1.3 INCH TAYLOR TX BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
SJHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
1048 PM CST THU DEC 31 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM SNOW CHRISTOVAL 31.19N 100.50W
12/31/2020 M5.0 INCH TOM GREEN TX NWS EMPLOYEE
4.5 TO 5 INCHES.
&&
SJHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
U.S. Drought Monitor placed McCulloch County in a severe drought classification through January 19. The severe drought ended on January 25, with the arrival of better moisture.
U.S. Drought Monitor placed most of Mason County in a severe drought classification through January 19. The severe drought ended on January 25, with the arrival of better moisture.
U.S. Drought Monitor placed the eastern half of Kimble County in a severe drought classification through January 19. The severe drought ended on January 25, with the arrival of better moisture.
U.S. Drought Monitor placed the extreme eastern part of Menard County in a severe drought classification through January 19. The severe drought ended on January 25, with the arrival of better moisture.
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, January 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: 936996, 936997, 936998, 936999.