Texas, 2023

Drought in Texas, February 1 to 28, 2023

February 1 to 28, 2023 · NWS FWD · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected portions of Central Texas and the Big Country for the entire month.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected portions of Central Texas and the Big Country for the entire month.

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 Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 11:55 PM CST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:55 PM CST, 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1155 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

...New Aviation...

.SHORT TERM... /Issued 602 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023/
/Through Wednesday Evening/

Our arctic front is progged to remain quasi-stationary just off
the Texas and Louisiana Coasts, keeping all of North and Central
Texas immersed in shallow cold air (mostly below freezing) through
at least Thursday. Meanwhile, an upper low over Baja California
will gradually approach over the next few days. Ripples in the
southwest flow aloft out ahead of the low will continue to
generate rounds of precipitation across the area, further
aggravating the ongoing issues associated with freezing and frozen
precipitation. A Winter Storm Warning will remain in effect across
the area through Thursday morning. We are in a lull in
precipitation at the moment, but there will likely still be
periods of light winter mix through tonight, with little
additional accumulation expected. Light freezing drizzle could
still, however, provide an additional glaze on top of accumulated
ice.

The next disturbance will arrive Wednesday morning, causing
precipitation coverage and intensity to increase through the day.
A slightly thicker warm nose may unfortunately cause precipitation
type to be mostly freezing rain. Along with the Winter Storm
Warning, an Ice Storm Warning is also in effect for areas
generally along and west of I-35W, where there is a higher
potential for freezing rain accumulations to to become impactful
on power lines and trees. Impacts on travel will be fairly similar
across the board, and driving is not recommended for those who do
not have a need to venture out. All in all, Additional
accumulations on Wednesday should only worsen ongoing travel
problems.

Precipitation may start to transition to simply rain for some of
the area Wednesday afternoon and evening, as warm air advection
strengthens within the warm nose aloft ahead of the approaching
upper low. Temperatures should start to climb to or above freezing
for the southeast third of the region, which may improve travel
conditions there. Travel problems will likely persist for the rest
of the area into Wednesday night.

30

&&

.LONG TERM... /Issued 245 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023/
/Thursday Through Early Next Week/

We'll likely see one final round of wintry precipitation Thursday
morning, as freezing rain will be possible prior to a full
transition to rain across the entire area. Wednesday's ice
accumulations will continue to impact the area through at least
Thursday morning.

As the upper trough responsible for our inclement weather swings
eastward across the state, one final round of precipitation will
overspread the area early Thursday. Surface temperatures will
initially be slightly below freezing across much of the area,
resulting in one final chance for freezing rain. As temperatures
climb above freezing across the entire forecast area sometime
Thursday morning, a full transition to rain is expected to
transpire. Collectively, the increasing temperatures as well as
the rain should help to erode at least some of the lingering ice
accumulations from the days prior. It's still unclear how much
will erode on Thursday, but we should hopefully see at least some
improvements throughout the day. All precipitation will come to an
end by Thursday afternoon as the system exits to the east.

Sunshine will return on Friday, resulting in significantly warmer
temperatures than we've seen all week. All impacts will certainly
diminish by Friday under full sun and temperatures in the upper
40s to low 50s. A warming trend will continue into early next
week, with our next cold front and rain chances arriving sometimes
towards the middle of next week.

Barnes

&&

.AVIATION... /NEW/
/06Z TAFs/

A slug of dry air has worked in to North Texas and allowed most
Metroplex terminals to become VFR within the past couple hours.
The clearing will slowly move south but stall over southeastern
D10 airspace...There is a low chance (~30%) it moves over ACT as
well, but MVFR should prevail further south.

Light freezing drizzle is expected to return tomorrow morning and
help lower ceilings to MVFR (IFR for ACT). Off/on freezing drizzle
or very light freezing rain is expected for much of the morning
before more steady precipitation moves in from the southwest. The
current TAF has a TEMPO for moderate freezing rain for the time
period where the heaviest ice accumulation is expected, but the
timing of this may need to be shifted up or back in future TAFs.
Significant icing, up to 1/2" of NEW ice at some terminals, is
possible.

Steady freezing rain is then expected overnight, although surface
temperatures will slowly warm...with a full transition over to
rain possible after 09Z at the earliest but after 12Z is more
likely. North flow will be able to be maintained through the TAF
period.

Bonnette

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Dallas-Ft. Worth    26  32  30  40  31 /  40 100 100  50  20
Waco                28  32  31  42  31 /  50 100 100  60  20
Paris               27  33  32  42  29 /  30  80 100  50  30
Denton              24  30  30  39  26 /  30 100 100  50  20
McKinney            24  31  31  40  29 /  30  90 100  50  20
Dallas              26  32  31  41  31 /  40 100 100  60  20
Terrell             26  32  32  41  30 /  30  90 100  60  40
Corsicana           28  33  32  41  32 /  40  90 100  70  40
Temple              28  32  31  43  31 /  60  90 100  50  20
Mineral Wells       25  30  30  40  26 /  40 100 100  50  20

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Thursday for TXZ091>095-
104>107-119>123-134-135-142>148-156>162-174-175.

Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Wednesday for TXZ100>103-
115>118-129>133-141.

Ice Storm Warning from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM CST Thursday for
TXZ100>103-115>118-129>133-141.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 5:32 PM CST, 6 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
532 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-011200-
Montague-Cooke-Grayson-Fannin-Lamar-Young-Jack-Wise-Denton-Collin-
Hunt-Delta-Hopkins-Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Tarrant-Dallas-
Rockwall-Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rains-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell-
Johnson-Ellis-Henderson-Comanche-Mills-Hamilton-Bosque-Hill-Navarro-
Freestone-Anderson-Lampasas-Coryell-Bell-McLennan-Falls-Limestone-
Leon-Milam-Robertson-
532 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.
Periods of light freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet will
remain possible tonight. Since temperatures will stay at or below
freezing through tonight, hazardous road conditions will remain.
Please avoid travel unless necessary.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.
Additional rounds of freezing rain and sleet are expected Wednesday
and Wednesday night. Ice accumulation will keep the road conditions
hazardous through Wednesday night and possibly into Thursday
morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:18 PM CST, 5 hours 42 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
618 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SLEET            2 W DALWORTHINGTON GAR  32.69N 97.20W
01/31/2023  E0.8 INCH        TARRANT            TX   PUBLIC

&&

TR
Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:20 PM CST, 5 hours 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
620 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     SLEET            2 ESE EULESS            32.83N 97.04W
01/31/2023  M1.3 INCH        TARRANT            TX   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

TR
Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:21 PM CST, 5 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
621 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     SLEET            1 WSW LACY-LAKEVIEW     31.61N 97.13W
01/31/2023  M0.1 INCH        MCLENNAN           TX   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

TR
Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:32 PM CST, 5 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
632 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     SLEET            3 SW OVILLA             32.51N 96.92W
01/31/2023  E0.5 INCH        ELLIS              TX   PUBLIC

&&

TR
Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:49 PM CST, 5 hours 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
649 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0648 PM     SLEET            7 N LAMPASAS            31.17N 98.18W
01/31/2023  E0.2 INCH        LAMPASAS           TX   PUBLIC

&&

TR
Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:50 PM CST, 5 hours 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
650 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0650 PM     SLEET            MILLSAP                 32.75N 98.01W
01/31/2023  E1.0 INCH        PARKER             TX   PUBLIC

&&

TR

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Stephens

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Stephens forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.736, -98.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought conditions affected southwestern portions of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Comanche

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comanche forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Erath

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Erath forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.236, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected southern portions of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Mills

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Mills forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.495, -98.595 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Hamilton

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Bosque

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bosque forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.900, -97.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected most of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Hill

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hill forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought conditions affected southern portions of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Lampasas

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lampasas forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.196, -98.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected most of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, McLennan

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
McLennan forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.552, -97.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected most of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Bell

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bell forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe to extreme drought conditions affected northern portions of the county through the end of the month.

Drought, Falls

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Falls forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe drought conditions affected portions of the county through the end of the month.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2023

Sources

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: 1083845, 1083849, 1083850, 1083852, 1083857, 1083860, 1083861, 1083864, 1083865, 1083866, 1083867.