Warm/moist air rising above a sub-freezing arctic airmass generated freezing rain and sleet across much of North and Central Texas during the last few days of January through February 2nd. This was a complex event with several rounds of freezing drizzle, sleet, and freezing rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 38 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 FWD wrote it up.
Warm/moist air rising above a sub-freezing arctic airmass generated freezing rain and sleet across much of North and Central Texas during the last few days of January through February 2nd. This was a complex event with several rounds of freezing drizzle, sleet, and freezing rain. The beginning of this event is discussed in the January 2023 Storm Data summary, but on February 1st & 2nd freezing rain was the primary form of precipitation leading to ice accumulations up to 0.75 across parts of Central and far Northeast Texas. Tree damage and power outages were the primary impacts during the early February days. Because the winter event had begun a few days before, travel impacts were more notable in late January, but icy roads continued February 1st & 2nd.
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 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...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.
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
&&
TRPRELIMINARY 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
&&
TRPRELIMINARY 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
&&
TRPRELIMINARY 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
&&
TRPRELIMINARY 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
&&
TRPRELIMINARY 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
&&
TRThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
38 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.75 with the highest totals across the southern parts of the county. Considerable tree damage was reported in some areas.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.75.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50 with the highest totals across the western half of the county. Power outages were reported.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.25.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.75.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50. The higher totals were reported across the southern parts of the county.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.25. The highest totals were reported in the eastern parts of the county.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30. The higher totals were reported in the southern parts of the county.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30. Tree damage was reported.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30. Tree damage was reported.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50 with the higher totals in the far eastern part of the county. Tree damage was reported and power lines were down.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50 with the higher totals in the far eastern part of the county.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.50 with the higher totals in the far eastern part of the county. Tree damage was reported.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30.
Freezing rain/ice totals across the county ranged up to 0.30.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2023
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: 1083158, 1083160, 1083161, 1083163, 1083164, 1083165, 1083166, 1083167, 1083168, 1083169, 1083170, 1083171, 1083172, 1083173, 1083174, 1083175, 1083176, 1083177, 1083178, 1083179, 1083180, 1083181, 1083182, 1083183, 1083184, 1083185, 1083186, 1083187, 1083188, 1083189, 1083191, 1083192, 1083193, 1083194, 1083204, 1083205, 1083206, 1083208.