Winter Storm in Texas, February 1 to 2, 2023

Name: Winter Storm in Texas, February 1 to 2, 2023
Start: 2023-02-01T00:00
End: 2023-02-02T10:00
Location: Texas

February 1 to 2, 2023 · NWS EWX · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A cold front brought a shallow layer of cold air. Warm, moist southeasterly flow above this cold air produced light freezing rain and freezing drizzle for several days.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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: $84 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 EWX wrote it up.

A cold front brought a shallow layer of cold air. Warm, moist southeasterly flow above this cold air produced light freezing rain and freezing drizzle for several days.

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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 11:15 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 11:15 PM CST, 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
1115 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Wednesday night)
Issued at 246 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

Early this afternoon, most of the precipitation is currently focused
along the I-35 corridor, with the freezing line approximately
extending from Boerne to San Marcos to La Grange. As we head into
the evening hours, the main area of precipitation is expected to
shift south and eastward into the Coastal Plains, with a relative
lull in activity for the remainder of south-central Texas. The exact
location and duration of freezing temperatures continues to remain
the most difficult aspect of the forecast, but at this time it
appears that with the exception of the Rio Grande Plains and areas
south of US Hwy 90 from San Antonio towards Del Rio, most locations
across south-central Texas will at least briefly see freezing
temperatures tonight. Areas that are still at or below freezing this
afternoon across northern portions of the CWA will continue to
remain at or below freezing through at least tomorrow morning.

Later tonight and into tomorrow morning, increasing upper level
energy and forcing for ascent is expected as a trough currently over
northern Baja California approaches from the west. This should
result in increased precipitation activity across south-central
Texas, and will be the main period of focus for the greatest ice
accumulations through the remainder of the period. This is
especially true for any areas that see convective elements move
through, which will be possible as lapse rates begin to increase in
the mid-levels. With the exception for areas near the Rio Grande,
widespread precipitation is expected to continue through tomorrow
afternoon and into Thursday morning across the CWA as the
aforementioned trough continues to encroach upon the region.
Temperature wise, most areas across the Hill Country will remain at
or below freezing into early Thursday morning. Along the northern I-
35 corridor, including the Austin Metro, temperatures are expected
to briefly rise a couple of degrees above freezing tomorrow
afternoon, then reach or drop just below freezing tomorrow evening,
and then likely warm overnight into Thursday due to a combination of
latent heat release from the precipitation and weakening/shifting
surface high pressure to our northeast. Elsewhere, once temperatures
rise above freezing tomorrow, the current guidance suggests they
will remain that way through Wednesday night. This does include a
handful of counties under Winter Storm Warnings/Advisories which are
all valid until 6am Thursday. If the current trends continue, then
these select counties may have their warnings/advisories cancelled
early. For now though, the hazards will remain status quo. For this
afternoon through Wednesday night, our latest ice accumulation
forecast shows additional accumulations ranging from 0.50-0.75"
across much of the Hill Country with totals decreasing to the south
and east.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 236 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

After the several rounds of showers in the short term, dew points and
min temps start off just below freezing as the final round of showers
moves across the area with the base of the upper trough about to
cross TX. Cold air advection weakens in the late morning, and the
picks up again in the afternoon as the a deeper NW flow pattern
develops behind the departing trough. Mostly sunny skies and weak
downsloping influences to the winds should help melt residual ice
over the area, but the melting process will also lead to limited
warming potential over areas along and north of I-10. High temps over
the northern counties including parts of Austin metro may see temps
struggling to get out of the 30s. The winds aren't fully decoupled
for Friday morning, so there should only be a few areas to fall back
into the 20s, and the SAT area may even remain above freezing.

A more robust warming trend is expected for Friday after a full day
of sunshine despite cold air advection continuing. Lighter winds
Friday night will lead to colder lows and more low lying areas
dropping into the 20s. South winds hasten the warming trend for
Saturday but this could be offset by a slight increase in cloud
cover. Near normal temps are forecast for Sunday into Monday, and
then a low chance for rain and cold front pulls temps back below
normals for Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1108 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

Precipitation continues to increase across the region and with
temperatures at or below freezing at SAT and AUS, we will mention
prevailing -FZRA for the overnight hours into Wednesday morning. The
Airport Weather Warning (AWW) remains in effect for AUS until Noon
Wednesday and we have also issued an AWW for SAT as well. We kept the
precipitation as all liquid for SSF and DRT. Cigs are expected to
remain upper end MVFR for the next hour or two along I-35, the trend
to IFR as precipitation increases. MVFR cigs persist a little longer
at DRT, but will eventually trend down to IFR around daybreak.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Austin Camp Mabry              30  34  32  45 /  70  90 100  40
Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport  28  34  31  46 /  70  90 100  40
New Braunfels Muni Airport     30  36  33  48 /  80  80 100  20
Burnet Muni Airport            28  32  30  42 /  50  90 100  40
Del Rio Intl Airport           38  43  39  60 /  70  70  60  30
Georgetown Muni Airport        28  33  31  44 /  60  90 100  40
Hondo Muni Airport             32  37  35  56 /  80  70  80  20
San Marcos Muni Airport        29  36  32  47 /  80  80 100  30
La Grange - Fayette Regional   31  36  34  45 /  50  80  90  40
San Antonio Intl Airport       32  36  35  50 /  80  80  90  20
Stinson Muni Airport           34  37  36  52 /  80  70  90  20

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Thursday for Bandera-Bastrop-
Bexar-Blanco-Burnet-Caldwell-Comal-Edwards-Fayette-Gillespie-
Gonzales-Guadalupe-Hays-Kendall-Kerr-Lee-Llano-Medina-Real-Travis-
Val Verde-Williamson-Wilson.

Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Thursday for Atascosa-De
Witt-Karnes-Kinney-Lavaca-Uvalde.

&&

Short-Term...Platt
Long-Term...Quigley
Aviation...Platt

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 2:47 PM CST, 9 hours 13 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
247 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-012100-
Llano-Burnet-Williamson-Val Verde-Edwards-Real-Kerr-Bandera-
Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco-Hays-Travis-Bastrop-Lee-Kinney-Uvalde-
Medina-Bexar-Comal-Guadalupe-Caldwell-Fayette-Maverick-Zavala-
Frio-Atascosa-Wilson-Karnes-Gonzales-De Witt-Lavaca-Dimmit-
247 PM CST Tue Jan 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for South-Central Texas..

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Winter Storm Warnings and a Winter Weather Advisory remain in
effect through 6 AM CST Thursday across the majority of South
Central Texas outside of the Winter Garden region. Significant
icing is expected to develop tonight and spread over the Hill
Country, Southern Edwards Plateau, and I-35 Corridor, resulting in
major travel disruptions and possible power outages. Non-emergency
travel is strongly discouraged.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Winter Storm Warnings and a Winter Weather Advisory remain in
effect through 6 AM CST Thursday across the majority of South
Central Texas outside of the Winter Garden region. Significant
icing is expected to continue through Wednesday morning over the
Hill Country, Southern Edwards Plateau, and I-35 Corridor,
resulting in major travel disruptions and possible power outages.
Non-emergency travel is strongly discouraged.

Temperatures should finally warm above freezing for all of South
Central Texas by mid morning Thursday, with icing concerns ending
for the entire region.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 31, 6:26 PM CST, 5 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
626 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

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

0617 PM     FREEZING RAIN    2 E SUNSET VALLEY       30.23N 97.78W
01/31/2023  E0.10 INCH       TRAVIS             TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT OF UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH
            OF ICE ACCUMULATION ON ELEVATED SURFACES
            NEAR ST DAVIDS SOUTH MEDICAL CENTER. REPORT
            RELAYED VIA TWITTER.

&&

AQ

Local storm report, Jan 31, 9:02 PM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
902 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

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

0830 PM     FREEZING RAIN    4 SW LULING             29.65N 97.70W
01/31/2023  U0.00 INCH       GUADALUPE          TX   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TXDOT DRIVE TEXAS WEBPAGE REPORTS ICING
            ALONG THE I-10 OVERPASS AT HIGHSMITH RD FOUR
            MILES SOUTHWEST OF LULING. TIME ESTIMATED
            FROM RADAR AND METAR DATA.

&&

AQ

Local storm report, Jan 31, 10:36 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1036 PM CST TUE JAN 31 2023

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

1027 PM     FREEZING RAIN    9 SSE LLANO             30.62N 98.64W
01/31/2023  E0.50 INCH       LLANO              TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT OF APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF INCH
            OF ICE ACCUMULATION ON TREE BRANCHES ALONG
            CR312 AT RILEY MOUNTAIN SOUTHEAST OF LLANO.
            PHOTOGRAPH RELAYED VIA TWITTER.

&&

AQ

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Gillespie

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Gillespie forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.318, -98.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 11 AM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 4:13 PM on January 30 a quarter of an inch of ice had accumulated in Luckenbach. By the end of the event 0.31 inches of ice had accumulated in Fredericksburg. The ice brought down power lines and tree branches in Fredericksburg. The Central Texas Electric COOP reported $500,000 in damages.

Winter Storm, Blanco

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 7:45 AM CST
Where: Blanco forecast zone
Property damage: $1.4 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.266, -98.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around noon on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 7 AM on the 2nd a half of an inch of ice had accumulated in Twin Sisters. Numerous tree limbs were broken by the weight of the ice. The cost of damages was estimated at $1.4 million. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Burnet

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:55 AM CST
Where: Burnet forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.788, -98.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 11 AM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 10 AM on the 1st 0.05 of ice had accumulated in Granite Shoals. By the end of the event 0.53 of ice was measured by the ASOS at Burnet Municipal Airport/Kate Craddock Field in Burnet. There was damage to the electric infrastructure which was estimated at $1 million. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Edwards

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:55 AM CST
Where: Edwards forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.983, -100.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around midnight on January 31 and continued off and on through February 2. By 8 AM on the 1st a quarter of an inch of ice had accumulated near Devil’s Sinkhole State Park. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative which provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Real

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:55 AM CST
Where: Real forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.832, -99.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around midnight on January 31 and continued off and on through February 2. By 8 AM on the 1st a quarter of an inch of ice had accumulated in a few spots around the county and impacted a few roads. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative which provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Llano

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Llano forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.706, -98.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 11 AM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 11:58 AM on January 30 0.25 inches of ice had accumulated in Riley Mountain. By the end of the event that location had 0.67 and near Llano another spotter reported 0.8 . The Emergency Manager reported two semi-tractor trailers slid off Hwy 16 at the Llano/Gillespie county line.

Winter Storm, Travis

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Travis forecast zone
Property damage: $56 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.335, -97.782 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 11 AM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 10:23 PM on January 30 the Pflugerville Police had closed the flyover ramps between Hwy 130 and Hwy 45 due to ice on the roadway. The Austin area was hit hard with approximately 265,000 power outages (estimate from Austin Energy) when trees took out power lines. By the end of the storm the ASOS at Camp Mabry recorded 0.69 of ice and the COOP observer in Great Hills reported 0.45 . There were many car accidents one of which resulted in a fatality on January 31. The cost of damages was estimated at $55.5 million. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Williamson

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Williamson forecast zone
Property damage: $23 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.648, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 11 AM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 9:13 PM on January 30 the Emergency Manager reported ice accumulating on the roadway of the 183A toll road overpass at Brushy Creek Rd in Cedar Park. By the end of the event 0.5 of ice had accumulated in Round Rock, 0.41 in Hutto, 0.38 in Jollyville and Taylor, and 0.33 in Leander. There were multiple accidents across the county. There were also trees and tree branches down around the county and thousands of power outages. The cost of damages was estimated at $22.6 million. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Kendall

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 3:55 AM CST
Where: Kendall forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.945, -98.712 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 12 PM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 9:09 AM on January 31ice on the I-10 frontage road between US 87 and Christus Pkwy in Boerne caused an accident that closed the road. By the end of the event 0.5 of ice had accumulated in Old Tunnel State Park and 0.15 in Boerne. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Kerr

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 3:35 AM CST
Where: Kerr forecast zone
Property damage: $214,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.062, -99.350 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 12 PM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 3:57 PM on January 31 0.63 of ice had accumulated on Hwy 87 north of Comfort. The electric coops, Bandera Electric and CTEC, reported $214,000 in damages in Kerr County.

Winter Storm, Hays

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Hays forecast zone
Property damage: $2.4 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.058, -98.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 1 PM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 5:15 PM on January 30 an eighth of an inch of ice had accumulated in Dripping Springs. By the end of the event 0.5 of ice had accumulated in Dripping Springs, 0.38 in Wimberley and Driftwood, and 0.25 in Buda. The ice brought down trees and tree branches in Wimberley and Dripping Springs. The cost of damages was estimated at $2.4 million. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Comal

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 2:55 PM CST
Where: Comal forecast zone
Property damage: $565,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain was first reported in Bulverde at 7:26 PM on January 30. The freezing rain continued off and on through February 2. By the morning of January 31 0.15 of ice had accumulated in Fischer. By the end of the event 0.75 of ice was measured in Fischer. The ice brought down tree branches and trees in Fischer, Canyon Lake, and Bulverde. The cost of damage was estimated at $565,000. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative, headquarters in Johnson City, provides electricity to most of Blanco and Burnet Counties and parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Kendall Counties, reported $13 million in damage. This damage is likely included in the damage estimates reported by the counties.

Winter Storm, Guadalupe

When: February 1, 12:00 AM CST to 2:55 PM CST
Where: Guadalupe forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.583, -97.949 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain began around 5 PM on January 30 and continued off and on through February 2. By 8:30 PM on January 31 TXDoT reported ice on the I-10 overpass over Highsmith Rd. southwest of Luling. By the end of the event 0.25 of ice had accumulated in New Braunfels and Geronimo.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 1081573, 1081603, 1081604, 1081605, 1081606, 1081607, 1081608, 1081609, 1081610, 1081611, 1081612, 1081613, 1081614.