Watching the Skies » Record Setting

Half an inch shy of snowiest winter for DFW!

Sean Toner — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:38:19 +0000

One of the snowiest winters in D/FW history has finally ended, with official totals reaching 17.1 inches. Some areas even received 25 inches of snowfall this year!

A table of the top 10 snowiest winters, provided by the National Weather Service. This season ranked number 2, just half an inch behind breaking the record.

D/FW Snowiest Seasons

   1   17.6   1977-78
   2   17.1   2009-10*
   3   15.3   1963-64
   4   13.5   1923-24
   5   10.4   1976-77
   6    9.5   1909-10
   7    9.2   1916-17
   8    8.8   1947-48
   9    8.1   1937-38
  10    7.3   1965-66
        7.3   1941-42

The cause is undoubtedly related to El Nino, which has an indirect effect on allowing more Gulf moisture to make its way into the southern plains. This also causes the southern branch of the jet stream to bring pacific storm systems over the southern plains with greater frequency.

The National Weather Service wrote up a great summary of the numerous snowfall events this season, and can be found here

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=wintersnow09-10

-- Weather in Frisco, TX when posted --
Temp: 51.8 °F, Humidity: 50%
Wind: 340° at 5km/hr
Sky: Clear

Dallas/Fort Worth – Consecutive days below 80°F

Sean Toner — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:54:23 +0000

DFW Airport is just 7 days short of breaking yet another record during our cold season, this time for most consecutive days below 80 degrees F.

Rank	# of Days	Season	Dates
1	166	1918-19	Oct 21 – Apr 5
2	159	2009-10	Oct 20 – Mar 28*
3	155	1957-58	Oct 31 – Apr 4
4 (tie)	154	2000-01	Nov 1 – Apr 4
4 (tie)	154	1914-15	Nov 5 – Apr 8
6	152	1940-41	Oct 30 – Mar 31
7	143	1997-98	Oct 31 – Mar 23
8	141	1912-13	Oct 29 – Mar 19
9	140	1967-68	Nov 25 – Apr 13
10 (tie)	138	1963-64	Nov 16 – Apr 2
10 (tie)	138	1930-31	Nov 15 – Apr 2

Looks like we may end this record just a few days shy, as forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday bring our high temps above the 80 degree mark.

-- Weather in Dallas / Fort Worth, Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport when posted --
Temp: 60.8 °F, Humidity: 37%
Wind: 360° at 12km/hr
Sky: Clear

Snowfall totals for our late March snowstorm

Sean Toner — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:37:40 +0000

This unseasonably late snowfall further increased the 2009-2010 snowfall totals for our area, bringing us within 1/2 an inch of the all-time snowiest winter on record! Additionally the last time this much snow fell this late in the season was March 29 1937! Preliminary snowfall totals listed graphically below.

As you can see, the heaviest snow was concentrated within Collin County including a report in Frisco of 6 inches, and 8 inches reported in Allen. DFW Airport officially documented 1.3 inches of snowfall total from this event. The statement from the NWS included below.

The snow will not remain very long, as temperatures will quickly recover to the 60s on Monday and 70s by Tuesday. The next storm system will begin to affect the region on Wednesday evening, with thunderstorms likely. A shot of cooler air will follow as this system passes, but nowhere near this level of winter weather we just received.

...Spring snow for dfw...

Dfw Airport recorded 1.2 inches of snow on March 20th. This breaks
the previous daily record for March 20th of 0.4 inches set in 1970.
An additional 0.1 of an inch officially fell on March 21st and the 

event total is 1.3 inches. 

The additional 1.3 inches brings the 2009-2010 winter total to 17.1
inches. This ranks second of all time and came 0.5 inches shy of
tying the all-time record of 17.6 inches set in 1977-1978. 

This snow event was unseasonably late in the year. The last time an
inch or more fell at dfw later than March 20th was when 2 inches
fell on March 29th in 1937.

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Dallas/Fort Worth - snowiest seasons

   1   17.6   1977-78
   2   17.1   2009-10*
   3   15.3   1963-64
   4   13.5   1923-24
   5   10.4   1976-77
   6    9.5   1909-10
   7    9.2   1916-17

   8    8.8   1947-48
   9    8.1   1937-38
  10    7.3   1965-66
        7.3   1941-42
--------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Weather in Frisco, TX when posted --
Temp: 41 °F, Humidity: 41%
Wind: 300° at 20km/hr
Sky: overcast

Daily snowfall record shattered for DFW!

Sean Toner — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:11:42 +0000

February 11, 2010 broke the all-time snowfall record for any calendar day and any 24-hour period with 11.2 inches of snow, as of midnight. This surpasses the previous daily record of 1.4 inches on Feb 11, 1988. This also exceeds our 24-hour record of 7.5 inches on Feb 17, 1978 and Feb 25, 1924. Lastly this breaks our greatest calendar-day snowfall total of 7.8 inches from January 15, 1964 and January 14, 1917.

Thursday’s snowfall has brought our seasonal snowfall total to 14.4 inches, the 3rd snowiest winter on record for DFW. Had there been no other snowfall events this entire season, our winter would have still made the top five snowiest, wow! Below are snowfall totals reported as of 11:30pm 2/11/10.

The impacts from this snowfall will be felt quite heavily the morning of Friday February 12th with heavy snowfall accumulations on area roads, plus icing on roadways and bridges. Afternoon temperatures for Friday have been revised downward to 38 degrees. This means snow will melt significantly but not all of it will melt before re-freezing overnight through Saturday. Expect icing conditions Saturday morning as well. Saturday high temps will reach the 50s and any remaining snow will melt off.

Additionally, I walked around and snapped some great pictures with my camera this evening. I have attached the updated gallery below.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Public Information Statement issued by the National Weather Service as of Midnight 2/12/10:

...Snow event one for the record books...

At midnight...dfw Airport had recorded 11.2 inches of snow today.
This breaks the previous daily record for February 11 of 1.4 inches
set in 1988. This also breaks the previous 24-hour record for
February...7.5 inches on February 17, 1978 and February 25, 1924.

This is the greatest calendar-day snowfall total on record for
Dallas/Fort Worth. The previous record was 7.8 inches on January 15,
1964 and January 14, 1917.

This brings the seasonal snowfall total to 14.4 inches...which is
the 3rd highest seasonal total on record for Dallas/Fort Worth. This
is the snowiest winter in 32 seasons (since 1977-1978).

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Dallas/Fort Worth - snowiest seasons

   1   17.6   1977-78
   2   15.3   1963-64
   3   14.4   2009-10*
   4   13.5   1923-24
   5   10.4   1976-77
   6    9.5   1909-10
   7    9.2   1916-17
   8    8.8   1947-48
   9    8.1   1937-38
  10    7.3   1965-66
        7.3   1941-42

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dallas/Fort Worth - most snow in February

   1   13.5   1978
   2   11.2   2010*
   3    7.5   1924

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dallas/Fort Worth - greatest 24-hour snowfall totals

   1   12.1   January 15-16, 1964
   2   11.2   February 12, 2010*
   3    8.2   January 14-15, 1917
   4    7.5   February 17, 1978
        7.5   February 25, 1924
   6    6.0   March 13, 1924
   7    5.5   December 9, 1898
   8    5.0   November 22, 1937
        5.0   January 5, 1910
  10    4.7   November 13, 1976

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DFW Snow Update: Snowiest day Dallas’ history!

Sean Toner — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:20:49 +0000

The latest from the National Weather Service, snowfall today now shatters the previous record at DFW Airport. A whopping 7.9 inches 11.2 inches of snow has fallen today 2/11/10, surpassing the previous single calendar day record of 7.8 inches set on 1/15/1964 and 1/14/1917. The real kicker, snowfall is set to continue for a few more hours! This makes February 11th the snowiest calendar day, and snowiest 24 hour period in the history of DFW Airport. This winter season is now the 4th 3rd snowiest winter on record at 11.1 14.4 inches total. Details below…

...Snow event one for the record books...

At 7 PM...dfw Airport had recorded 7.9 inches of snow today. This
breaks the previous daily record for February 11 of 1.4 inches set
in 1988. This also breaks the previous 24-hour record for
February...7.5 inches on February 17, 1978 and February 25, 1924.

This is the greatest calendar-day snowfall total on record for
Dallas/Fort Worth. The previous record was 7.8 inches on January 15,
1964 and January 14, 1917.

This brings the seasonal snowfall total to 11.1 inches...which is
the 4th highest seasonal total on record for Dallas/Fort Worth. This
is the snowiest winter in 32 seasons (since 1977-1978).

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dallas/Fort Worth - snowiest seasons

   1   17.6   1977-78
   2   15.3   1963-64
   3   13.5   1923-24
   4   11.1   2009-10*
   5   10.4   1976-77
   6    9.5   1909-10
   7    9.2   1916-17
   8    8.8   1947-48
   9    8.1   1937-38
  10    7.3   1965-66
        7.3   1941-42

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dallas/Fort Worth - most snow in February

   1   13.5   1978
   2    7.9   2010*
   3    7.5   1924

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Dallas/Fort Worth - greatest 24-hour snowfall totals

   1   12.1   January 15-16, 1964
   2    8.2   January 14-15, 1917
   3    7.9   February 11, 2010*
   4    7.5   February 17, 1978
        7.5   February 25, 1924
   6    6.0   March 13, 1924
   7    5.5   December 9, 1898
   8    5.0   November 22, 1937
        5.0   January 5, 1910
  10    4.7   November 13, 1976

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New Gallery: Feb 11, 2010 Record Breaking Snowfall

Sean Toner — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:11:26 +0000

Some images from my Flickr of this record breaking snowfall for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

view on flickr»" rel="lightbox">

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Record Breaking Snowfall Update

Sean Toner — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:09:21 +0000

Brief snowfall update, time is limited so I will provide a narration, courtesy of the National Weather Service…
6.2 inches of snow so far at DFW airport, and counting. Today is snowiest 24-hour period on record since February 17, 1978.
Snowfall totals for today now increased up to 9 inches, with isolated areas of 10 inches!

Record snowfall at DFW Airport for December 29

Sean Toner — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Record snowfall today at DFW Airport of 0.2 inches, breaking the previous record of a trace.

…Record daily maximum snowfall set at Dallas/Fort Worth…

A record snowfall of 0.2 inches was set at dfw Airport today. This
is the first measurable snowfall on record for December 29. Trace
snowfall amounts were previously recorded on this date in 1925…
1954…and 1969.

DFW Airport sets new snowfall record for Christmas Eve

Sean Toner — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:45:03 +0000

DFW Airport reported 3.0 inches of snowfall ~~As of 6:29pm 12/24/09, DFW Airport recorded 2.3 inches of snowfall~~, far exceeding the previous record for this date of a trace. Snowfall is starting to end across the metroplex and should be over by 9 to 10pm in all areas. Temperatures are forecast to drop to the low 20s across the region so any ice or snow accumulations in place now, will persist all night until Christmas day. Temps on Christmas day will rise above freezing in the afternoon, allowing the snow/ice to mostly melt off.

Road conditions around the region are in horrible shape. Numerous roads to our north and west have been closed including I-35 through most of Oklahoma. In fact, all interstates in the Oklahoma City metro area have been shut down for most of the afternoon.

I will send more complete updates after the snowfall ends and additional weather reports come in… Below is most recent daily climate report from DFW Airport:

CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
629 PM CST THU DEC 24 2009

...................................

...THE DALLAS FORT WORTH CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 24 2009...
VALID TODAY AS OF 600 PM LOCAL TIME.

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1898 TO 2009

WEATHER ITEM   OBSERVED TIME   RECORD YEAR NORMAL DEPARTURE LAST
                VALUE   (LST)  VALUE       VALUE  FROM      YEAR
                                                  NORMAL
..................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
 TODAY
  MAXIMUM         53    113 AM  88    1955  55     -2       57
  MINIMUM         29    626 PM   7    1983  35     -6       39
  AVERAGE         41

PRECIPITATION (IN)
  TODAY            0.42          1.41 1975   0.08   0.34     0.00
  MONTH TO DATE    1.49                      2.04  -0.55     0.12
  SINCE DEC 1      1.49                      2.04  -0.55     0.12
  SINCE JAN 1     40.53                     34.20   6.33    26.95

SNOWFALL (IN)
  TODAY            2.3 R         T    2002   0.0    2.3      0.0
                                      1975
                                      1943
  MONTH TO DATE    2.3                       T      2.3       T
  SINCE DEC 1      2.3                       T      2.3       T
  SINCE JUL 1      2.3                       0.2    2.1       T
  SNOW DEPTH       0

..................................................................

WIND (MPH)
  HIGHEST WIND SPEED    38   HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION    NW (310)
  HIGHEST GUST SPEED    46   HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION    NW (300)
  AVERAGE WIND SPEED    20.4

..........................................................

THE DALLAS FORT WORTH CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TOMORROW
                         NORMAL    RECORD    YEAR
 MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (F)   55        78      1934
                                             1922
 MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (F)   35         6      1983

SUNRISE AND SUNSET
DECEMBER 24 2009......SUNRISE   728 AM CST   SUNSET   527 PM CST
DECEMBER 25 2009......SUNRISE   729 AM CST   SUNSET   528 PM CST

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

Update as of 7:49pm: DFW Airport now reports 3.0 inches of snowfall so far today:

...Record daily maximum snowfall set at Dallas/Fort Worth...

A record snowfall of 3.0 inches was set at dfw Airport today. This
is the first measurable snowfall on record for Christmas eve. Trace
snowfall amounts were previously recorded on December 24 in 1924...
1926...1943...1975...and 2002.

D/FW autumn rainfall sets record

Sean Toner — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:04:26 +0000

Looks like the autumn months of September through November achieved the wettest autumn on record since 1981, the 4th wettest autumn on record. Looks like El Nino is meeting its expectations so far this season…

Dallas/Fort Worth – Autumn Precipitation Extremes

(September through November)

Wettest

Rank Total (in.) Year

1 18.11 1981

2 16.88 1919

3 16.37 1964

4 16.33 2009

5 16.07 1973

6 15.61 1994

7 15.47 1913

8 15.29 1974

9 14.97 1991

10 14.02 1932

Driest

Rank Total (in.) Year

1 1.29 1975

2 1.66 1921

3 2.06 1938

4 2.27 2005

5 2.67 1912

6 2.78 1948

7
(tie) 3.03 1995

3.03 1910

9 3.22 1963

10 3.30 1898

Source: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=dfall