This is post number 500 for Watching the Skies, an exciting achievement!
The pictures here were taken in Frisco, TX during the afternoon of March 21, 2010 after our spring snow storm.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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 --I thought Winter was over… but it apparently has one last bite before fading away. Snowfall is possible across the northern areas of the region on Saturday evening. Accumulations will be light, if any. Areas around the Red River could receive up to 1 inch of accumulation on exposed areas. Prior to the snow however a very strong cold front will move through the area, bringing a line of thunderstorms with it. The timing on these storms right now is probably in the overnight hours tonight, into early Saturday morning. Expect very windy and cold conditions immediately after the front moves through, with the snow following several hours afterward.
The last freeze of the season is expected for the region Saturday night, so take action on Saturday to protect any sensitive vegetation since the growing season has already begun.
Below is a diagram detailing the average date of last freezes across the region… It looks like we are right around average here.
I will send more details as needed later…
Hey folks, looks like all of north Texas will receive some snowfall yet again on Tuesday Feb 23. Counties south of I-20 are currently under a Winter Storm Watch with forecasts estimating 4+ inches of snow, while counties in and north of the metroplex are forecast to receive 1-3 inches. Isolated areas of the southern metroplex could receive 4-5 inches, while areas south of I-20 could receive up to 8 inches! Expect additional Winter Storm Watches and Warnings to be issued Monday morning as this event approaches.
Snowfall for our region will begin around 3am, and last through until 6pm. Temperatures will sit near or at freezing, so accumulations will be light to moderate. Icing will be possible on bridges during the day, while well traveled roadways may not be too adversely affected. Temperatures overnight will reach the high 20s so icing on bridges and untraveled roadways will become likely and hinder travel for Wednesday morning. Temps for Wednesday will reach the mid 40s so accumulations will likely melt clear away.
Some additional things to mention here however… I'm sure alot of you have noticed that this season's snowfall forecasts have been somewhat inaccurate. December 24th's forecast was 1-2 inches, with 3.0 inches actually falling; February 11's forecast was less than 1 inch only 24 hours before the snow began falling, with the end result being 12.5 inches. So, take snowfall estimates with a grain of salt as they tend to be subject to huge errors, and anticipate the worst.
Secondly, DFW airport's winter season snowfall record could easily be broken with this Tuesday's snowfall event. Currently the 2009-2010 season sits at 15.7 inches of snowfall total placing us in the number 2 spot. With just an additional 2.0 inches of snow we would become the snowiest year in Dallas' history!
Finally I will close with a comment from the most recent forecast discussion provided by the National Weather Service: EL NINO WINTERS…YOU GOTTA LOVE THEM.
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.
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).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Some images from my Flickr of this record breaking snowfall for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
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!
Fairly heavy snowfall across parts of north Texas, with at least half of north Texas receiving some type of snowfall. Heaviest accumulations in the region occurred in northwest Texas near Bowie and Jacksboro with 9 inches of snowfall! Area roads have been completely shut down for most of the night.
Road conditions will remain trecherous through the first half of Christmas day as accumulated ice slowly melts off. However drier weather and temperatures rising just above freezing should help most of the ice and snow to melt away. There will still be some icy patches on the roads overnight tonight however.
Temps through the weekend will remain cool, dropping below freezing every night, rising to the low to mid 40s during the day.
The next storm system is still expected to move through this upcoming Tuesday, and may bring chances of more winter precipitation. A rain/snow mix may occur north of I-20, while a rain/sleet mix may occur south of I-20. This forecast is subject to large changes however, with several days out till this next event, there is some uncertainty.
Update: 5:56pm – Visiblele satellite shows the large extent of snowfall coverage across the region. A friend also advised me while traveling along I-35 north twards Oklahoma City, that at least 142 cars were stranded along the road!
The rollercoaster weather continues for the region, with temps reaching the mid 50s this afternoon when skies briefly cleared out. Not sure if anyone noticed but a gravity wave passed overhead around 5pm, always a cool feature to watch. This was in result to the very strong low pressure system that is impacting the country creating significant winter weather for the upper midwest. Gravity waves have crests and troughs like waves in the ocean, but the crests of gravity waves tend to cause moisture to condense into clouds, forming long and linear clouds in multiple rows like waves. I did not get an opportunity to go outside and take a picture of this before it was too dark but i did get a screenshot of the satellite view.
In the short term, a cold front will pass through the metroplex near midnight resulting in significantly colder temperatures and very gusty northwestern winds.
Temps are forecast to rapidly drop from around 49 degrees now, to near 20 degrees by sunrise. Winds may be gusting to 45mph around sunrise as well, creating very hazardous wind chills around 15 degrees! Everyone make sure you wear your heavy winter clothing before going outside Wednesday morning.
The weather rollercoaster continues every day the next 7 days with temps warming to 49 high/38 low by Friday. Rain may occur on Friday, but temps appear to be warm enough to prevent any freezing rain but this is worth monitoring. Then another storm system rolls through Monday/Tuesday with some potential for freezing rain.
Aside from a minimal possibility of freezing rain Friday, and a slight chance of freezing rain Monday night, no other winter precipitation or severe weather is expected the next 7 days.
-- Weather in Frisco, TX when posted --
Recent Comments