A quick shot of winter hits West Texas
26 January 2022
Wintry scene near Estelline, Texas, Wednesday afternoon (26 January 2022). Over 4" of snow fell during the afternoon hours. The image is courtesy of Craig Collins. Wintry scene near Estelline, Texas, Wednesday afternoon (26 January 2022). Over 4" of snow fell during the afternoon ho
Wintry scene near Estelline, Texas, Wednesday afternoon (26 January 2022). Over 4" of snow fell during the afternoon hours. The images are courtesy of Craig Collins.
 

A strong cold front and compact upper level storm system joined forces to bring a brief bout of wintry weather in late January. The initial cold front moved through the region Tuesday evening (25 January), complete with gusty easterly winds and temperatures tumbling from the upper 40s and 50s into the lower to middle 20s by early the next morning.
 
Water vapor imagery loop valid from 5:21 to 6:11 am on 26 January 2022. A well-defined system is seen approaching West Texas via New Mexico.
Water vapor imagery loop valid from 5:21 to 6:11 am on 26 January 2022. A well-defined system is seen approaching West Texas via New Mexico.
 
Clouds gradually filled in behind the front and light precipitation developed early Wednesday morning. One band of snow formed and traversed the southwest and central Texas Panhandle, dropping a quick 1 to 3 inches of snow in spots. Further south, where moisture and lift were shallower, areas of light freezing drizzle affected much of the South Plains.
 
High temperatures observed on Wednesday (26 January 2022) by the West Texas Mesonet.
High temperatures observed on Wednesday (26 January 2022) by the West Texas Mesonet. Highs from the 25th can be VIEWED HERE, while lows the morning of the 26th can be SEEN HERE.
 

The freezing drizzle switched to snow in spots, as stronger lift from the approaching system spread over the region. One intense band of snow formed over the central South Plains, just north of Lubbock, and advanced northeastward across Floydada, Flomot, Memphis and Childress during the afternoon.
 
Lubbock WSR-88D base reflectivity loop valid from 7:04 am to 3:14 pm on 26 January 2022.
Lubbock WSR-88D base reflectivity loop valid from 7:04 am to 3:14 pm on 26 January 2022.
 

Where the snow band lingered longest, many locations recorded 1 to 3 inches of snow, while Estelline measured an impressive 4.3 inches. The snow quickly diminished from west-to-east through the late afternoon and early evening hours, finishing with another brief bout of freezing drizzle in spots.
 
Snow totals (inches), as reported to the Lubbock NWS, from 26 January 2022.
Snow totals (inches), as reported to the Lubbock NWS, from 26 January 2022.
 
Even though temperatures only warmed into the 20s and lower 30s, thankfully reports of traffic accidents were relatively few and far between. Plus, the heavier snow did provide a little much-needed moisture.
 
Visible satellite loop valid from 10:21 to 11:56 am on 27 January 2022. Several areas of snow are clearly visible beneath the high clouds streaming over the region.
Visible satellite loop valid from 10:21 to 11:56 am on 27 January 2022. Several areas of snow are clearly visible beneath the high clouds streaming over the region.
 

The snow was even visible from space the next day as skies cleared. As the sun came out and temperatures warmed, the snow melted nearly as fast as it came, becoming merely a memory by late Thursday afternoon in most spots.
 
Snow and ice melt (inches) measured by the West Texas Mesonet after the 26 January winter weather event.
Snow and ice melt (inches) measured by the West Texas Mesonet after the 26 January winter weather event.
 

Officially, Lubbock recorded 0.2 inches of snowfall, along with light freezing drizzle and even sleet. Altogether, the snow and ice only melted down to 0.03 inches of liquid. However, where the heavier snow fell, anywhere from a tenth to three tenths of an inch of liquid were common

The preliminary storm reports collected over this cold and wintry day can be found below.
 

Snow & Ice Reports from NWS Lubbock on January 26th

 

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1114 AM CST THU JAN 27 2022

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

0800 AM     FREEZING RAIN    MORTON                  33.72N 102.76W
01/26/2022  M0.00 INCH       COCHRAN            TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THIN GLAZE OF ICE OBSERVED

0800 AM     FREEZING RAIN    PLAINS                  33.19N 102.83W
01/26/2022  E0.00 INCH       YOAKUM             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE CREATING A THIN GLAZE.

0800 AM     FREEZING RAIN    SILVERTON               34.47N 101.30W
01/26/2022  E0.00 INCH       BRISCOE            TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE CREATING A THIN GLAZE.

0830 AM     FREEZING RAIN    DENVER CITY             32.97N 102.83W
01/26/2022  E0.00 INCH       YOAKUM             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE

0850 AM     FREEZING RAIN    MULESHOE                34.23N 102.73W
01/26/2022  U0.00 INCH       BAILEY             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FREEZING DRIZZLE EARLIER WITH LIGHT SNOW NOW. ONLY A
            DUSTING OF SNOW TO THIS POINT. GLAZE OF ICE HAS
            CONTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS.

1142 AM     HEAVY SNOW       FRIONA                  34.64N 102.72W
01/26/2022  M1.5 INCH        PARMER             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            TOTAL OF 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW MELTED DOWN TO 0.13 INCHES
            OF LIQUID.

0315 PM     HEAVY SNOW       FLOYDADA                33.98N 101.34W
01/26/2022  E2.0 INCH        FLOYD              TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BRIEF BUT HEAVY SNOW BAND

0328 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MATADOR                 34.02N 100.82W
01/26/2022  E1.3 INCH        MOTLEY             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED 1-1.5 INCHES OF SNOW. ROADS WERE WET AT THE
            MOMENT.

0335 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 E FLOMOT              34.23N 100.95W
01/26/2022  E2.0 INCH        MOTLEY             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            QUICK 2 INCHES OF SNOW. THE SNOW HAS ENDED NOW.

0344 PM     HEAVY SNOW       QUITAQUE                34.37N 101.05W
01/26/2022  E1.3 INCH        BRISCOE            TX   PUBLIC

            ESTIMATED 1-1.5 INCHES OF SNOW.

0357 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MEMPHIS                 34.73N 100.54W
01/26/2022  E1.5 INCH        HALL               TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW. SLICK SPOTS HAVE
            CONTRIBUTED TO A FEW ACCIDENTS.

0407 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NORTHFIELD              34.29N 100.60W
01/26/2022  M1.5 INCH        MOTLEY             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THE SNOW HAS ENDED.

0600 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ESTELLINE               34.55N 100.44W
01/26/2022  M4.3 INCH        HALL               TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT FROM A TRAINED SPOTTER SHOWING
            4.25" OF SNOWFALL ON A PICNIC TABLE.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 S TELL                34.34N 100.39W
01/27/2022  M1.8 INCH        CHILDRESS          TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOWFALL YESTERDAY

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 SE FLOYDADA           33.89N 101.23W
01/27/2022  M1.2 INCH        FLOYD              TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOWFALL YESTERDAY

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DIMMITT                 34.55N 102.32W
01/27/2022  M1.3 INCH        CASTRO             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW THAT FELL YESTERDAY. 1 INCH OF SNOW REMAINS ON THE
            GROUND THIS MORNING.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 NW CHILDRESS          34.50N 100.34W
01/27/2022  M2.0 INCH        CHILDRESS          TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW THAT FELL YESTERDAY. 2 INCHES REMAIN ON THE GROUND
            THIS MORNING.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ABERNATHY               33.83N 101.84W
01/27/2022  M1.1 INCH        HALE               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW THAT FELL YESTERDAY. ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW LEFT
            THIS MORNING.

0845 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MEMPHIS                 34.73N 100.54W
01/27/2022  M1.5 INCH        HALL               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOWFALL YESTERDAY

0915 AM     HEAVY SNOW       TURKEY                  34.39N 100.90W
01/27/2022  M3.5 INCH        HALL               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER