Winter Weather — Kent, Texas

2023-01-24 · Kent, Texas

Wider weather episode

A potent mid-upper level storm system dropped into the desert southwest, then directed itself toward Texas on the 23rd and 24th. In advance of the system, cool air spread southward, setting the stage for a bout of wintry weather. The air at ground level was relatively dry but quickly moistened as the snow fell into the dry air from aloft. Temperatures at ground level were also several degrees above freezing as the precipitation began late in the evening on the 23rd. However, temperatures rapidly dropped to around the freezing mark as the air saturated. Given the relatively warm start to the wintery event, some locations experienced a brief period of rain and/or sleet before changing over to snow. Bands of moderate to heavy snow spread from west to east across the South Plains, southern Texas Panhandle, and Rolling Plains early on the 24th. With temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark, the snow had a high moisture content. In addition, when the snow intensity waned, many of the primary roadways were warm enough that much of the snow quickly melted, which helped mitigate travel issues. The snow continued to fall, occasionally moderate to heavy, through the morning and into the afternoon, before tapering off from west to east during the afternoon. The heaviest snow targeted the north-central and northeast South Plains into the southern Texas Panhandle and northwestern Rolling Plains. Only the southeastern Rolling Plains largely missed out on the significant snow because their temperatures were slightly too warm. Instead, they observed more cold rain and generally only a dusting of snow.

The highest snowfall totals per county per NWS cooperative weather observers are listed below:

11.0 inches at Matador (Motley County),

9.0 inches at Plainview (Hale County),

8.5 inches at Kress (Swisher County),

7.3 inches at Childress (Childress County),

7.2 inches at Lubbock International Airport (Lubbock County),

7.0 inches at Turkey (Hall County),

7.0 inches at Friona (Parmer County),

7.0 inches at Silverton (Briscoe County),

6.0 inches at Dimmitt (Castro County),

5.5 inches at Anton (Hockley County),

5.2 inches at Floydada (Floyd County),

4.5 inches at Olton (Lamb County),

4.0 inches at Morton (Cochran County),

4.0 inches at Crosbyton (Crosby County),

3.5 inches at Denver City (Yoakum County),

3.3 inches at Post (Garza County),

3.2 inches at 7E Paducah (Cottle County),

3.0 inches at Muleshoe (Bailey County),

3.0 inches at Tahoka (Lynn County),

3.0 inches at Brownfield (Terry County),

2.2 inches at 15S Paducah (King County),

1.7 inches at Spur (Dickens County), and

1.0 inch at Jayton (Kent County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1069987. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.