Blizzard — Dallam, Texas

2024-01-08 · Dallam, Texas

Event narrative

Snow and reduced visibility was observed on a sky camera in Texline before 8 AM. A Texline mesonet observed 35 mph winds starting around 0740CST and lasting through 2140CST. US 87 from Dalhart to the New Mexico state line was closed by TxDOT starting around 1045CST due to low or zero visibility. Two to five inches of snow fell across Dallam County around Dalhart and northwest to Texline through the morning into the evening on the 8th. The mesonet located near Texline measured sustained winds between 40 and 48 mph occurred for several hours(roughly from 1045CST to 1741 CST) leading to blizzard conditions. This mesonet also measured several wind gusts from 1148CST to 1727 CST which exceeded 58 mph with a peak gust of 65 mph at 1344CST.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system brought severe winds and snow to the combined Panhandles. With sustained winds reaching 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 74 mph combined with snow, much of the area saw blizzard to near blizzard conditions. The Oklahoma and Texas Departments of Transportation were forced to shutdown roadways as motorists got stranded in the snow with near zero visibility and no way for emergency personnel to reach them. Roads west and north of Amarillo, TX were impacted for much of the afternoon through evening hours of the 8th. Amarillo east and southeastward, while experiencing the same strong winds, only experienced shorter durations of low visibility and less impact from the snow compared to the northwestern Panhandles.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1155316. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.