Winter Storm — Hartley, Texas

2015-01-03 · Hartley, Texas

Event narrative

Total snowfall amount of 6 inches at Dalhart. Local media reported 3 fatalities and 1 critical injury due to a weather related vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 54 northwest of Dumas.

Wider weather episode

A cold air mass in place, increasing moisture, and the approach of a storm system set the stage for a relatively significant winter weather episode across the Texas Panhandle. Snowfall increased in coverage across the area during the evening hours of Friday and continued through Saturday afternoon. The snow was heavy at times reducing the visibility to around one quarter of a mile. Conditions were favorable for some sleet and freezing rain with minor accumulations, especially across the eastern portion of the Texas Panhandle. The eastern Texas Panhandle received relatively lower snowfall totals.

The following is a list of snow accumulation amounts by county: 6 to 7 inches at Hereford (Deaf Smith County); 6.5 inches at Dumas (Moore County); 6 inches at Dalhart (Hartley County); 6 inches at Vega (Oldham County); 6 inches at Texline (Dallam County); 1 to 2 inches at Spearman (Hansford County); 2.5 to 4 inches in Amarillo (Potter and Randall counties); 2 to 3 inches at Stratford (Sherman County); 1.5 to 2.5 inches at Borger (Hutchinson County); 1.5 inches at Panhandle (Carson County); 1 to 1.5 inches at Miami (Roberts County); 1 to 1.5 inches in Claude (Armstrong County); 1 inch at Perryton (Ochiltree County); 1 inch at Pampa (Gray County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 557305. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.