Ice Storm — Lipscomb, Texas

2017-01-14 to 2017-01-15 · Lipscomb, Texas

Event narrative

Resident count of 701 affected. There were 12 business that also reported economic injuries. Damages and economic impact also resulted from: debris cleanup (downed trees, etc), numerous downed power lines and broken power poles, and damaged to roads and bridges.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level low pressure system moved due east near the US/Mexico border and was centered over northern Mexico near the New Mexico state line by the morning of the 15th. With the jet streak around the base of the upper level low to the south and a northern stream jet with its western extent over Nebraska, a large region of vertical ascent with upper level divergence was also present. The strong mid level winds helped to steer the south-southeasterly 850-700 hPa flow. As a result, throughout the 14th and early on the 15th, upper air soundings showed a pronounced warm nose of around 5C between 800-850 mb. With below freezing temperatures right at the surface, this was ideal for a pronounced freezing rain event with several batches of precipitation working through the region, even some precipitation bands had convection associated with them. Extensive damage was reported with damage totals well into the tens of millions across the northern and northeastern TX panhandle. As indicated by Xcel Energy company, 58,000 customers were impacted at the height of the storm. This was their largest event in almost 17 years. Much of the financial losses reported were due to broken power poles and downed power lines of the electric coops and debris clean-up from numerous downed tree limbs. Several homes where damaged or destroyed due to electric fires caused by the ice.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 673102. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.