Cold/Wind Chill — Harrison, Texas

2021-02-14 to 2021-02-16 · Harrison, Texas

Wider weather episode

On the heels of the first significant winter storm to affect all of the Southern Plains and much of the Lower Mississippi Valley, where widespread snow ranged from 3-10 inches across East Texas on February 14th-15th, temperatures plunged to historic values by the morning of the 16th, as readings ranged from -8F to the single digits above zero across East Texas. Strong north winds during and in wake of the winter storm also resulted in extremely low wind chills from the 14th through midday on the 16th, which fell to as low as -10F. As a result, a Wind Chill Advisory was issued for all of East Texas during this time. In all, temperatures remained below freezing (32F) across much of East Texas for 4-7+ days, before finally climbing back above freezing on February 18th-19th.

Here are the lowest temperatures recorded at various locations in East Texas on February 16th:

Bowie County: Texarkana: -1F.

Cass County: Atlanta: -4F.

Titus County: Mount Pleasant: -2F.

Franklin County: Mount Vernon: 1F.

Wood County: Mineola: -8F, Lake Fork Reservoir: -7F.

Upshur County: 1 S Bettie: -5F, Gilmer: -5F.

Marion County: Jefferson: -4F.

Harrison County: Marshall: -6F.

Gregg County: East Texas Regional Airport: -5F, Longview: -4F.

Smith County: Tyler Pounds Field Airport: -6F, Tyler: -3F.

Cherokee County: Jacksonville: -6F, Rusk: -3F.

Rusk County: Henderson: -3F.

Panola County: Carthage: 4F.

Nacogdoches County: Nacogdoches: -3F.

Angelina County: Angelina County Airport (Burke): 4F.

San Augustine County: San Augustine: 1F.

During this historic winter blast, Tyler Pounds Field Airport (Smith County) observed 178 consecutive hours where temperatures remained at or below freezing (from Feb. 11th-19th), which tied for 3rd longest (with Jan. 2nd-8th, 1942). The East Texas Regional Airport south of Longview (Gregg County) observed 118 consecutive hours where temperatures remained at or below freezing (from Feb. 13th-18th), which tied for 4th longest (with Jan. 9th-12th, 1973 and Feb. 1st-4th, 1985).

In addition, Tyler Pounds Field Airport set an all-time record low temperature on the 16th, falling to -6F and surpassing the previous coldest low temperature of -3F set back on Jan. 18th, 1930. The East Texas Regional Airport south of Longview also set an all-time record low temperature on the 16th, falling to -5F and surpassing the previous coldest low temperature of -4F set back on Jan. 18th, 1930.

The record cold led to widespread water main breaks and major pipe bursts across much of the area, cutting off water for many communities for up to a week and leading to Boil Water Advisories for several weeks in some communities. Recovery during the event was hampered further as treacherous roads slowed recovery crews from fixing water main breaks.

Unfortunately, one fatality was recorded in Harrison County on February 15th as a 66 year old white male with prior health problems was found dead of exposure in the woods near Norma Lee Lane mobile home park after wandering away from his home near East Longview.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 937844. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.