Winter Storm — Red River, Texas

2021-02-16 to 2021-02-17 · Red River, Texas

Wider weather episode

On the heels of the first winter storm and historically cold temperatures observed earlier in the week across all of the Southern Plains and much of the Lower Mississippi Valley, a second significant winter storm developed across much of these areas from February 16th-17th, with areas of snow (some heavy) falling across Northeast Texas. Strong forcing and moisture associated with the next upper level trough to move atop the extensive arctic air mass in place resulted in widespread snowfall totals of two to five inches falling across Red River, Franklin, Wood, Titus, Camp, and Morris Counties, with higher amounts up to 10 inches observed across Central and Eastern Bowie County.

The following are snowfall totals that were recorded at various locations across portions of extreme Northeast Texas from this second winter storm:

Red River County: 5 NNW Avery: 3.0 inches.

Bowie County: 1 WNW Wake Village: 9.7 inches, Texarkana: 9.5 inches, New Boston: 4.0 inches, Dekalb: 2.3 inches, 2 E Dekalb: 1.6 inches.

Morris County: Daingerfield: 9.0 inches, Lone Star: 3.5 inches.

Titus County: Mount Pleasant: 3.8 inches.

Franklin County: Mount Vernon: 2.4 inches.

Wood County: 1 SSW Winnsboro: 4.0 inches, 7 N Quitman: 3.5 inches, Mineola: 2.5 inches.

When combined with the previous winter storm on the 14th-15th, widespread snowfall totals of ten to fifteen inches were observed across these counties. These totals crippled the region, making driving nearly impossible, with rolling blackouts further aggravated by the additional power outages the snows were responsible for. In addition, the weight of the snow from these two back to back winter storms also resulted in numerous metal carport canopies collapsing across extreme Northeast Texas, with many homes and cars damaged.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 939569. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.