Winter Storm — Sabine, Texas

2021-02-16 to 2021-02-18 · Sabine, 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-18th, with areas of snow, sleet, and freezing rain (some heavy) falling across much of East 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 snow and sleet totals of one to three inches, with isolated higher amounts up to five to seven inches over Eastern Cass County. Strong overrunning of warmer air atop the shallow freezing air mass in place resulted in areas of freezing rain over much of Deep East Texas, with ice accumulations of a tenth to a third of an inch observed.

The following are snow and sleet totals that were recorded at various locations across East Texas from this second winter storm:

Cass County: Linden: 8.1 inches, Atlanta: 7.3 inches, 7 W Linden: 3.0 inches.

Marion County: Jefferson: 3.0 inches.

Harrison County: Hallsville: 2.5 inches, 3 N Karnack: 2.5 inches, Marshall: 2.4 inches, 4 S Hallsville: 1.8 inches, 3 WNW Waskom: 1.5 inches, 6 S Scottsville: 1.2 inches.

Gregg County: White Oak: 7.0 inches, Longview: 3.2 inches.

Upshur County: Bettie: 2.0 inches, 8 W Gilmer: 1.0 inches.

Smith County: 9 ESE Tyler: 1.5 inches, 2 SSW Tyler: 1.3 inches, Tyler Pounds Field: 0.5 inches.

Cherokee County: Rusk: 6.3 inches, Jacksonville: 2.0 inches.

Rusk County: Henderson: 6.3 inches, 7 WNW Henderson: 6.3 inches.

Panola County: Carthage: 2.0 inches, 4 W Gary City: 0.3 inches.

Shelby County: 5 NW Center: 1.6 inches.

Nacogdoches County: Nacogdoches: 0.5 inches, 2 SW Nacogdoches: 0.5 inches.

The following are ice accumulations from freezing rain that were recorded at various locations in Deep East Texas from this second winter storm:

Nacogdoches County: 10 SSW Chireno: 0.25 inches.

Angelina County: 6 N Hudson: 0.38 inches, Lufkin: 0.25 inches, 6 ESE Wells:0.10 inches.

San Augustine County: San Augustine: 0.25 inches.

Sabine County: Hemphill: 0.25 inches.

When combined with the previous winter storm on the 14th-15th, widespread snow and sleet totals of four to ten inches were observed across much of East Texas, with isolated higher totals near fifteen inches over Eastern Cass County. These totals crippled the region, making driving nearly impossible, with rolling blackouts further aggravated by the additional power outages the snow and ice were responsible for. The majority of the power outages from this second winter storm were confined to Shelby, Nacogdoches, and Angelina Counties, as a result of ice accumulations on trees and power lines. In addition, the weight of the snow and ice from these two back to back winter storms also resulted in numerous metal carport canopies collapsing across East Texas, with many homes and cars damaged. Unfortunately, one fatality was reported in Rusk County from these these extremely cold temperatures that accompanied this second round of wintry precipitation, when a driver of a pickup froze to death in his vehicle near Mount Enterprise on the 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 939592. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.