Frost/Freeze — Brooks, Texas

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

Event narrative

Temperatures fell below freezing around 3:30 PM on February 14th, and did not rise above freezing until around 2:30 PM on the 16th. Low temperatures at the Brooks County Airport bottomed out at 15 degrees on the morning of the 15th, and 19 degrees on the morning of the 16th. The high temperature on the 15th only rose to 32 degrees. The La Rucia Mesonet site measured a low of 19 degrees on the 15th, and a low of 19 degrees again on the 16th.

A brief period of light sleet mixed with some freezing rain occurred late on the 14th and very early on the 15th when temperatures fell into the mid to upper 20s. While there were no direct impacts, elevated roads were closed in some locations.

There was one death reported by county officials to the State of Texas due to hypothermia, most likely on February 15th but potentially on February 16th, as this was the most prolonged period for temperatures well below freezing. Detailed information on the fatality was unknown.

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front moved through Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley on February 12th, followed then by a strong Arctic High building into the area on February 13th. The Arctic High ushered in very cold air, with subsequent cold air damming leading to an extended period of anomalously cold temperatures. Several Valley locations, especially in the northern ranchlands, remained near or below freezing for several days. Elsewhere, overnight low temperatures throughout the week routinely fell to or below freezing. Cold temperatures combined with brisk northerly winds on the 15th and 16th likely contributed to the majority of crop damage. Some freezing rain and sleet also occurred late February 14th and early February 15th, which led to many road and major highway closures - at least 55 during the peak of the cold. The brunt of this event continued through the 18th of February.

This was the most impactful freeze event for the region since late December 1989. Minimum temperatures for the 15th and 16th were the lowest since before the 20th Century (1895); for many locations where records began in the 20th Century, these new records shattered prior records by 10 to 15 degrees on the 15th and 16th. Record low maximum temperatures were broken on the 15th by 10 to 22 degrees; the persistence and depth of the cold, combined with the late timing in the season, led to the largest loss of crops since the 1989 event.

This event led to major agricultural losses with over $300 million in crop losses occurring in Hidalgo County alone, particularly citrus crops in the area. Cameron and Willacy Counties also sustained heavy crop losses. Thousands of privately owned ornamental tropical vegetation was lost to the freeze. Initial totals in the region added up to at least $460 million. Property damage to public facilities, roads, and more was also noted in some instances costing several thousands of dollars. Final totals of public and private property damage are likely to be several hundred million dollars, and insured agricultural losses are likely to rise as well. The event is likely to be a greater than $1 billion damage event for the Rio Grande Valley; updates to the values shown in this episode will be provided when received.

From reports acquired by the State of Texas, one person died directly from hypothermia in Brooks County at some point during the episode. The fatality most likely occurred on the 15th or 16th, when temperatures and wind chill temperatures were at their lowest levels.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 944573. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.