Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

A rare Deep South snow event breaks Dallas' all-time snowfall record

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 3:55 PM GMT on February 12, 2010

A rare Deep South heavy snow event is in full swing today, thanks to a powerful 1000 mb extratropical storm centered just south of Alabama. The storm clobbered Dallas with 11.2" of snow yesterday, the heaviest snow on record for the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Dallas' previous record was 7.4", set on January 15 - 16, 1964. The 14.4" of snow that has now fallen on Dallas this winter eclipses the previous record seasonal snowfall for the city--14.1" during the winter of 1977 - 1978. Yesterday's snowstorm dumped over a foot of snow along a narrow region just north of Dallas and Fort Worth, with the town of Haslet receiving 14.2".

Figure 1. The Deep South snow event of February, 12, 2010 in a visible satellite image taken at 9 am EST. Image credit: NASA GOES project.

As the storm races eastwards across the Gulf today, a wide area of snowfall in excess of four inches will affect Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, with lesser amounts in South Carolina, North Carolina, and the extreme northwestern corner of the Florida Panhandle. As of 7am this morning, here are some selected snow amounts reported by National Weather Service:

...ALABAMA...
CUBA 1.5
THOMASVILLE 1.0

...ARKANSAS...
FOREMAN 4.0
TEXARKANA 1 N 4.0

...LOUISIANA...
NATCHITOCHES 6.0
SHONGALOO 5 N 6.0
SHREVEPORT 5.4
MONROE 5.0
NATCHITOCHES 4.0

...MISSISSIPPI...
DE KALB 8.0
CATAHOULA 5.0
VICKSBURG 5.0
RAYVILLE 4.2
BROOKHAVEN 4.0
MCCALL CREEK 5 W 4.0
SICILY ISLAND 4.0
JACKSON 3.2

...OKLAHOMA...
HAWORTH 4 SW 7.5
IDABEL 8 SE 7.5
RATTAN 13 E 4.5

...TEXAS...
HASLET 14.2
FORT WORTH 12.6
DALLAS 12.5
BRIDGEPORT 12.0
ROYSE CITY 12.0
POINT 3.7 ESE 11.0
EAGLE MOUNTAIN 10.5
ENNIS 10.3
FRISCO 1.9 N 10.3
JACKSBORO 6.2 SW 10.0
LINDALE 10.0
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS 10.0
COTTONDALE 9.5
OAK CLIFF 9.5
PRINCETON 3 N 9.5
FORT WORTH 14 N 9.0
ARLINGTON 8.0

As we can see from a plot of the frequency of U.S. snowstorms between 1900 - 2001 (Figure 2), heavy snow events of 6+ inches occur about once every ten years for Dallas, and between once every ten years and once every 100 years for the portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama that may end up getting 6+ inches from this storm.

Figure 2. The annual average number of snowstorms with a 6 inch (15.2 cm) or greater accumulation, from the years 1901 - 2001. A value of 0.1 means an average of one 6+ inch snowstorm every ten years. Image credit: Changnon, S.A., D. Changnon, and T.R. Karl, 2006, Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Snowstorms in the Contiguous United States, J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 45, 8, pp. 1141-1155, DOI: 10.1175/JAM2395.1.

More heavy snowstorms occur in warmer-than-average years
Another interesting result from the Changnon et al. (2006) paper (Figure 2) is the relationship between heavy snowstorms and the average winter temperature. For the contiguous U.S. between 1900 - 2001, the authors found that 61% - 80% of all heavy snowstorms of 6+ inches occurred during winters with above normal temperatures. In other words, the old adage, "it's too cold to snow", has some truth to it. The authors also found that 61% - 85% of all heavy snowstorms of 6+ inches occurred during winters that were wetter than average. The authors conclude, "a future with wetter and warmer winters, which is one outcome expected (National Assessment Synthesis Team 2001), will bring more heavy snowstorms of 6+ inches than in 1901 - 2000. The authors found that over the U.S. as a whole, there had been a slight but significant increase in heavy snowstorms of 6+ inches between 1901 - 2000. However, a separate paper by Houston and Changnon (2009), "Characteristics of the top ten snowstorms at First-Order Stations in the U.S.", found that there was no upward or downward trend in the very heaviest snowstorms for the contiguous U.S. between 1948 - 2001, as evaluated by looking at the top ten snowstorms for 121 major cities.

More snow headed for the mid-Atlantic next week
The extreme amounts of snow on the ground in the Mid-Atlantic from back-to-back blizzards over the past week will get some more company on Monday night, when a new snowstorm will hit the region. I'm thinking that the new storm will drop another 2 - 6 inches of snow on the Baltimore-D.C.-Philadelphia region. The computer forecast models have not yet come into agreement on where Monday's storm will hit, or how much moisture it will be able to tap into, so there is still high uncertainty over how much snow will fall.

A historical precedent for "Snowmageddon": the "Great Snow" of 1717
I've commented several times this week that there is no precedent in the historical record, going back to the late 1800s, to the incredible snow blitz the Mid-Atlantic has endured. Well, it turns out there is a comparable winter, at least for Philadelphia, if one goes back in time nearly 300 years. According to Chris Burt, author of the excellent book, Extreme Weather, in 1717 four storms between February 27 and March 9 dropped a total of 3 - 5 feet of snow from Philadelphia to Boston. Snow drifts as much as 25' deep occurred in the Boston area. An account of the 1717 event was one of the first journal entries of the Massachusetts Historical Society by Cotton Mather. Chris told me he wasn't aware of any comparable events affecting Washington D.C. or Baltimore, however. Chris will be joining wunderground this April as a featured blogger, and I greatly look forward to having him put our modern weather records into historical context.

Next post
I'll probably do a short post on Saturday.

Jeff Masters

Blizzard Car Shadows (BocaJoe)

Snow Damage in Arlington (mikekttx)

Snow Damage in Arlington on 2/11/10. Apartment covered parking structures are failing all over the city.

Categories: Winter Weather

Permalink | A A A

Top of Page

Reader Comments

Display: 0, 50, 100, 200

Sort: Newest First - Order Posted

Viewing: 251 - 301

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 — Blog Index

251. TheCaneWhisperer 7:59 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 253 PM EST FRI FEB 12 2010 FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-131100- GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER- INLAND COLLIER-INLAND BROWARD-METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE- METRO MIAMI DADE-MAINLAND MONROE-COASTAL PALM BEACH- COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE- 253 PM EST FRI FEB 12 2010 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL 10 PM EST... ...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OF 60-70 MPH POSSIBLE... ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL WATERS UNTIL 7 AM EST SATURDAY... ...WIND ADVISORY ALL SOUTH FL UNTIL 9 PM EST... ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS BOTH ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS: A LINE OF STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO RACE EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS LINE AS IT RACES EAST AT A VERY FAST SPEED OF 50 MPH. FOR THIS REASON, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA EFFECTIVE UNTIL 10 PM THIS EVENING.

252. severstorm 8:01 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Way to go Ike. you got SNOW!!!!!! Member Since: November 25, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 917

253. CaneWarning 8:02 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
At 2:48 the temp was 45.4 in Tampa. At 3:01 the temp is now 44.4. Dropping pretty fast. Member Since: April 26, 2009 Posts: 3 Comments: 3667

254. gwhite713 8:03 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
32 in Maryville, TN.All snow, all white, roads getting ..interesting =). That groundhog did see his shadow =) Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

255. TheCaneWhisperer 8:04 PM GMT on February 12, 2010

256. code1 8:04 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Someone posted this morning that if it snowed in FL, that would make snow in all 50 states? Was that true, or does anyone know? Member Since: September 18, 2005 Posts: 66 Comments: 13872

257. drg0dOwnCountry 8:04 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Must-hear audio of press call with Dr. Jeff Masters and I on record snowstorms, extreme weather, and climate change science NOTE: I am keenly interested in your thoughts on my answers (and Dr. Masters’). Regular readers know what uber-meteorologist Dr. Jeff Masters and I think about extreme weather and climate science [see "Massive moisture-driven extreme precipitation during warmest winter in the satellite record — and the deniers say it disproves (!) climate science"]. But what makes the call a must-hear is the window into the media’s thinking from the collective set of questions posed by the many journalists on this call: Link to audio file http://climateprogress.org/2010/02/12/jeff-masters-joseph-romm-on-record-snowstorms-extreme-weather -and-climate-change-science/ Member Since: September 22, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 1957

258. IKE 8:05 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting severstorm: Way to go Ike. you got SNOW!!!!!! It stuck to my hair and that's about it. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

259. gwhite713 8:05 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Flakes are flying as far north as Knoxville TN and as far south as dare i say it? Pensacola?=)!! Global warming? Telling it to the oranges! =) lol Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

260. code1 8:05 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting gwhite713: 32 in Maryville, TN.All snow, all white, roads getting ..interesting =). That groundhog did see his shadow =) Maryville is beautiful in the fall and spring! Member Since: September 18, 2005 Posts: 66 Comments: 13872

261. quakeman55 8:06 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting IKE: Moderate snow and 36.5. Good deal! Now it's GOT to snow here...temp is dropping fairly fast...back to about what it started out at this morning. Snow must be imminent for us... Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

262. gwhite713 8:06 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
code, that is true, if it snows in FL, which from the sounds and looks of things in FL, that indeed has happened.. a first from what i've understood for one season.. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

263. WPBHurricane05 8:06 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Ft. Myers is next to get nailed. Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8016

264. NttyGrtty 8:07 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Fox reported an hour or so ago something about snow on the ground in 37 states... Member Since: February 11, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 666

265. PcolaDan 8:09 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
About one mile north of Pensacola airport Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

266. PensacolaDoug 8:09 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting NttyGrtty: Fox reported an hour or so ago something about snow on the ground in 37 states... \ They said all 50 states Member Since: July 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 4832

267. gwhite713 8:09 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
I heard that after this snowfall, there will be more snow on the ground in the lower 48 than anytime in the past 100 years.. Could it be? Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

268. WPBHurricane05 8:11 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Snow in Florida, Georgia, and S. Carolina now. Alaska obviously has snow but there is no snow on the mountains of Hawaii. Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8016

269. NttyGrtty 8:11 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
So there's snow in Hawaii?...Hmmmmmm Member Since: February 11, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 666

270. code1 8:12 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Temp has dropped from 40F to 38.2 here in less than an hour. Hearing a few bits of sleet hit french doors now. Not seeing it slide down like last night though. Member Since: September 18, 2005 Posts: 66 Comments: 13872

271. PensacolaDoug 8:12 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Hey Dan! Thats what it looked like here in Warrington for about 2 minutes. Member Since: July 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 4832

272. StormChaser81 8:13 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting NttyGrtty: So there's snow in Hawaii?...Hmmmmmm On the mountains tops, Im pretty sure its year round too. Member Since: August 11, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2315

273. richteas 8:13 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
At 2:20pm Fri., it started snowing near Thomson Georgia. (Just west of Augusta) And they told me it never snowed here when I moved here last July??? LOL Oh Well, I'm a Wisconsinite by birth so at least I'M use to it. Oh what a beautiful Winter... Member Since: July 10, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 664

274. gwhite713 8:13 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
there is snow in Hawii, Kia Mona is an observatory well over 14,000 feet, it snows up there..and often.. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

275. PcolaDan 8:14 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting NttyGrtty: So there's snow in Hawaii?...Hmmmmmm Well yes, there always is. The Kilauea Volcano is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. Observatories are seen on the peak of the snow-covered Mauna Kea mountain in this aerial photo taken Tuesday Jan. 6, 2008 near Hilo, Hawaii. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano and home to an astronomy community. Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

276. TheCaneWhisperer 8:14 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Rhut Rho - sun's peeking through over here on the east coast.

277. WxLogic 8:14 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Very nice... There's a pretty good CAA happening at 700MB on the NW Panhandle and spreading SE at a pretty good clip. It has aided the snowflake structure to remain intact on their decent to ground level: Link Definitely a good chance of NCFL having some flurries tonight as the low pressure pulls away and wrap around moisture is able to lag enough behind the CAA. Member Since: August 14, 2008 Posts: 4 Comments: 4721

278. CaneWarning 8:16 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting TheCaneWhisperer: Rhut Rho - sun's peeking through over here on the east coast. Get ready for severe weather. It was nasty in Tampa and it has been cloudy all day. I can't imagine how strong those storms would've been with day time heating. Member Since: April 26, 2009 Posts: 3 Comments: 3667

279. gwhite713 8:16 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Hawaii's only snowplow has come to life for the season, removing drifts from the road up the state's highest mountain, 21/2 miles above tropical beaches. Snow falls regularly on the 13,796-foot summit of Mauna Kea, home to 10 telescopes, including Keck I and Keck II, the largest in the world. Astronomers, who live in dormitories at the 9,300-foot level, require access to the observatories. Five plow drivers born or raised in Hawaii commute from 80-degree temperatures at sea level to freezing temperatures. The workers, who help maintain the mountain area throughout the year,… Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

280. StormChaser81 8:16 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting NttyGrtty: So there's snow in Hawaii?...Hmmmmmm Member Since: August 11, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2315

281. gaweatherboi 8:17 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Light rain in millen ga temp now down to 37 dewpoint 34 this is getting interesting. Snow is knocking on my doorstep. Member Since: August 12, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 108

282. WPBHurricane05 8:18 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
TWC said no snow on Hawaii's mountains, not surprised they are wrong. Member Since: July 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 8016

283. gwhite713 8:19 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Does anyone know how Vancouver, BC is going to fare this week on the slopes, rain and snow was last i heard.. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

284. PcolaDan 8:19 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting PensacolaDoug: Hey Dan! Thats what it looked like here in Warrington for about 2 minutes. Lasted about 10 minutes, of which about 5 were fairly big flakes coming down pretty good. Nothing stuck of course. Was watching a heavy band of, something, on radar coming from you way up here for about 1/2 hour prior. Seemed to build just as it got here and now dissipated. Got to oranges just as it got here. Right place, right time, a little luck and some perseverance on my part. LOL Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

285. StormChaser81 8:20 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting WPBHurricane05: TWC said no snow on Hawaii's mountains, not surprised they are wrong. Typical Member Since: August 11, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2315

286. PcolaDan 8:22 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
You can see the area that gave us snow at the Okaloosa - Walton line right now on the beach. Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

287. gwhite713 8:22 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
WPB they were rather relucatant to admit snow records for the large mid atlantic cities, at least not until they were more than smashed =). Now if we could only get a few flakes to fly in the American somoas ,or on Johnston Island in the Pacific=).. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

288. IKE 8:22 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Moderate snow....down to 36.0! Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

289. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 8:23 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
pulls ne ward swinging cold front se ward Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332

290. HurricaneHunterGal 8:26 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting WPBHurricane05: TWC said no snow on Hawaii's mountains, not surprised they are wrong. I dont ever trust TWC. They are usually wrong. Member Since: August 17, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 249

291. WxLogic 8:27 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
MAX solar hitting should be happening between 3:30PM ET and 4:00PM ET. In matter fact I'm at 45F (dropping) and CAA at low levels appears to have started to kick in in N/CFL (specially being enhanced by evaporation cooling due to the rain) so I will expect temps to continue to come down from this point on. Should be interesting to see how far south the snow line will get. Member Since: August 14, 2008 Posts: 4 Comments: 4721

292. gwhite713 8:29 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Keeper, thats an awesome radar look..Im in extreme se TN on the NC/TN border. We are well in the snow and i thought it was going to clear up for a bit than i see the weather heading for the NW part of the state. Its been one storm after another here. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

293. mossyhead 8:29 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting IKE: It stuck to my hair and that's about it. It is snowing heavily here on my side of defuniak Ike. Our car is covered in snow. And it is sticking to the ground. BIG FLAKES!!!! Member Since: July 7, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 472

294. 850Realtor 8:30 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Any chance for more in Pensacola or is it now officially over? Member Since: September 14, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 283

295. gwhite713 8:31 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Looking at that radar Keeper, kinda looks like DC might even see a few flakes,incredible. Member Since: December 5, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 93

296. PcolaDan 8:32 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting 850Realtor: Any chance for more in Pensacola or is it now officially over? Based on radar, I'd say we were done. Of course I'm not official. :) Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

297. IKE 8:32 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting mossyhead: It is snowing heavily here on my side of defuniak Ike. Our car is covered in snow. And it is sticking to the ground. BIG FLAKES!!!! Same here now...down to 35.6. Got some pictures taken. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

298. NttyGrtty 8:32 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Now 37 degrees on the beach, rain stopped and the sky getting bright to the west. Congrats to all the snow wishers who got their wish... Member Since: February 11, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 666

299. divdog 8:33 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
just started snowing in niceville. have to download picture Member Since: August 22, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 755

300. IKE 8:34 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
My poodle has never seen snow in his life. He's scared to go out in it. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

301. HurricaneHunterGal 8:37 PM GMT on February 12, 2010
Quoting IKE: My poodle has never seen snow in his life. He's scared to go out in it. awwww haha :-) Member Since: August 17, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 249

Viewing: 251 - 301

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 — Blog Index

Top of Page

New Comment

Community Standards Policy Comments will take a few seconds to appear.

Post Your Comments

Please sign in to post comments.

or Join

Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.

About JeffMasters