February 12 Snow

Event Summary:

A strong winter storm moved out of the Desert Southwest and across the South Plains of Texas during the day on Tuesday February 12th.  Moist air originating from the Gulf of Mexico combined with the strong lift from this system to bring heavy snow to much of the Panhandles.  Snow started late Monday night near Texline with thundersnow reported near Vega, Borger, and Amarillo.  Some graupel also mixed in with the storms.  Snow continued into Tuesday before tapering off during the afternoon.  By the time this storm exited the area, up to 9 inches of new snow fell in a corridor from Clarendon to Pampa while up to 8 inches fell in the northwestern Texas Panhandle at Dalhart.  The western Oklahoma Panhandle recieved the least amount of snow with up to an inch at Kenton.  This was a heavy wet snow with Amarillo, Borger, and Dalhart all breaking record precipitation and/or snowfall records for this date.  Amarillo officially recorded a record 4.7 inches of snow with a record liquid equivalent of 0.50 inches.  Borger also officially recorded a record 4.7 inches of snow with a record liquid equivalent of 0.51 inches while Dalhart received a record 8.0 inches of snow with a liquid equivalent of 0.26 inches.

Dumas (courtesy Kimberly Holcomb)

6  inches of new snow 7 miles north of Amarillo (courtesty of Jeannette McFarlin)

6 inches of new snow in Darrouzett (courtesy of Jennifer Maloy)

Around 5 inches of new snow in Sunday Canyon (courtesy of Woody Williams)

Dalhart (courtesy of Bruce Scott)