NWS Ft. Worth

Back-to-Back Pacific Storms to Impact the West Coast; Heavy Snow in the Central Appalachians

Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >

North Texas Sleet and Ice Storm
February 24, 2003

Preliminary Sleet/Snow/Ice Accumulation Map

A Major Winter Storm swept across all of North Texas Monday afternoon and Monday night as warm and moist air moved over a deep, cold, Arctic air mass at the surface. A major sleet and ice storm swept across North Texas on February 24th, 2003. This map shows ice accumulations from 1/3" to 3/4" across areas south of a line from Athens to Killeen. Areas north of this line experienced sleet and snow accumlations from 1/2" to near 5" inches. Most of the precipitation fell as sleet.

Early Monday morning, a Winter Storm Watch was posted for Monday night for southeast sections of North Texas. As new weather data arrived later that morning, it became evident that all of North Texas would be under the gun for a winter event. Winter Storm Warnings were issued for Monday afternoon for the northwest 2/3'rds of the region, while an Ice Storm Warning was issued for Monday night across the southeast 1/3.

The precipitation began across the west and northwest sections of North Texas around noon, where it lingered through 5 pm.

Most of the precipitation initially was in the form of sleet. New sleet showers developed across the southwestern sections of North Texas in the early evening, while some sleet and freezing rain also developed across the south-central and southeast.

The sleet came down very heavy at times and before the precipitation ended, several locations across the north has received 3 to 4 inches of sleet and snow. Central sections of North Texas had 1 to 1 and 1/2 inches of mainly sleet.

Further south and southeast, ice accumulated between 1/4" and 3/4 inch. The ice across the southeast caused numerous trees and power lines to fall, especially in Leon and Roberston Counties. Elsewhere, the sleet and snow helped to create numerous traffic accidents and the D/FW Airport reported numerous delays.

While there was not a lot snow to play with, children across most of North Texas did delight in a day off from school, as some districts sent students home early Monday and many cancelled classes for Tuesday.

Back-to-Back Pacific Storms to Impact the West Coast; Heavy Snow in the Central Appalachians

NWS Ft. Worth

North Texas Sleet and Ice Storm February 24, 2003

Preliminary Sleet/Snow/Ice Accumulation Map

North Texas Sleet and Ice Storm
February 24, 2003