Significant Weather Events

FEBRUARY 3-4 2011 WINTER STORM

Overview

A strengthening upper level low over western Texas began to push east-northeast through Louisiana during the overnight hours of February 3rd and the morning of February 4th. Mid level moisture allowed for the development of light showers across the area on the morning of the 4th. While mid level temperatures remained above freezing, temperatures near the surface were running from 28-32 degrees, resulting in widespread winter precipitation.

Freezing rain mixing with sleet and snow developed across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana on the morning of February 3rd, with some ice accumulations on elevated surfaces across south central Louisiana. All areas saw a changeover to freezing rain by the evening of February 3rd, with freezing rain continuing into the morning of February 4th. The hardest hit areas were across central Louisiana, including Alexandria and Ville Platte, which experienced nearly a quarter inch of ice accumulation from the freezing rain. Beaumont/Port Arthur saw around one tenth of an inch of ice accumulation, and one tenth of an inch of ice was also measured at the NWS office in Lake Charles. The entire region saw at least a trace of freezing rain which resulted in numerous road closures and car accidents (with 1 fatality), as well as widespread power outages affecting over 26,000 customers.

Local Storm Reports

List of all Local Winter Storm Reports for February 3-4 2011

Maps
Estimated Ice Accumulation	Winter Storm Reports

Pictures
Alexandria, LA photo courtesy of KALB-TV	Alexandria, LA photo courtesy of KALB-TV	Lafayette, LA photo courtesy of KATC-TV
Lake Charles, LA photo by Sam Shamburger, NWS LCH	Beaumont, TX photo courtesy of KBMT-TV	Beaumont, TX photo courtesy of KBMT-TV