Bitter cold and wintry weather pay a visit to West Texas (2-4 February 2022)

Bitter cold and wintry weather pay a visit to West Texas
2-4 February 2022

Early February 2022 brought a brutal shot of Arctic air, complete with wintry precipitation. The bitter cold was reminiscent of the air that invaded Texas just one year ago, in mid-February 2021, though it didn't stick around as long as that crippling event.

Highs on Wednesday only reached the 30s and lower 40s, and that was early in the day, as temperatures dropped through much of the daylight hours as stout northerly winds carried in the colder air. At the same time, a broad fetch of Pacific moisture streamed over much of Texas ahead of a broad mid-upper level trough gradually approaching via the Rockies.

Precipitation developed on Wednesday as the moisture was lifted up and over the invading cold air. Where temperatures were "warm" enough, rain changed to freezing rain, then sleet across parts of the Rolling Plains and points south and east from there during the day Wednesday. Further west, where the cold air was more entrenched, areas of snow developed and spread northeastward across parts of the South Plains and Texas Panhandle. 

By Wednesday evening, it was cold enough that snow was the dominate mode across all of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Areas of snow continued, off and on, Wednesday night and into Thursday morning (February 3rd). Temperatures continued to fall, bottoming out in the single digits and lower teens early Thursday, which when combined with northerly winds sustained near 20 mph, made it feel like 0 to -15 degrees or colder. 

The bitter chill didn't ease much Thursday afternoon as highs only reached the teens in most locations, and the gusty northerly winds persisted. In fact, Lubbock only reached 17 degrees, which tied a record minimum high (last set in 1989). Coincidentally, the record high for the date (February 3rd) was set last year (2021), when the mercury reached 81 degrees. In addition to the cold, a band of light to moderate snow developed across the southwest Texas Panhandle and northwest South Plains Thursday morning, then slowly spread southeastward through the afternoon hours, bringing additional light accumulations.

The snow finally tapered off Thursday night, but not before dropping widespread 1 to 3 inch totals. The light and fluffy snow, coupled with the very cold temperatures, resulted in slick and hazardous travel. The heaviest sleet and snow (including a glaze of ice early on) impacted the southern Rolling Plains, where 3 to 4+ inches were common. 

Officially, Lubbock recorded 1.6 inches of snow, but only 0.12 inches of liquid when melted down. Unfortunately, overall liquid equivalents were on the low side, though the entire region received at least a little moisture. 

Skies eventually cleared late Thursday night, leading to an extremely cold night, with lows reaching the single digits above and below zero. Thankfully, plenty of sunshine and weakening northerly breezes allowed temperatures to recover above freezing Friday afternoon.

It's a Sun pillar! These are more commonly seen up in the Arctic at sunrise or sunset, but it was just cold enough and just clear enough to spy one in West Texas on Thursday evening. The picture is courtesy of the West Texas Mesonet.