National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Extreme Heat in the Central US Expands to the Southeast; Severe Weather & Flash Flooding Threats in the Plains & Upper Midwest Tonight.

Dangerous heat continues across portions of the Central and Southeast U.S. through July. Heavy rains, flooding, & severe weather are possible across the Plains & Upper Midwest to the upper Great Lakes tonight, with the heavy rain and flooding threat continuing through Friday. Tropical Depression 12W brings heavy rain to Guam & the Marianas through Saturday. Read More >

picture of our office during a heavy snow event
picture of our radar during a heavy snow event
bushes covered with snow
snow measurement of 6.5 inches
snow covered bushes
live oak trees
live oak trees
bird in snow covered tree
upper air dome
view of our office
live oak trees
snow measurement of 8.5 inches

 

n December 11, 1998, 9.75" of snow was recorded at the Midland International Airport (location of the Midland/Odessa National Weather Service Office). This snowstorm brought the heaviest one day totals, and the most for the month of December ever recorded locally. The previous record amount of snow occurred on January 24, 1974 when 6.8" of snow fell, January 9 1955 with 5.9", and November 16 1980 with 5.7". The rainfall equivalent from this record snowfall was a very welcomed 0.50".

 

snow cover as seen from  the GOES 8 satellite
image courtesy of the TNRCC

 

Clear skies over west Texas and southeast New Mexico on December 12th clearly showed the extent of the snowfall. This is a high resolution visible image from the TNRCC, showing the snow coverage at 1800Z or 12pm CST. This snow covered an area from west of the Interstate 10/20 junction (near the city of Kent, Texas) to the city of Jal, New Mexico. At both of these places, 11" was measured. The snow coverage extended northeast to just north of Andrews, to northeast of Big Spring. The snow coverage then went southwestward to between Garden City and Big Lake, to near Fort Stockton, to the northern Davis Mountains.