Category: Extreme Weather

Yes, as incredible as it sounds, it snowed in southeast Texas, evidently quite a bit, as much as 5 inches in some places.

Here is part of a statement from the National Weather Service in Houston:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT…CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1158 AM CST THU DEC 11 2008

…SNOW FALL TOTALS FOR 10 DECEMBER 2008…

A COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
TEXAS YESTERDAY AND HAS PRODUCED A BROAD AREA OF SNOWFALL FOR
EARLY DECEMBER. THIS TIES THE MARK FOR THE EARLIEST SNOW FALL IN
THE HOUSTON AREA FOR DECEMBER. IT HAD ALSO SNOWED ON DECEMBER 10
IN 1944. LIGHT SNOW FELL DURING THE MORNING OVER PARTS OF
WASHINGTON…BURLESON AND BRAZOS COUNTIES ON DECEMBER 10TH. SNOW
REDEVELOPED DURING AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE
MOVED INTO THE HOUSTON AREA. SOME AREAS ACROSS THE REGION SAW A
CHANGE OF RAIN AND SLEET TO SNOW BY THE EVENING HOURS. SNOWFALL
WAS AT ITS HEAVIEST BETWEEN 5 PM AND 10 PM LAST NIGHT MAINLY EAST
OF AN INTERSTATE 45 LINE. SNOW FALL AMOUNTS RANGED FROM A TRACE
OVER PARTS OF WESTERN BRAZORIA…HARRIS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES
TO AS MUCH 2 TO 3 INCHES IN EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY. TRACE TO ONE
INCH AMOUNTS FELL ON GALVESTON ISLAND WITH GENERALLY AN INCH TO
TWO INCHES OF SNOW FALL FOR GALVESTON COUNTY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW
FALL WAS IN A BAND FROM CHAMBERS COUNTY TO POLK COUNTY WHERE
SOME AREAS SAW AS MUCH AS 4 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.

WHEN DID IT SNOW LAST? SNOW FLURRIES FELL ACROSS THE EXTREME
NORTHERN PARTS OF THE REGION ON MARCH 7TH 2008 BUT THE LAST
MEASURABLE SNOW OCCURRED ON APRIL 7TH 2007 NORTH OF A CALDWELL TO
LIVINGSTON LINE. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW FELL ON THAT SATURDAY
BEFORE EASTER.

THE LAST MEASURABLE SNOW TO FALL IN THE HOUSTON AREA FELL ON
CHRISTMAS EVE IN 2004. SNOW AMOUNTS WERE A TRACE AT
INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT…BUT SOUTHERN SUBURBS LIKE PEARLAND…
WEBSTER AND CLEAR LAKE RECEIVED 2 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW. FURTHER
SOUTH A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW AFFECTED WHARTON…FORT BEND AND
BRAZORIA COUNTIES.

FOR WHAT IT`S WORTH…THE LAST LAND FALLING HURRICANE ON GALVESTON
ISLAND BEFORE HURRICANE IKE WAS HURRICANE JERRY IN 1989. THERE
WAS 1.7 INCHES OF SNOW ON DECEMBER 22 1989. HURRICANE ALICIA MADE
LANDFALL IN 1983 AND THERE WERE SEVERAL DAYS WITH SNOW FLURRIES IN
DECEMBER OF 1983. PERHAPS JUST A COINCIDENCE.

If the long range models pan out, a large part of the plains could be seeing a significant winter weather episode beginning next week.

AUSTIN – Thursday November 13, 2008 is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Texas. Winter storms can strand motorists traveling northern routes in Texas, sometimes striking South Texas and coastal areas. When winter storms threaten, monitor TV and radio, National Weather Service forecasts and NOAA Weather Radio for information. If you must travel, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines and don’t travel alone.

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR VEHICLE

• Blankets/sleeping bags and extra clothing, including mittens and hat
• Cell phone, radio, flashlight, extra batteries, booster cables
• First-aid kit
• High-calorie, non-perishable food and bottled water
• Sack of sand or cat litter for de-icing roadway
• Windshield scraper , tool kit, tow rope and shovel

EMERGENCY TIPS FOR HOME

If heavy ice on the lines cuts utility service, be extremely careful using generators or gas powered equipment. Carbon monoxide (CO) is invisible, odorless, deadly and can build up in a matter of minutes. Do not use generators, charcoal grills or gas grills inside the house, garage or other enclosed space. Do not try to heat the house using a gas range or oven. Be prepared at home or work with these supplies:

Battery-powered NOAA weather radio, extra batteries

Emergency supplies of food, water, medicine, medical supplies and items needed by babies or the elderly

Heating fuel for areas where fuel carriers may not be able to get through

Properly ventilated emergency heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove or space heater

Fire extinguisher and smoke detector