NWS Lubbock, TX, Winter Storm, February 22-23, 2015

Winter Strikes Back 22-23 February 2015

Ice frozen on the top of a West Texas Mesonet state near Anton, TX, on Monday, February 23, 2015. The picture is courtesy of Wes Burgett.

After an unseasonably warm end to the week, and a mild Saturday, a strong cold front moved through the region on Sunday (February 22nd). Behind this front, very light snow fell across portions of the Texas Panhandle. However, as this front moved southward, it changed areas of drizzle and light rain to freezing drizzle and freezing rain. This frozen precipitation was light, but persisted well into Sunday evening, and with temperatures falling down into the 20s and teens, it resulted in slick and ice-coated roadways. In advance of the front, early Sunday, portions of the Rolling Plains even saw a few scattered thunderstorms (see the below radar animation), though rain totals were generally light.


Regional radar animation valid from 6:18 to 7:28 am on Sunday, February 22, 2015.

Light freezing drizzle eventually changed to sleet and snow as the cold air deepened and the warm air aloft cooled late Sunday night into Monday (February 23rd). The areas of sleet and snow gradually diminished from west to east during the day Monday, but afternoon temperatures only rose into the lower 20s. In fact, Lubbock's official high of 22 degrees shattered the previous record low high for the date of 34 degrees, which was set back in 1941. In addition, four tenths of an inch of snow was officially measured at the Lubbock Airport, which also broke the daily record of three tenths of an inch set in 2010.


Lubbock WSR-88D radar animation valid from 4:12 am to 7:36 pm on Monday, February 23, 2015.

The ice and snow did make for dangerous and difficult traveling at times, but it also produced some interesting and beautiful views. Below you can see the bison thriving in the cold and snow.


Wintry seen in Caprock Canyons State Park on February 23rd. The image is courtesy of Earl Nottingham.

Below are several additional views of the wintry scenes around the South Plains. Temperatures finally did climb above the freezing mark on Tuesday (February 24th), which finally allowed things to thaw out.



Pictures of the wintry impacts around Lubbock (UL, UR, LL) and Plainview (LR) on February 23 and 24, 2015.