Texas Winter 2015-2016

[Tejas89]

As much as we loved that February 2010 event, the first part of February 2011 was much more impressive IMO.

Record low temperature of 15°F on February 10, 2011 - first record low temperature since December 4, 2006
100 hours below freezing - longest streak since January 1997 (107 hours)
High temperature of 20°F on February 2 - lowest high temperature since December 22, 1990 (16°F)
5 consecutive mornings in the teens - first time since December 1989

Several snow/sleet events over that period. I remember it snowing fairly hard at 17 degrees at our place, and thinking "this is why we love winter."


...sigh...

[Ntxw]

As much as we loved that February 2010 event, the first part of February 2011 was much more impressive IMO.

Record low temperature of 15°F on February 10, 2011 - first record low temperature since December 4, 2006
100 hours below freezing - longest streak since January 1997 (107 hours)
High temperature of 20°F on February 2 - lowest high temperature since December 22, 1990 (16°F)
5 consecutive mornings in the teens - first time since December 1989

Several snow/sleet events over that period. I remember it snowing fairly hard at 17 degrees at our place, and thinking "this is why we love winter."

Yeah the two events were indicative of the broad scale patterns of their years. 2010 was just persistently chilly and the numerous storms eventually hit one. 2011 was the big arctic kahuna you typically see in big La Nina's. They are warmer overall in general throughout winter but you usually get that one really big arctic outbreak because during La Nina, NW Canada is very cold just a matter of unloading it at the right place.

Something often overlooked, early January 2011 featured a little snow event that eastplexers may remember. It's often forgotten because of the super bowl blast but I remember that storm. 6-7" fell in sulphur springs and 2-4" across eastern metroplex.

[Ntxw]

CPC





Worst winter ever ever . It makes 2011-2012 seem cold...Euro ensembles look ugly warm, all out torch. By this time next week DFW will crack top 10 warmest winters.

Great for early planting, tomatoes will have a good start and bell peppers are easy.

[gboudx]

[wxman57]

CPC

http://i63.tinypic.com/hsjrwm.gif

http://i68.tinypic.com/ljqdg.gif

Worst winter ever ever . It makes 2011-2012 seem cold...Euro ensembles look ugly warm, all out torch. By this time next week DFW will crack top 10 warmest winters.

Great for early planting, tomatoes will have a good start and bell peppers are easy.

Those charts are lookin' good! Had a good ride today. High of 80 degrees. If it's not going to snow (and it's not), it might as well be pleasant temperature-wise.

[EnnisTx]

85 degrees here today!

[Ptarmigan]

I have seen more interesting winters with La NIna or weak to moderate El Nino. The winter of 2009-2010 was a moderate Modoki El Nino and winter of 1988-1989 was a strong La Nina.

[weatherdude1108]

My car thermometer ranged from 81 to 84 degrees on way home today. :
Bob Rose offers some hope.

Abnormally Dry Weather in Place Across Central Texas
Thursday, February 11, 2016 7:07 PM
​
In Wednesday's blog, I mentioned how unusually dry the weather pattern has been since the first of the year. It appears that for reason, the wet signal associated with El Nino across Texas has diminished. Fortunately, the latest long-range computer-forecast solutions indicate this dry period should be somewhat short-lived, with a pattern of near normal to slightly above normal rainfall returning sometime in March and continuing through late spring. Of course, we have to take these outlooks simply as guidance as the models may not have a clear handle as to the actual cause of the current dry pattern.

For the time being, things have begun to dry out and conditions are headed toward the development of drought. At Austin-Camp Mabry, rainfall of just 0.34 inches since January 1st makes this the tenth driest start to any calendar year on record dating back to 1891. This week's updated US Drought Monitor is showing a depiction of "abnormally dry" conditions across a large portion of Central Texas and the eastern Hill Country. The category of abnormally dry is not considered to be a level of drought, but the category does refer to conditions that are often a precursor to drought.

Hopefully, the long-range solutions will be correct and a wetter pattern will return this spring.

Bob

http://www.lcra.org/water/river-and-wea ... ather.aspx

[Texas Snowman]

I remember a Valentine's Day back in the 1990s with the temperature pushing 90 degrees here in Denison. Fortunately, there aren't too many of those but we're going to occasionally get a stinker of a winter in these parts and I guess this is that year.

Of course, I remember even better the Valentine's Day weekend snowstorm about a decade ago that dumped several inches of snow here in D-Town and brought Heavy Snow Warnings for Grayson County that afternoon and early evening. In fact, the heaviest snow was falling when my wife and I walked out of the local theater after watching the movie "Miracle" about the 1980 U.S. hockey team's Olympic gold medal.

Nothing like that this weekend. But with any luck, we'll soon get into a cool and wet spring weather pattern come March. One that gives 57 plenty of shivering, miserable bike rides.

[Brent]

The GFS is starting to come around to the wet pattern towards the end of the month again... please verify. I'll take anything.

[Ntxw]

There is a hope for rain! While still skeptic on any cold until the PNA falls below (it will weaken but forecast again to rise after) I think the wet signal is decent.

It will be funny if we manage to ring enough rain at the end of the month to bring winter up to average or above...now that would fit the theme of the past 12 months!



Usually when things are dry in the southeast and the southwest at the same time, the rain highway is centered over Texas with a ridge in the Gulf returning moisture.

[dhweather]

http://orig15.deviantart.net/833f/f/2010/090/d/e/pivot_kick_in_the_nuts__3_by_animatorrm.gif

LMAO!!!

[Texas Snowman]

I hesitate in posting this because of the vigorous rebuttal that I'm sure will follow, but here is a Facebook post by Larry Cosgrove earlier this morning.

It's in response to someone asking if there will be any more chances of winter weather in Wise County here in North Texas:

"at this point, the proverbial "last chance" scenario looms for around February 25 - 26. The blocking pattern will be quite strong with cold air drainage, and there should be a pretty good sized storm out of Mexico. This winter has been frustrating in that blocking never coincides with storms; evidence the Dec 26 system which was very much like what you would find in early April."

[Texas Snowman]

Now, the clock starts ticking for Heat Miser to ride in and blast that idea to smithereens.

[EnnisTx]

Now, the clock starts ticking for Heat Miser to ride in and blast that idea to smithereens.

Stay away from the thermostat Heat Miser!

[orangeblood]

I wouldn't be surprised if we have a extremely cold period towards the end of this month...the cold air is there (check out some of the forecasted low temps in the Northeast) but got shoved eastward due to the +PNA.

[Texas Snowman]

Interesting read on this winter's El Niño:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/feb/11/estimate-elnino-rains/

[wxman57]

Now, the clock starts ticking for Heat Miser to ride in and blast that idea to smithereens.

Now why would I do that? The GFS does show below-normal temps all along the Gulf Coast at that time. And, of course, it's entirely believable beyond 300 hrs...

[Texas Snowman]

Ha! One of these days, it's going to be right at 300 hours. Maybe I'll live long enough to see it.

[Tireman4]

I quit. I am officially throwing in the towel. Sinusitis is killing me. I have to reread my literature for dissertation. My running is bleh because of the heat. Only positive. The US Olympic Trials Matathon this Saturday @12 noon on your local NBC affliaye.