Here’s a look at some of DFW’s most significant winter weather events.
DALLAS — The prospect of snow brings both excitement and, particularly since the February 2021 winter storm that left millions of Texans in the dark, anxiety in North Texas.
Snow began falling Thursday morning across North Texas with between 2 and 4 inches of snow and sleet expected in the DFW area.
Here’s a look at some of DFW’s most significant winter weather events.
The February 2021 cold snap
Cold gripped much of the state and WFAA’s Jesse Hawila previously reported that all of Texas’ 254 counties were under a winter storm warning.
Temperatures in DFW were below freezing for 139 consecutive hours, 246 Texans died (including a reported 22 in Dallas County and 11 in Tarrant County), and millions were left without power.
During this event, snowfall totals between 6 and 8 inches were widespread in areas east of the I-35 corridor and across portions of northwest Texas. The 5-inch tally at DFW Airport at the time was the highest event total in more than 10 years, according to the National Weather Service, and Waco’s total of 4.6 inches was the highest amount in nearly 40 years.
This event was also the costliest event in North Texas, in terms of both lives lost and money. Statewide damages, meanwhile, totaled in excess of $100 billion. In terms of power outages, the second-worst storm in Dallas County’s history wasn’t winter weather related, but the the May 28 storm that left thousands without power, many for several days.
The most snowfall seen at DFW didn’t happen during the 2021 event, though.
The greatest snowfall amount recorded at DFW was 11.2 inches Feb. 11, 2010, with 12.5 inches of snow recorded Feb. 11-12, 2010.
There were also widespread power outages recorded because of the heavy snow weighing down tree limbs and breaking power lines.
Sleet and rain Dec. 5-6 2013
Sleet and freezing rain fell across much of the region with accumulation of as much as 4 and 5 inches of snow in the Sherman/Denison area. Cloud cover caused the icy conditions to refreeze over multiple days, during which the term “cobblestone ice” was coined, according to the National Weather Service. DFW Airport saw prolonged impacts to operations.
February 2011
As AT&T Stadium prepared to host the Super Bowl Feb. 6, 2011, a matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, North Texas, which brings massive traffic, North Texas was also dealing with significant snowfall.
February 3-4 2011
Snow spread into North Texas from central Texas into northeast Texas February 3 and 4. Dallas Love Field measured 5.1 inches for the event. Totals of 6 inches or more could be found in Collin County, and from Corsicana to Terrell and Canton. The heaviest amounts were 7 to 8 inches, from Emory and Sulphur Springs to Mineola and Mount Pleasant, according to the National Weather Service.
On Feb. 1, 2011, heavy rain accompanied a strong arctic front. The precipitation transitioned to heavy sleet thunderstorms during the early morning hours of February 1, the NWS reported. Winds gusted over 50 mph at DFW Airport with heavy sleet. The precipitation changed to snow before ending, accumulating 6 to 7 inches of frozen precipitation in Graham and Olney.