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Storm Events Database
Event Details
| Event | Ice Storm |
| State | TEXAS |
| County/Area | BROOKS |
| WFO | BRO |
| Begin Date | 02/03/2011 12:00:00 CST-6 |
| End Date | 02/04/2011 06:00:00 CST-6 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 0.00K |
| Crop Damage | |
| Episode Narrative | The combination of an arctic airmass with the approach of an upper level disturbance lifted a limited amount of low level moisture into light precipitation, which started by mid morning in Cameron and Willacy County, then spread into Hidalgo County during the afternoon and eventually across all of Deep South Texas by evening of February 3rd. The glaze ice became mixed with or changed to sleet across the Rio Grande Plains, from western Starr and Jim Hogg County into Zapata County. Persistent northwesterly winds across the longest fetch of Falcon Lake aided lift downwind, with a band of moderate snow leaving around an inch after midnight in Falcon Heights (Starr County). The glaze ice, falling on numerous untreated bridges and overpasses, forced these roads to close from the afternoon of the 3rd through the afternoon of the 4th. Early notification may have limited the number of accidents as most school districts in the Lower Valley and a number of businesses closed ahead of the precipitation; still, at least 194 crashes were reported, mostly after the onset of the precipitation during the late morning and early afternoon of February 3rd. Power outages increased through the event, but most were due to rolling blackouts state-wide due to frigid to near record cold temperatures. Nearly 65,000 customers in the Rio Grande Valley were without power during all or part of the Ice Storm. |
| Event Narrative | One quarter inch diameter glazing was reported on exposed surfaces (tree limbs, power lines, etc). early on February 4th. Ice accretion was estimated to begin between noon and 3 PM in the county, with accretions estimated to reach 1/8 inch, the local criteria for such an unusual event, between 5 an 7 PM CST. Significant damage was not reported as the precipitation fell as a mist for nearly the entire event. The glaze ice, combined with the long duration freeze, fully cured all ranchland (grasses, scrub brush, mesquite) turning all plantlife brown and barren. |
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 20.00K | 0.00K | |||||||
| COASTAL WILLACY (ZONE) | COASTAL WILLACY (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 09:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| COASTAL CAMERON (ZONE) | COASTAL CAMERON (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 09:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K | |
| CAMERON (ZONE) | CAMERON (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 10:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K | |
| BROOKS (ZONE) | BROOKS (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 12:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| WILLACY (ZONE) | WILLACY (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 12:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K | |
| HIDALGO (ZONE) | HIDALGO (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 13:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| KENEDY (ZONE) | KENEDY (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 15:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| JIM HOGG (ZONE) | JIM HOGG (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 16:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| STARR (ZONE) | STARR (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 17:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| ZAPATA (ZONE) | ZAPATA (ZONE) | TX | 02/03/2011 | 18:00 | CST-6 | Ice Storm | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 20.00K | 0.00K |
