Texas Winter 2018-2019

[srainhoutx]

Wintry mix reported in Madison County (Northern area of SE Texas)

[orangeblood]

So when the temp raises at DFW, that should better our setup for snow with hypothetical precipitation?

Not necessarily, just need heavy enough precip to overcome the lower level dry air...06Z NAM showed this happening across DFW but not it's lost it again. Like most events, throw the models out and just watch radar and ground reports

[hriverajr]

Small hail reported in Del Rio. There is a convective nature with the shortwave approaching.

It's graupel...

[fendie]

Sleet 20 miles west of Austin.

[TexasF6]

Sleet and some snowflakes at the #LonghornWXCenter in Jollyville, TX. 32* Coming down heavily now!!!

[orangeblood]

It is quite noteworthy that none of the short range models are showing this precip reaching the ground this early

[Ralph's Weather]

The whole stretch from Del Rio to Lufkin seems to have at least scattered reports of sleet and graupel. Temps in that area are generally in the low 30s. Seems like where the humidity is above 70% is where stuff starts reaching the ground.

[Shoshana]

About to drive to work, snow clumsily!

[Portastorm]

My drive to work was fun this morning. Started at the Portastorm Weather Center at 7:30 am with light to moderate graupel falling and an air temp (according to Champ the Charger) of 32. Stopped at Walgreens about 2 miles SE of my house where a mixture of graupel, sleet, and light rain was falling ... again 32 degrees. Went several miles east to the bank in south Austin where it was just rain and 34 degrees. Then by the time I got downtown around 8:15, light graupel was falling with a 34-degree air temp.

If this is our big winter weather event of the 2018-19 season, I'll take it. It's better than nothing.

[Portastorm]

It is quite noteworthy that none of the short range models are showing this precip reaching the ground this early

Yes, I wanted to point that out as well. None of the models I saw even as of last night showed the precip starting this early in the Austin area.

[Ralph's Weather]

I def did not expect that to hear of wintery recip in E TX this morning. Seem that the air is colder, but also the wave is stronger creating more lift tan modeled. I am not surprised by this but still interesting.

[aggiecutter]

My drive to work was fun this morning. Started at the Portastorm Weather Center at 7:30 am with light to moderate graupel falling and an air temp (according to Champ the Charger) of 32. Stopped at Walgreens about 2 miles SE of my house where a mixture of graupel, sleet, and light rain was falling ... again 32 degrees. Went several miles east to the bank in south Austin where it was just rain and 34 degrees. Then by the time I got downtown around 8:15, light graupel was falling with a 34-degree air temp.

If this is our big winter weather event of the 2018-19 season, I'll take it. It's better than nothing.

Austin, Texas- the graupel capitol of Texas.

[weatherdude1108]

Finally sleeted here at work. Decent size. Melted on contact. I picked a random car out in the parking lot by the back door of the building, as it was 32 with a wind chill of 23. A far cry from the 70s two days ago.

[WacoWx]

"Random car". Wash your car bro.

[wxman57]

My drive to work was fun this morning. Started at the Portastorm Weather Center at 7:30 am with light to moderate graupel falling and an air temp (according to Champ the Charger) of 32. Stopped at Walgreens about 2 miles SE of my house where a mixture of graupel, sleet, and light rain was falling ... again 32 degrees. Went several miles east to the bank in south Austin where it was just rain and 34 degrees. Then by the time I got downtown around 8:15, light graupel was falling with a 34-degree air temp.

If this is our big winter weather event of the 2018-19 season, I'll take it. It's better than nothing.

Well, if you're satisfied then I'll end this winter nonsense soon! Upper 30s and windy in Houston - useless cold.

[orangeblood]

And winter is not done by any stretch....models are going towards a strong Phase 8 by later next week and with a lot of cold air around in NA, there should be plenty to follow going forward!

[weatherdude1108]

"Random car". Wash your car bro.

LOL. I don't know who drives it. My thoughts too. Looks like the paint is oxidized because the person never washes/waxes it. Time for a new paint job.

[Ralph's Weather]

Looking at modeled soundings there should be no way for areas in southern E TX to be seeing precip but there are multiple reports around Palestine and Lufkin so I take it that the mid levels are moistening up more quickly than modeled.

[Ntxw]

And winter is not done by any stretch....models are going towards a strong Phase 8 by later next week and with a lot of cold air around in NA, there should be plenty to follow going forward!

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/MJO/CLIVAR/ECMF_phase_51m_full.gif

The background state has changed from the rest of the winter so far. STJ looks to remain a more dominant force than the polar jet (relative to normal) which continues to be consistent with low freq El Nino tropical forcing. The weak north Pacific/polar jet prevents mild air from penetrating W-Canada via the Pacific. The AO has left the building. Show run mostly by the EPO and -PNA. Indonesia has dried out.

[Portastorm]

Thunder sleet reported north of Leakey in Real County in the last 15 minutes. Oh where is Jim Cantore when you need him!