We’ll see snow in 2023 if historical data bears out. But how much, when?
Welcome to a balmy New Year’s weekend in North Texas.
The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office is forecasting a warm and sunny New Year’s Eve and Day with temperatures around 70 degrees. The warmth of the new year couldn’t come sooner after a frigid Christmas weekend.
“In a nutshell, right now at least to start the new year, [there’s] probably no winter weather expected,” said Steve Fano, meteorologist at the Fort Worth office.
But do not stuff your winter coat up in the attic just yet.
Historically, North Texas sees snow in February, according to the NWS.
The snowiest month of the year in Fort Worth is February, where the average snowfall is 1 inch, Fano said. The last two February’s have rung true with 2021 at 5 inches and 2022 at 1.7 inches, according to records kept by the NWS.
The frigid snowstorm that hit North Texas in February 2021 is firmly frozen in Texans’ memories. Record low temperatures sent energy use through the roof, forcing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to plead for consumers to watch their use of power.
Well, if we’re honest, the arrival of #snowmageddon2021 was kind of fun. Some even busted out snowboards and skis to enjoy the several inches of snow that had accumulated in many Texas cities.
But the February freeze was no laughing matter. The Texas Department of Health reported in June 2021 that the storm left 210 dead, mostly from exposure to the sometimes-subzero temperatures.
Warm start to a new year
As we get into January, Fort Worthians won’t have to worry about snow or ice just yet.
The NWS’ Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for the month, Fano said.
He isn’t ruling out a January snowstorm, but said the way the weather pattern is currently looking, it seems unlikely that Fort Worth would see winter weather.
Arctic intrusions are more likely in February or March. However, those are early predictions and still several months out, Fano said.
For January, the monthly average snowfall is 0.1 inches and the average number of days for the month with snow falling is 1.6 days, Fano said. The most snow ever recorded in January was 12.1 inches over a 24-hour period in 1964.
This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 8:40 AM.
