An extremely rare snow event blanketed a large portion of South Texas resulting in a historic "White Christmas" for South Texans.  An arctic airmass was already well entrenched across South Texas on Christmas Eve.  A very strong upper level disturbance located in northern Mexico continued to approach South Texas during the day and evening hours on Christmas Eve.  This strong disturbance along with persistent upglide conditions were primarily responsible for this rare snowstorm.  The first band of precipitation developed around 900 AM CST on the 24th and continued through 200 PM CST on the 24th.  This initial band was a mix of sleet, snow and thunder and affected the northern portions of South Texas, stretching from northwest Webb county to Choke Canyon Reservoir into northern Victoria county.  A second band of sleet and snow developed about 50 miles further south at around noon on the 24th.  Both of these bands moved steadily northward through the morning and afternoon hours and affected areas primarily north of a Laredo to Mathis to Rockport line.  As the strong disturbance got even closer to South Texas by the late afternoon and evening hours on the 24th, more significant snowfall began to develop. Initially the bulk of the snow developed around 400 PM CST on the 24th across deep South Texas to the south of Hebbronville and Falfurrias.  Over the next several hours, this band of snow blossomed northward across most of South Texas. For several hours, this snow was mixed with sleet across locations close to the coast such as Corpus Christi.  An eventual changeover to all snow occurred across even coastal locations during the evening hours as colder air was drawn south, and as cooling from evaporation occurred.  Evaporative cooling was enhanced given the surface dewpoints in the teens.  Widespread light to moderate snow with occasional heavy snow persisted from the evening on the 24th until sunrise Christmas morning.  Lightning was again evident during the evening hours on the 24th.  The snow ended from west to east early Christmas morning as the upper level disturbance quickly moved across South Texas and into the northwest Gulf of Mexico.Officially, 4.4 inches of snow was reported at the Corpus Christi International Airport.  This broke the previous 24-hour snowfall record of 4.3 inches set back on February 14, 1895.  This was only the second white Christmas ever recorded in Corpus Christi.  Officially, Victoria received 12.5 inches of snow for this event. This also broke the previous 24-hour snowfall record which was 12.0 inches set back in February 14, 1895.  This is the first known white Christmas for the Victoria area.Below are selected snowfall amounts reported by official observers at Corpus Chrisit and Victoria as well as area cooperative observers and law enforcement:Victoria...12.5"Goliad...12.0"Beeville...10.0"Alice...10.0"Refugio...9.5"Tynan...8.0"George West...8.0"Port Lavaca...8.0"Seadrfit...8.0"Rockport...6.0"Odem...6.0"Mathis...6.0"Freer...6.0"Tilden...6.0"Aransas NWR...5.5"Corpus Chrisit Intl Arpt...4.4"Encinal...4.0"Kingsville...4.0"Port O'Connor...4.0"Laredo...1.1"Cotulla...1.0"

Heavy Snow in REFUGIO, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 08:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in SAN PATRICIO, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:00:00 to 25-DEC-04 08:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in WEBB, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 20:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 04:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in ARANSAS, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:45:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in BEE, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:00:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in CALHOUN, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 08:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in DUVAL, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 20:20:00 to 25-DEC-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in GOLIAD, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:00:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in JIM WELLS, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 21:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 05:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in KLEBERG, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 22:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in LA SALLE, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 20:30:00 to 25-DEC-04 04:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in LIVE OAK, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 20:20:00 to 25-DEC-04 05:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in NUECES, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-04 07:30:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Snow in MCMULLEN, TEXAS
From 24-DEC-04 20:20:00 to 25-DEC-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT