A powerful winter storm brought a combination of high winds and winter weather, including accumulating snowfall, to the west Texas South Plains region during the evening hours of the 2nd and into the 3rd.
Post frontal northerly winds gusted as high as 62 mph and were sustained at speeds up to 47 mph during the evening hours of the 2nd and the early morning hours of the 3rd over the northwestern half of the South Plains per measurements from the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet. These winds destroyed a metal storage shed when it was blown through a fence in Muleshoe (Bailey County) and snapped a power pole in Childress (Childress County). Observed severe wind gusts follow:
62 mph at White River Lake (Crosby County), 59 mph at Hart (Castro County), 58 mph at Muleshoe (Bailey County), 58 mph at Olton (Lamb County), and 58 mph at Plains (Yoakum County).
In addition, snow began to fall over much of the South Plains shortly before midnight on the 2nd. With high winds continuing into the morning hours of the 3rd, periods of blowing snow significantly reduced visibilities to near blizzard conditions. This contributed to at least two dozen automobile accidents across the region. Injuries were reported as a result of accidents in Castro and Hockley Counties.
Reported snowfall accumulations of at least 1 inch follow: 3 inches at Dimmitt (Castro County), 3 inches at Friona (Parmer County), 3 inches at Morton (Cochran County), 2 inches at Denver City (Yoakum County), 1 inch at Muleshoe (Bailey County), 1 inch at Olton (Lamb County), 1 inch at Brownfield (Terry County).
Combined estimated damages totalled nearly $235,000.

Winter Weather in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Adverse winter weather resulted in a number of accidents on Hockley County roadways during the morning hours of the 3rd. One accident resulted in an injury. Reported snow accumulations across Hockley County were less than one inch, but visibilities were reduced in blowing snow.

High Wind in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 22:30:00 to 02-MAR-08 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 18:30:00 to 02-MAR-08 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Local officials reported that damaging winds snapped a power pole near the Wal-Mart in Childress. A nearby Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site recorded sustained winds of 42 mph.

Winter Weather in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Local media sources reported that thirteen traffic accidents were related to winter weather conditions in Lubbock during the morning hours of the 3rd. Reported snow accumulations across the area were less than one inch, but visibilities were reduced in blowing snow.

Winter Weather in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Yoakum County officials reported at least six vehicular accidents related to winter weather travel conditions. No injuries were reported.

Winter Weather in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather in LAMB, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Local newspaper reports indicated that a semi-truck jack-knifed in winter weather travel conditions along U.S. Highway 84 west of Anton. No injuries were reported.

Winter Weather in PARMER, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Newspaper articles reported that a number of vehicular accidents occurred in winter weather driving condition across portions of Parmer County. Local officials reportedly had difficulty locating the accidents and stranded motorists due to low visibilities within blowing snow.

Winter Weather in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Media reports indicated that winter weather conditions in Castro County contributed to at least one serious automobile accident that resulted in an injury.

Winter Weather in TERRY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:20:00 to 02-MAR-08 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in LAMB, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:05:00 to 03-MAR-08 02:25:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 20:15:00 to 03-MAR-08 02:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:45:00 to 03-MAR-08 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:55:00 to 02-MAR-08 23:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winter Weather in COCHRAN, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 23:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 21:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:25:00 to 02-MAR-08 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Local emergency management officials reported that a metal storage shed was destroyed when it was blown through a fence. A nearby Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site recorded a 58 mph wind gust near the time of the damage.

High Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 18:50:00 to 03-MAR-08 00:45:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 02-MAR-08 19:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 01:15:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet