MIDLAND, Texas (AP) - A city built on "black gold" in the West Texas oil patch has seen more snow this winter than points north that usually get buried in the white stuff.
The National Weather Service says 19.5 inches of snow have fallen in Midland since Dec. 1, with 10.6 inches coming Monday after a strong weather system moved in from New Mexico.
Meteorologist Ryan Barnes says the total is more than three times what Buffalo, N.Y., has received (5.5 inches). Duluth, Minn., has seen only 8.3 inches.
Additionally, just 3.1 inches have fallen in Fargo, N.D. The total is even lower in Chicago at 1.9 inches.
The snow may not help the drought-ravaged region. The weather service says Monday's total translates to less than an inch of rain.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)