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Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

Amarillo, TX

Weather Forecast Office

February 25, 2013 Blizzard

Weather.gov > Amarillo, TX > February 25, 2013 Blizzard
February 25, 2013 Blizzard
 

A historic blizzard struck the Panhandles during the early morning hours of Monday, February 25 and continued through the afternoon hours.  A very intense upper-level disturbance produced a band of heavy snow that set up over the central Panhandles from roughly Amarillo to Borger to Perryton during the early morning hours on Monday.  Within this band of snow, snowfall rates approached 2-3 inches per hour, thundersnow was observed, and extreme blizzard conditions were observed.  As this band moved west and east during the morning hours, many locations from Hereford to Beaver received more than 10 inches of snow.  The heavy snow and strong winds resulted in visibilities less than 50 feet at times for many of these locations.  As a result, this virtually crippled the entire area and made travel almost impossible.  In fact, all roads in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles were closed, including Interstate 40 from the New Mexico border to the Oklahoma border and Interstate 27 from Amarillo to Lubbock.  Conditions were so severe that Texas Department of Transportation crews were not able to work to keep the roads plowed.  Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo was shut down for most of the day.  19 inches of snow accumulated at NWS Amarillo along with a peak wind gust of 75 mph late Monday morning.  A peak wind gust of 77 mph was also recorded at the Pantex Nuclear facility.  Unfortunately, many motorists were also stranded.

*This was the 3rd largest snowfall event at Amarillo -- only behind March 25-26, 1934 (20.6 inches) and December 26-27, 2000 (20.2 inches)
*This was the 2nd largest snowfall for a calendar day -- only behind March 25, 1934 (19.3 inches)
*This was the largest snowfall for a single day in the month of February.  The previous record was 12 inches on February 16, 1893
*The 17-inch snow depth at 6 AM on Tuesday, February 26 was the highest all-time snow depth measurement taken at Amarillo.  (Snow depth measurements are only take once a day at 6 AM)
February 25 Snow Totals Highest wind gusts on February 25 February 26 Visible Satellite Image
February 25 Snowfall Totals February 25 Peak Wind Gusts Satellite Image of Snow Cover
RADAR IMAGES
February 25 2 AM Radar February 25 4 AM Radar
2 AM Radar Image 4 AM Radar Image
8 AM Radar 11 AM Radar
8 AM Radar Image 11 AM Radar Image
 
SNOW IMAGES & VIDEO
Drifts in Hereford, TX Drifts in Amarillo 5.5 foot snow drift at NWS Amarillo Cars stranded at Hillside Road in Amarillo
Drifts almost reach top of cattle shelter.  Courtesy of Denise Collier. Snow drifts in Amarillo.  Courtesy of Andrew Moulton. 5.5 foot snow drift at NWS Amarillo. Cars stranded on Hillside  Road in Amarillo.  Courtesy @pwarminski.
 
Snow drift at NWS Amarillo Snow in Slapout, OK Large snow drift in Amarillo, TX Icicles in Fritch, TX
Snow drift at NWS Amarillo. Snow drifts in Slapout, OK.  Courtesy of Rachael Jett. Snow drift in Amarillo.  Courtesy of Todd Lindley. Icicles in Fritch, TX.  Courtesy of Cindy Nickell.
 
Cars stuck in snow Drifts in Canyon Snow drifts in Booker, TX Snow drifts in Booker, TX
Cars stuck in snow in Amarillo.  Courtesy of Todd Lindley. Snow drift in Canyon, TX.  Courtesy of Carol Kizziar. Snow drifts in Booker, TX.  Courtesy of Michael Ellis. Snow drifts in Booker, TX.  Courtesy of Michael Ellis.
 
Mailbox buried by a snow drift at NWS Amarillo 7 foot drift near Bushland playing on a snow drift snow drift in Amarillo
NWS Amarillo mailbox buried by snow drifts. 7 foot snow drift near Bushland, TX. Courtesy of Kathryn Finley Snow drifts in Canyon. Courtesy of Elizabeth Clark Snow drift in S. Amarillo. Courtesy of George Hutcheson.
 
Cars stranded on Hillside Road in Amarillo Snow drifts in Follett, TX Snow in Turpin, OK Snow accumulates in NWS Amarillo upper air building
Cars stranded on Hillside Road. Courtesy of Amarillo National Bank. Snow drifts in Follett, TX. Courtesy of Jim Self. Snow in Turpin, OK. Courtesy of Chance Plett. Snow accumulates in NWS Amarillo upper air building.
 
Blizzard raging during the morning hours at NWS Amarillo
 
SNOWFALL REPORTS 
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
512 AM CST WED FEB 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0715 PM     SNOW             FRITCH                  35.64N 101.60W
02/24/2013  M2.0 INCH        HUTCHINSON         TX   STORM CHASER    

            2 INCHES ON THE GROUND IN 45 MINUTES 

0740 PM     SNOW             VEGA                    35.25N 102.43W
02/24/2013  E2.0 INCH        OLDHAM             TX   PUBLIC          

0912 PM     SNOW             STRATFORD               36.34N 102.07W
02/24/2013  E1.0 INCH        SHERMAN            TX   COUNTY OFFICIAL 

            STRONG WINDS BLOWING THE SNOW - VISIBILITIES DOWN TO 
            ONE HALF OF A MILE - MODERATE SNOW FALLING NOW - STARTED 
            ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO - SNOW IS COVERING THE GROUND 

0948 PM     SNOW             SPEARMAN                36.20N 101.19W
02/24/2013  E1.0 INCH        HANSFORD           TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ROADS ARE BECOMING SLICK QUICKLY AND SNOW WAS COVERING 
            THE GROUND 

0138 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 11 WNW BOOTLEG          34.89N 102.99W
02/25/2013  M61 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   MESONET         

            SUSTAINED 50 MPH. WEST TEXAS MESONET. 

0143 AM     SNOW             STINNETT                35.82N 101.44W
02/25/2013  E5.0 INCH        HUTCHINSON         TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ZERO VISIBILITY AT STINNETT...BORGER...AND FRITCH. 

0207 AM     SNOW             DUMAS                   35.86N 101.97W
02/25/2013  M5.0 INCH        MOORE              TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0208 AM     SNOW             BORGER                  35.66N 101.40W
02/25/2013  E5.0 INCH        HUTCHINSON         TX   PUBLIC          

0224 AM     SNOW             WHITE DEER              35.43N 101.17W
02/25/2013  E4.0 INCH        CARSON             TX   PUBLIC          

0250 AM     SNOW             1 W AMARILLO            35.20N 101.84W
02/25/2013  E3.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            1.5 TO 3 INCHES FROM DOWNTOWN TO SW 45TH. DRIFTS 
            BETWEEN 5 AND 6 INCHES. 

0259 AM     SNOW             AMARILLO                35.20N 101.82W
02/25/2013  M2.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0333 AM     SNOW             6 NNW AMARILLO          35.29N 101.85W
02/25/2013  M3.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

0340 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW DALHART            36.03N 102.55W
02/25/2013  M58 MPH          HARTLEY            TX   ASOS            

0345 AM     SNOW             AMARILLO                35.20N 101.82W
02/25/2013  M3.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            NEARLY A 2 INCH PER HOUR SNOWFALL RATE. 

0348 AM     SNOW             PANHANDLE               35.35N 101.38W
02/25/2013  M4.0 INCH        CARSON             TX   PUBLIC          

0439 AM     SNOW             AMARILLO                35.20N 101.82W
02/25/2013  M5.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            SNOWFALL RATE REMAINS AROUND 2 INCHES PER HOUR. 

0458 AM     SNOW             CANYON                  34.98N 101.92W
02/25/2013  M3.0 INCH        RANDALL            TX   PUBLIC          

            SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH WITH A MEASURED 
            GUST UP TO 62 MPH. DRIFTS BETWEEN 12 AND 24 INCHES. 

0540 AM     SNOW             5 SSE CANYON            34.91N 101.89W
02/25/2013  M6.0 INCH        RANDALL            TX   PUBLIC          

0542 AM     SNOW             2 WSW BORGER            35.65N 101.43W
02/25/2013  M5.1 INCH        HUTCHINSON         TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0600 AM     SNOW             7 ENE AMARILLO          35.23N 101.71W
02/25/2013  M11.0 INCH       POTTER             TX   NWS OFFICE      

            DRIFTS UP TO 22 INCHES 

0608 AM     SNOW             6 NNW AMARILLO          35.29N 101.85W
02/25/2013  M8.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

0612 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE AMARILLO          35.22N 101.72W
02/25/2013  M58 MPH          POTTER             TX   ASOS            

0621 AM     SNOW             DALHART                 36.06N 102.52W
02/25/2013  M1.0 INCH        DALLAM             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0652 AM     SNOW             BEAVER                  36.81N 100.52W
02/25/2013  M8.0 INCH        BEAVER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0654 AM     SNOW             BEAVER                  36.81N 100.52W
02/25/2013  M8.0 INCH        BEAVER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0701 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST DUMAS                   35.86N 101.96W
02/25/2013  M58 MPH          MOORE              TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

0709 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 9 E AMARILLO            35.20N 101.66W
02/25/2013                   POTTER             TX   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            DAMAGE TO A BARN ROOF RAFTERS DUE TO WINDS. 

0711 AM     SNOW             GUYMON                  36.69N 101.48W
02/25/2013  M1.0 INCH        TEXAS              OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES WITH BLOWING SNOW 

0739 AM     SNOW             5 SW AMARILLO           35.15N 101.88W
02/25/2013  E7.0 INCH        RANDALL            TX   PUBLIC          

0750 AM     SNOW             FRITCH                  35.64N 101.60W
02/25/2013  M13.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   PUBLIC          

0807 AM     SNOW             VEGA                    35.25N 102.43W
02/25/2013  E8.0 INCH        OLDHAM             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0807 AM     SNOW             HEREFORD                34.82N 102.40W
02/25/2013  E4.0 INCH        DEAF SMITH         TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0813 AM     SNOW             DUMAS                   35.86N 101.97W
02/25/2013  E12.0 INCH       MOORE              TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ESTIMATED A FOOT OF SNOW IN DUMAS WITH THREE TO FIVE 
            FOOT SNOW DRIFTS. 

0818 AM     SNOW             SPEARMAN                36.20N 101.19W
02/25/2013  E8.0 INCH        HANSFORD           TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0822 AM     SNOW             MORSE                   36.06N 101.47W
02/25/2013  E10.0 INCH       HANSFORD           TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            TEN INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED IN MORSE WITH 3 FOOT 
            DRIFTS. 

0835 AM     SNOW             CANYON                  34.98N 101.92W
02/25/2013  E8.0 INCH        RANDALL            TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TOTAL AS OF THIS REPORT 

0835 AM     SNOW             1 WNW AMARILLO          35.21N 101.83W
02/25/2013  M8.0 INCH        POTTER             TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            STILL SNOWING AT OBSERVATION 

0849 AM     SNOW             CLARENDON               34.94N 100.89W
02/25/2013  E2.0 INCH        DONLEY             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            TOTAL AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT. 

0851 AM     SNOW             BUSHLAND                35.19N 102.06W
02/25/2013  E12.0 INCH       POTTER             TX   PUBLIC          

0853 AM     SNOW             STRATFORD               36.34N 102.07W
02/25/2013  E2.0 INCH        SHERMAN            TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0905 AM     SNOW             BOOKER                  36.46N 100.54W
02/25/2013  E8.0 INCH        LIPSCOMB           TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            STILL SNOWING AT OBSERVATION 

0914 AM     SNOW             1 SE BOOKER             36.45N 100.53W
02/25/2013  M9.5 INCH        LIPSCOMB           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0922 AM     SNOW             6 SE BOOKER             36.39N 100.46W
02/25/2013  E14.0 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            STILL SNOWING AT OBSERVATION 

0927 AM     SNOW             TEXHOMA                 36.51N 101.79W
02/25/2013  E2.5 INCH        TEXAS              OK   PUBLIC          

0956 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 17 SSE CLAUDE           34.88N 101.25W
02/25/2013  M60 MPH          ARMSTRONG          TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            VIA SCHOOLNET 

1012 AM     SNOW             HIGGINS                 36.12N 100.03W
02/25/2013  E10.0 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

1015 AM     SNOW             1 NW PAMPA              35.55N 100.97W
02/25/2013  M11.0 INCH       GRAY               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

1018 AM     SNOW             FRITCH                  35.64N 101.60W
02/25/2013  M14.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

1019 AM     SNOW             WHITE DEER              35.43N 101.17W
02/25/2013  M14.0 INCH       CARSON             TX   PUBLIC          

1028 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SSW AMARILLO          35.13N 101.85W
02/25/2013  M62 MPH          RANDALL            TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

1033 AM     SNOW             CANADIAN                35.91N 100.38W
02/25/2013  M11.0 INCH       HEMPHILL           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            ELEVEN INCHES OF SNOW IN THE CENTER OF TOWN WITH 2 FOOT 
            DRIFTS. 

1046 AM     SNOW             BEAVER                  36.81N 100.52W
02/25/2013  E11.0 INCH       BEAVER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN BEAVER... 10 TO 12 INCHES OF 
            SNOW... AND 5 TO 6 FT DRIFTS. 

1048 AM     SNOW             6 SW AMARILLO           35.14N 101.89W
02/25/2013  E11.0 INCH       RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TOTAL AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT 

1104 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE AMARILLO          35.22N 101.72W
02/25/2013  M75 MPH          POTTER             TX   ASOS            

1114 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST PANTEX                  35.32N 101.58W
02/25/2013  M77 MPH          CARSON             TX   OTHER FEDERAL   

1126 AM     SNOW             BORGER                  35.66N 101.40W
02/25/2013  M10.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   PUBLIC          

1143 AM     SNOW             TURPIN                  36.87N 100.88W
02/25/2013  E6.0 INCH        BEAVER             OK   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            ALSO 0.30 INCHES OF ICE WAS OBSERVED IN TURPIN. 

1200 PM     SNOW             2 WSW BORGER            35.65N 101.43W
02/25/2013  M8.0 INCH        HUTCHINSON         TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            STILL SNOWING AT OBSERVATION 

1200 PM     SNOW             7 ENE AMARILLO          35.23N 101.71W
02/25/2013  M17.0 INCH       POTTER             TX   NWS OFFICE      

            STILL SNOWING AT OBSERVATION 

1212 PM     SNOW             3 S DARROUZETT          36.40N 100.33W
02/25/2013  M12.5 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

1218 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 17 SSE CLAUDE           34.88N 101.25W
02/25/2013  M61 MPH          ARMSTRONG          TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

1218 PM     SNOW             CANYON                  34.98N 101.92W
02/25/2013  M9.5 INCH        RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

1234 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CANYON                  34.98N 101.92W
02/25/2013  M58 MPH          RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

1245 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SW AMARILLO           35.14N 101.89W
02/25/2013  M61 MPH          RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

1245 PM     SNOW             6 SW AMARILLO           35.14N 101.89W
02/25/2013  M12.0 INCH       RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0113 PM     SNOW             GUYMON                  36.69N 101.48W
02/25/2013  E4.5 INCH        TEXAS              OK   OK HIGHWAY PTRL 

0153 PM     SNOW             CANYON                  34.98N 101.92W
02/25/2013  M11.3 INCH       RANDALL            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            DRIFTS BETWEEN 18 AND 30 INCHES. 

0156 PM     SNOW             FRITCH                  35.64N 101.60W
02/25/2013  M16.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0204 PM     SNOW             3 N GUYMON              36.73N 101.48W
02/25/2013  M1.5 INCH        TEXAS              OK   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            MODERATE SNOW WITH DRIFTS UP TO 3 FEET. 

0212 PM     SNOW             HEREFORD                34.82N 102.40W
02/25/2013  M11.0 INCH       DEAF SMITH         TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0217 PM     SNOW             BOOKER                  36.46N 100.54W
02/25/2013  M14.0 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            DRIFTS UP TO 4 FEET. STILL SNOWING. 

0222 PM     SNOW             PAMPA                   35.55N 100.96W
02/25/2013  M15.0 INCH       GRAY               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0256 PM     SNOW             TURPIN                  36.87N 100.88W
02/25/2013  M6.0 INCH        BEAVER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0424 PM     SNOW             1 WSW PERRYTON          36.39N 100.82W
02/25/2013  M15.0 INCH       OCHILTREE          TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0500 PM     SNOW             1 NNW BOYS RANCH        35.53N 102.26W
02/25/2013  M3.5 INCH        OLDHAM             TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0502 PM     SNOW             1 SE BORGER             35.65N 101.39W
02/25/2013  E16.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0524 PM     SNOW             3 E PAMPA               35.55N 100.91W
02/25/2013  M16.0 INCH       GRAY               TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0536 PM     SNOW             FRITCH                  35.64N 101.60W
02/25/2013  M16.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   PUBLIC          

0617 PM     SNOW             WHEELER                 35.44N 100.28W
02/25/2013  M14.0 INCH       WHEELER            TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0619 PM     SNOW             18 N HEDLEY             35.13N 100.66W
02/25/2013  M4.0 INCH        DONLEY             TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            DRIFTS 2 TO 3 FEET HIGH. 

0623 PM     SNOW             4 W SAMNORWOOD          35.06N 100.35W
02/25/2013  M4.0 INCH        COLLINGSWORTH      TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0639 PM     SNOW             7 WNW BRISCOE           35.62N 100.40W
02/25/2013  M12.0 INCH       HEMPHILL           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0700 PM     SNOW             PANHANDLE               35.35N 101.38W
02/25/2013  E14.0 INCH       CARSON             TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            1.06 INCHES LIQUID EQUIVALENT 

0700 PM     SNOW             LIPSCOMB                36.24N 100.27W
02/25/2013  M14.0 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

0713 PM     SNOW             1 SSE WELLINGTON        34.84N 100.21W
02/25/2013  E3.5 INCH        COLLINGSWORTH      TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0728 PM     SNOW             CLAUDE                  35.11N 101.36W
02/25/2013  E14.0 INCH       ARMSTRONG          TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            FOUR TO SIX FOOT SNOW DRIFTS. 

0930 PM     SNOW             BEAVER                  36.81N 100.52W
02/25/2013  E14.0 INCH       BEAVER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

1000 PM     SNOW             FOLLETT                 36.43N 100.14W
02/25/2013  M21.0 INCH       LIPSCOMB           TX   CO-OP OBSERVER  

1127 PM     SNOW             SLAPOUT                 36.62N 100.12W
02/25/2013  E15.0 INCH       BEAVER             OK   PUBLIC          

0700 AM     SNOW             1 W SANFORD             35.70N 101.55W
02/26/2013  M17.0 INCH       HUTCHINSON         TX   CO-OP OBSERVER
 
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