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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 >

 

March 26-28, 2009 BLIZZARD AND HEAVY SNOW

A historic late season blizzard struck the Panhandles beginning in the evening of Thursday, March 26 and continued through the morning of Saturday, March 28, 2009. Although it is not unprecedented to see snowstorms and blizzards in March in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, this was one of the latest heavy snow events on record.

Here are a few of the photographs we've received from around the Panhandles. Please click on on of the images to view a larger version.

 

Above: Amarillo area including the NWS and surrounding locations.

 

    Above: Aerial photographs from around Amarillo and other Panhandle locations taken from a DPS Helicopter.

       

    Above: Photographs from the Dalhart area taken by Curtis Brown.

       

    Above: Turpin, Oklahoma photos taken by Karl Brown.

Amarillo received 11.0 inches of snowfall from March 27-28, 2009. This ranks as the fifth largest snowfall from any snowstorm in the month of March. It is also the second latest snowfall of 10 inches or more. Below is a list of the largest snowfall events to occur after March 1, updated to include this year's blizzard.

RANK SNOWFALL (INCHES) DATE
1 20.6 March 25-26, 1934
2 12.4 March 14-16, 2005
3 12.0 March 29-30, 1926
4 11.1 March 23-24, 1957
5 11.0 March 27-28, 2009
6 9.1 May 6-7, 1917
7 8.2 March 27-28, 1970
8 8.2 April 19-22, 1907
9 8.0 March 27, 1931
10 7.9 April 10, 1926

 

 

Total Snowfall Accumulations

Snow Cover Visible From Space

Snow Totals

March 28 Satellite

 

Below is a list of snowfall reports received from law enforcement, storm spotters, cooperative observers, broadcast media, and the general public. These snowfall reports should be considered estimates as very strong winds made accurate snowfall measurements very difficult due to significant blowing and drifting snow. The National Weather Service would like to thank everyone who provided us with snowfall reports from this event!

 

LOCATION SNOWFALL (INCHES) SNOW DRIFTS
NWS Amarillo 11.0 2 to 3 FT
Slapout 3NNE, OK 27.0 5 FT
Follett COOP 25.0 10 to 12 FT
Turpin, OK COOP 22.0 10 FT
Felt, OK 21.0 8 to 10 FT
Beaver, OK COOP 21.0 6 to 10 FT
Darrouzett COOP 20.0  
Kenton, OK 16.0 3 to 4 FT
Knowles, OK 16.0  
Lipscomb COOP 15.0  
Booker 15.0 5 FT
Canadian 15.0 5 to 7 FT
Gate, OK COOP 15.0  
Dalhart 14.0 8 to 14 FT
Higgins 14.0  
Guymon, OK 14.0 5 to 6 FT
Texline 14.0 6 FT
Amarillo 7SW 14.0  
Amarillo 4SW 13.0 3 to 4 FT
Vega 13.0 6 to 10 FT
Pampa COOP 12.4  
Boise City, OK COOP 12.0 5 to 6 FT
Canadian 6NW COOP 12.0  
Simms 9ENE 12.0 6 FT
Goodwell, OK 12.0 3 FT
Perryton 12.0 6 to 8 FT
Lefors 12.0 4 FT
Hooker, OK COOP 12.0 5 to 7 FT
Amarillo 6NW 11.0  
Wheeler 11.0 4 to 6 FT
Adrian 6N COOP 10.0  
Pringle 10.0 3 to 4 FT
Gruver COOP 10.0  
Conlen COOP 10.0  
Amarillo 5SSW 10.0 5 FT
Stratford COOP 9.0 8 to 12 FT
Spearman 9.0  
Miami 9.0  
Vega 2NW COOP 9.0  
Allison 8.0 1 to 2 FT
Borger 7.0  
Hartley COOP 7.0  
Romero 7.0 2 to 3 FT
Panhandle 7.0 2 to 3 FT
Claude 7.0 3 to 4 FT
Shamrock COOP 6.0  
Valley De Oro 5.5 3 to 4 FT
Canyon 2NNW 5.5 2 to 3 FT
Hereford 5.0 3 FT
Dumas COOP 5.0 5 to 6 FT
Clarendon 4.0 1 to 2 FT
Wellington 4.0 2 to 3 FT
Boys Ranch COOP 3.5  
Hereford COOP 2.5  
Wellington COOP 2.0