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For the third consecutive week, after winter weather events on February 12, 2013 and February 20-21. 2013, a major winter storm affected the southern Plains with widespread snowfall on February 24-26, 2013. An upper level storm system dove southeast through the Great Basin into New Mexico, then intensified rapidly as it lifted east-northeast through West Texas and the Red River Valley.
Before any wintry precipitation fell, a few severe thunderstorms developed over southwest Oklahoma along a strong cold front. However, behind this front, very cold air allowed liquid precipitation to change over to snow and sleet by Sunday evening. The strength of this storm allowed it to produce significantly more wind than the ones which struck earlier in the month, leading to blizzard conditions in parts of northern and western Oklahoma.
A strong cold front pushed through the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles on the afternoon and evening of February 24, reaching into far western Oklahoma by midnight. Heavy snowfall developed behind the front, then gradually spread eastward overnight as temperatures fell to near or below freezing across western and northern Oklahoma. By early afternoon on February 25, moderate to heavy snow was occurring over most areas northwest of a line from Hollis to Kingfisher. Very heavy snow bands and occasional thundersnow led to significant snow accumulations over a large part of northwest Oklahoma.
Several areas saw snowfall in excess of 15 inches, and when combined with the snow that was already present from the winter storm a few days before, snow depths of up to 25 inches were reported in localized areas. Strong and gusty winds led to snow drifts up to 5 to 8 feet in depth, shutting down many highways and secondary roads in western Oklahoma. The heavy wet nature of the snow caused some structural damage at Alva, Cherokee, and Woodward.
Widespread power outages were reported due to snow-covered power lines and downed trees and tree limbs. The rain-snow line hovered near the I-44 corridor and Oklahoma City metro area for much of the afternoon, with many areas to the east only changing to snow after sunset as the event was winding down. The snow gradually tapered off from west to east during the late afternoon and evening, with most of the accumulating snow in central Oklahoma ending by midnight.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
347 PM CST TUE FEB 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM HEAVY SNOW SHATTUCK 36.28N 99.88W
02/25/2013 E5.0 INCH ELLIS OK EMERGENCY MNGR
0930 AM HEAVY SNOW LAVERNE 36.71N 99.90W
02/25/2013 E8.0 INCH HARPER OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
0942 AM HEAVY SNOW FREEDOM 36.77N 99.11W
02/25/2013 M4.0 INCH WOODS OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
0945 AM HEAVY SNOW ALVA 36.80N 98.67W
02/25/2013 E9.0 INCH WOODS OK LAW ENFORCEMENT
0951 AM HEAVY SNOW MOORELAND 36.44N 99.21W
02/25/2013 M10.0 INCH WOODWARD OK LAW ENFORCEMENT
0958 AM SNOW HELENA 36.55N 98.27W
02/25/2013 E2.0 INCH ALFALFA OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
1005 AM HEAVY SNOW SHATTUCK 36.28N 99.88W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH ELLIS OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
1010 AM HEAVY SNOW ARNETT 36.14N 99.77W
02/25/2013 E8.0 INCH ELLIS OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
1021 AM HEAVY SNOW 8 S HARMON 36.03N 99.56W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH ELLIS OK PUBLIC
1025 AM HEAVY SNOW SHARON 36.28N 99.34W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH WOODWARD OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
1056 AM HEAVY SNOW CHEYENNE 35.61N 99.68W
02/25/2013 E4.0 INCH ROGER MILLS OK EMERGENCY MNGR
1112 AM HEAVY SNOW WOODWARD 36.43N 99.39W
02/25/2013 M8.0 INCH WOODWARD OK EMERGENCY MNGR
1125 AM HEAVY SNOW SWEETWATER 35.42N 99.92W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH BECKHAM OK PUBLIC
1127 AM SNOW HAMMON 35.63N 99.38W
02/25/2013 E2.0 INCH ROGER MILLS OK PUBLIC
1132 AM SNOW MAYFIELD 35.33N 99.88W
02/25/2013 E5.0 INCH BECKHAM OK CO-OP OBSERVER
1232 PM SNOW ALVA 36.80N 98.67W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH WOODS OK EMERGENCY MNGR
NEW SNOW ON TOP OF PREVIOUS ACCUMULATION
0200 PM HEAVY SNOW ALVA 36.80N 98.67W
02/25/2013 M17.0 INCH WOODS OK BROADCAST MEDIA
TOTAL SNOW DEPTH 24 INCHES OVER 2 EVENTS. AWNING
COLLAPSED AT SONIC.
0224 PM SNOW 12 S WATONGA 35.68N 98.41W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH BLAINE OK PUBLIC
0230 PM SNOW WOODWARD 36.43N 99.39W
02/25/2013 M10.0 INCH WOODWARD OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0250 PM HEAVY SNOW 10 NW WOODWARD 36.54N 99.52W
02/25/2013 M15.0 INCH WOODWARD OK TRAINED SPOTTER
NEAR FORT SUPPLY
0330 PM HEAVY SNOW WOODWARD 36.43N 99.39W
02/25/2013 M15.0 INCH WOODWARD OK EMERGENCY MNGR
0530 PM BLIZZARD WOODWARD 36.43N 99.39W
02/25/2013 WOODWARD OK PUBLIC
*** 1 FATAL *** CORRECTION. ROOF COLLAPSED AT A PRIVATE
RESIDENCE, WITH 1 FATALITY. THE WALMART ROOF HAD A
PARTIAL ROOF COLLAPSE IN THE GARDEN CENTER.
0530 PM SNOW OMEGA 35.87N 98.20W
02/25/2013 E6.0 INCH KINGFISHER OK STORM CHASER
0555 PM HEAVY SNOW VANCE AIR FORCE BASE 36.34N 97.90W
02/25/2013 M4.0 INCH GARFIELD OK PUBLIC
1 INCH IN LAST HOUR. OTHER REPORTS OF 5 INCHES.
0700 PM SNOW WOODWARD 36.43N 99.39W
02/25/2013 M13.2 INCH WOODWARD OK EMERGENCY MNGR
0930 PM SNOW STILLWATER 36.12N 97.06W
02/25/2013 M2.0 INCH PAYNE OK PUBLIC
1130 PM SNOW 5 SSE PIEDMONT 35.58N 97.71W
02/25/2013 M1.0 INCH CANADIAN OK PUBLIC
0700 AM HEAVY SNOW HINTON 35.47N 98.36W
02/26/2013 M5.0 INCH CADDO OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
0700 AM HEAVY SNOW ARAPAHO 35.58N 98.96W
02/26/2013 E9.0 INCH CUSTER OK EMERGENCY MNGR
0700 AM HEAVY SNOW REYDON 35.65N 99.92W
02/26/2013 E10.0 INCH ROGER MILLS OK PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW 3 SE FORT SUPPLY 36.54N 99.54W
02/26/2013 M16.0 INCH WOODWARD OK TRAINED SPOTTER
DRIFTS TO SIX FEET.
0700 AM SNOW WATONGA 35.85N 98.41W
02/26/2013 M7.0 INCH BLAINE OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 4 W CHEROKEE 36.75N 98.43W
02/26/2013 M9.3 INCH ALFALFA OK CO-OP OBSERVER
SNOW DRIFTS UP TO 4 1/2 FEET.
0700 AM SNOW PONCA CITY 36.71N 97.09W
02/26/2013 M6.7 INCH KAY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 5 S CARTER 35.14N 99.50W
02/26/2013 M3.5 INCH BECKHAM OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW TALOGA 36.04N 98.96W
02/26/2013 M14.0 INCH DEWEY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 7 E WAYNOKA 36.58N 98.75W
02/26/2013 M12.0 INCH WOODS OK CO-OP OBSERVER
8 FOOT DRIFTS.
0700 AM SNOW QUANAH 34.30N 99.74W
02/26/2013 E4.0 INCH HARDEMAN TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0700 AM SNOW 1 S MEDFORD 36.79N 97.73W
02/26/2013 M3.2 INCH GRANT OK CO-OP OBSERVER
The above radar animation shows the progression of the winter storm across the area beginning at 3 pm CST Sunday, February 24th, and running through 8 apm CST, February 26th. An area of thunderstorms initially developed over southwest Oklahoma on the evening of the 24th. These storms produced a few severe wind gusts up to 80 mph and small hail. This was quite unique in that some areas over southwest Oklahoma were within severe thunderstorm warnings and blizzard warnings at the same time. These storms were fueled by a strong cold front that surged southward during the overnight hours. Rain and storms quickly changed over to snow, sleet, and freezing rain over portions of northern and western Oklahoma, and even western north Texas. As frozen precipitation began this early in the event, it';s no wonder that these areas saw the greatest amount of snow. (Images courtesy of the Storm Prediction Center)
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| Visible satellite images from 9:45 AM CST and 11:31 AM CST on 2/26/2013 showing the snow pack over northwest Oklahoma. | |
The above infrared satellite animation shows the progression of the winter storm across the area beginning at 6 pm CST Sunday, Feb 24, and running through 7 pm CST, Feb 26. IR satellite depicts cloud top temperatures. In this animation, blues indicate cold cloud tops, which are normally in the high levels of the atmosphere, and are often convective in nature. The reds, yellows, and greens indicated low to mid-level cloud tops. The cold cloud tops with this system were initially associated with thunderstorms over southwest Oklahoma and north Texas. these storms produced very heavy rainfall, hail, and even damaging winds. However, much of this transitioned to snow by the morning of February 25th. Note the cold cloud tops over northwest Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle halfway through the animation. These were associated with convective snow bands, which produced very heavy snowfall and, at times, thunder and lightning. Toward the end of the animation, cloud tops begin to warm, indicating most of the heavier snow had come to an end - one of the reasons much of central Oklahoma didn't see the heavy snows that were forecast.
As seen in the map below from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the strongest winds with this system occurred west of I-35, where gusts over 50 mph were recorded. Sustained winds ranged from 25 to 35 mph.
This video, provided by Jeromy Carter, shows dangerous blizzard and winter storm conditions near Watonga, Calumet, and Binger in Blaine, Canadian, and Caddo counties.
These photos were provided courtesy of Roy Anderson.
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These photos were taken in the Clinton, OK area courtesy Robin Rodriquez. Even heavy machinery had difficulty maneuvering the snow-packed roads.
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These photos, taken by Marc Crow of Elk City, show a bird feeder becoming encased in snow throughout the day on Monday, February 25.
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These photos were provided courtesy of Daniel and LaRae Brown.
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This photos shows a blizzard in progress in Cheyenne, OK and was taken by Cy Howenstine.
These photos show large snow drifts in Cheyenne, OK and were taken by Dusti Kirk.
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These photos were taken by Clyde Wheeler southwest of Laverne, Oklahoma. Numerous snowdrifts are apparent in these photos.
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These photos were provided courtesy of Mary Van Winkle.
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These photos show a crescent shaped snow drift in Mooreland and were provided by Tania.
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A winter wonderland - Photos provided courtesy of Tara Hall.
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A special thanks to everyone who took time to send their photos our way!
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