Hurricane Milton is strengthening in the southwest Gulf of Mexico. Milton is expected to become a major hurricane and bring significant impacts to Florida this upcoming week, including heavy rain and flooding, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging winds. Meanwhile, a late season heat wave will continue across portions of California into the Desert Southwest through Monday. Read More >
On Thursday, December 19, 2013, a strong cold front swept south across the Central and Southern Plains region. This brought temperatures into the teens and twenties over much of Oklahoma by daybreak Friday, December 20, 2013. With this area of cold air in place, the only missing ingredient for an ice storm was abundant moisture in the mid and upper troposphere.
While temperatures at the ground remained at or below freezing, a potent upper low was taking shape over the southwestern U.S. As this upper level storm system nudged slowly eastward into eastern New Mexico and West Texas, it brought abundant moisture up and over the shallow sub-freezing surface airmass already in place. By mid to late afternoon, light shower activity was already developing over portions of southwestern and south central Oklahoma and north Texas. Some areas began to see a light glaze of ice before sunset Friday.
With a continuous fetch of rich moisture in the mid levels, light to moderate rainfall persisted overnight on the 20th and finally ended by late morning on Saturday - Dec 21st. By that time, a large part of southwestern and central Oklahoma had seen a quarter inch or more of ice accumulation. Localized portions of central Oklahoma, including Fort Cobb in Caddo County saw between three quarters and one inch of ice. Due to the weight of the ice, sporadic power outages occurred, and numerous trees and/or tree limbs were toppled.
Finally, As the upper level storm departed, a deformation zone and heavy snow bands developed over far northwest Oklahoma Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning. While most areas only saw one to three inches of snow, portions of rural northwestern Harper county saw up to six inches of snow. Even after the low departed, prolonged freezing temperatures and cloud cover kept much of the ice and snow in place.
Storm Total Ice Accumulation Map for December 20-22, 2013
Storm Total Snowfall Map for December 20-22, 2013
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 344 AM CST SUN DEC 22 2013 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1000 PM ICE STORM MIDWEST CITY 35.46N 97.37W 12/20/2013 OKLAHOMA OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/4 TO 1/3 INCH. FREEZING RAIN STILL FALLING. 1200 AM ICE STORM OKLAHOMA CITY 35.47N 97.51W 12/21/2013 OKLAHOMA OK PUBLIC SPORADIC REPORTS OF UP TO 1/2 INCH ICE ACCUMULATION ALONG WITH DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND POWER OUTAGES. FREEZING RAIN STILL FALLING AT TIME OF REPORT. 0212 AM ICE STORM STILLWATER 36.12N 97.06W 12/21/2013 PAYNE OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH IN STILLWATER. FREEZING RAIN STILL FALLING. 0215 AM ICE STORM DUNCAN 34.52N 97.97W 12/21/2013 STEPHENS OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH WITH REPORTS OF DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND POWER OUTAGES. 0230 AM ICE STORM NORMAN 35.22N 97.44W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK NWS EMPLOYEE ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH. FREEZING RAIN STILL FALLING. 0530 AM ICE STORM FORT SILL 34.66N 98.41W 12/21/2013 COMANCHE OK OTHER FEDERAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0730 AM ICE STORM MOORE 35.34N 97.49W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0730 AM ICE STORM ELGIN 34.78N 98.29W 12/21/2013 COMANCHE OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/4 TO 1/3 INCH REPORTED ON ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM CHOCTAW 35.48N 97.27W 12/21/2013 OKLAHOMA OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM 3 E SEMINOLE 35.23N 96.62W 12/21/2013 SEMINOLE OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/4 TO 1/3 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM FREEZING RAIN BLAIR 34.78N 99.33W 12/21/2013 E0.20 INCH JACKSON OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN 1/8 AND 1/4 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM NEWALLA 35.40N 97.17W 12/21/2013 OKLAHOMA OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM BETHEL ACRES 35.31N 97.04W 12/21/2013 POTTAWATOMIE OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM FLETCHER 34.82N 98.24W 12/21/2013 COMANCHE OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/2 TO 2/3 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM ICE STORM RUSH SPRINGS 34.78N 97.96W 12/21/2013 GRADY OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0800 AM FREEZING RAIN BURKBURNETT 34.08N 98.56W 12/21/2013 E0.20 INCH WICHITA TX PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN 1/8 AND 1/4 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0831 AM ICE STORM QUANAH 34.30N 99.74W 12/21/2013 HARDEMAN TX BROADCAST MEDIA KOLJ RADIO REPORTS 0.45 INCHES OF ICE ON TREES AND POWER LINES. 0844 AM ICE STORM NW NORMAN 35.22N 97.44W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK NWS EMPLOYEE ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF 9/16 OF AN INCH ON TREE LIMBS 0900 AM ICE STORM EL RENO 35.53N 97.95W 12/21/2013 CANADIAN OK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER REPORTS 1/2 TO 2/3 INCH ICE ACCUMULATION ON ELEVATED SURFACES. 0900 AM ICE STORM 5 ESE TINKER AIR FORCE 35.39N 97.31W 12/21/2013 OKLAHOMA OK PUBLIC PUBLIC REPORTS 0.25 INCHES OF ICE ACCUMULATION ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0929 AM ICE STORM 1 E NORMAN 35.22N 97.42W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK PUBLIC 3/8 INCH OF ICE ON TREE LIMBS. 1000 AM ICE STORM BRIDGE CREEK 35.23N 97.72W 12/21/2013 GRADY OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/4 TO 1/3 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 1000 AM ICE STORM 3 WNW NORMAN 35.24N 97.49W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK PUBLIC ESTIMATED 0.50IN OF ICE AT 36TH AND ROBINSON. 1100 AM ICE STORM HOBART 35.03N 99.09W 12/21/2013 KIOWA OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. TREE DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES ALSO REPORTED. 1130 AM ICE STORM 8 N PRAGUE 35.60N 96.69W 12/21/2013 LINCOLN OK PUBLIC 3/8 INCH OF ICE ON ELEVATED SURFACES. 1200 PM FREEZING RAIN ANADARKO 35.07N 98.24W 12/21/2013 M0.96 INCH CADDO OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0.60 INCHES OF ICE ON WIRES AND TREE LIMBS. 1230 PM ICE STORM WEATHERFORD 35.53N 98.71W 12/21/2013 CUSTER OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATION OF 1/3 TO 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 1247 PM ICE STORM 1 E MOORE 35.34N 97.47W 12/21/2013 CLEVELAND OK NWS EMPLOYEE NWS EMPLOYEE MEASURED 0.25 INCHES OF ICE. 0109 PM ICE STORM FORT COBB 35.10N 98.44W 12/21/2013 CADDO OK EMERGENCY MNGR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEASURED 0.75 INCHES OF ICE ON ELEVATED SURFACES. 0230 PM ICE STORM STROUD 35.75N 96.66W 12/21/2013 LINCOLN OK PUBLIC ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN 1/3 AND 1/2 INCH ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0300 PM ICE STORM NEWCASTLE 35.25N 97.60W 12/21/2013 MCCLAIN OK NWS EMPLOYEE OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED 1/2 INCH OF ICE ON TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES. 0730 PM FREEZING RAIN VANCE AIR FORCE BASE 36.34N 97.90W 12/21/2013 M0.40 INCH GARFIELD OK CO-OP OBSERVER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 206 PM CST SUN DEC 22 2013 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0700 AM SNOW LEEDEY 35.87N 99.35W 12/22/2013 M2.0 INCH DEWEY OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0700 AM SNOW JEFFERSON 36.72N 97.79W 12/22/2013 M1.2 INCH GRANT OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0700 AM SNOW LAVERNE 36.71N 99.90W 12/22/2013 M5.0 INCH HARPER OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0700 AM SNOW MOORELAND 36.44N 99.21W 12/22/2013 M3.0 INCH WOODWARD OK PUBLIC 0700 AM SNOW ALVA 36.80N 98.67W 12/22/2013 M1.0 INCH WOODS OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0700 AM SNOW ARNETT 36.14N 99.77W 12/22/2013 M2.0 INCH ELLIS OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0700 AM SNOW N ROSSTON 36.81N 99.93W 12/22/2013 M6.0 INCH HARPER OK COCORAHS 0700 AM SNOW MUTUAL 36.23N 99.17W 12/22/2013 M5.0 INCH WOODWARD OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0830 AM SNOW 1 SSW SHATTUCK 36.26N 99.89W 12/22/2013 M2.7 INCH ELLIS OK COCORAHS 0830 AM SNOW FREEDOM 36.77N 99.11W 12/22/2013 M1.0 INCH WOODS OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0830 AM SNOW LAVERNE 36.71N 99.90W 12/22/2013 M5.0 INCH HARPER OK CO-OP OBSERVER 0830 AM SNOW CHEROKEE 36.75N 98.35W 12/22/2013 E1.0 INCH ALFALFA OK LAW ENFORCEMENT 0830 AM SNOW FAIRVIEW 36.27N 98.48W 12/22/2013 E1.5 INCH MAJOR OK LAW ENFORCEMENT 0830 AM SNOW 1 SSW ORIENTA 36.35N 98.48W 12/22/2013 M3.0 INCH MAJOR OK CO-OP OBSERVER
Alex, OK - Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Bumpas |
Bethel Acres, OK - Photo Courtesy of Carin Marcussen |
Blair, OK - Photo Courtesy of Rick Curiel |
Bridge Creek, OK - Photo Courtesy of Brittany Nicole |
Chickasha, OK - Photo Courtesy of Doug Matlock |
Dibble, OK - Photo Courtesy of Chance Plett |
Duncan, OK - Photo Courtesy of Amy Solomon |
Edmond, OK - Photo Courtesy of Dan DeGeus |
Elgin, OK - Photo Courtesy of Christy Burgess |
Fletcher, OK - Photo Courtesy of Donna Overacker |
Ft. Sill, OK - Photo Courtesy of Jason Holden |
Ft. Sill, OK - Photo Courtesy of Jason Holden |
Midwest City, OK - Photo Courtesy of Chellie Mills |
Moore, OK - Photo Courtesy of Chad Jarvis |
Moore, OK - Photo Courtesy of Steve Center |
Newalla, OK - Photo Courtesy of Susan Garrett |
Newcastle, OK - Photo Courtesy of Kellie Raye |
Norman, OK - Photo Courtesy of Brian Bauknecht |
Norman, OK - Photo Courtesy of Haley StJohn |
Norman, OK - Photo Courtesy of Mary Beth Atkinson |
Norman, OK - Photo Courtesy of Kuster |
Oklahoma City, OK - Photo Courtesy of Danielle Barber |
Oklahoma City, OK - Photo Courtesy of Eli Farrar |
Rush Springs, OK - Photo Courtesy of Daniel Ball |
Seminole, OK - Photo Courtesy of Tena Stout |
Stillwater, OK - Photo Courtesy of Michaela Bradt |
Stroud, OK - Photo Courtesy of Delbert Humphries |
Weatherford, OK - Photo Courtesy of Matt Holder |
Yukon, OK - Photo Courtesy of Jeannie McDowell |