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 >
A strong upper level storm system developed off the Pacific coast near Thursday and Friday (2/27-2/28/2014) with upper level ridging and surface high pressure persisting across the central U.S. As the ridge broke down and shifted eastward through Friday (2/28/2014) into Saturday (3/1/2014), the strong cyclone begin to move eastward across the southwestern U.S. As this upper level disturbance approached the Southern Plains, a stout surface low developed over the Panhandles and with it, brought strong southerly surface winds across the region. These winds transported moisture into the lower levels of the atmosphere through Friday and Saturday.
As the upper level low approached, a strong cold front descended across the Central Plains, providing a focus for lift. However, above this surface front, a stout warm layer developed, with temperatures reaching 10 C. This combined with the very cold air at the surface resulted in a very tricky forecast with regards to precipitation types. This warm air also created a whole new dynamic, which was elevated instability. Normally, with such a deep warm layer, or nose, if you will, results in freezing rain at the surface. Basically, the warm air melts the frozen precipitation above the ground, 3000 to 4000 feet above ground level (AGL), and then freezes as it makes contact with the surface, which is below freezing.
As precipitation started late Saturday through Sunday, it was quickly apparent, that with such cold temperatures at the surface/near ground, the melted precipitation was able to refreeze before reaching the ground, resulting in snow/sleet mix, and sometimes a mixture of all three precipitation types, snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Adding to the excitement during the day Sunday, the increased instability across the region well above the surface, 3000 to 4000 feet AGL, thunder and lightning increased as the upper level wave provided ample lift for thunderstorm development.
However, instead of rain, these storms produced intense sleet and snowfall across the region. The heaviest snow and sleet amounts fell across northern Oklahoma, where anywhere from 5-7 inches was reported. Across the central Oklahoma, snowfall totals anywhere from 2-4 inches north of the OKC metro and 1-2 inches were reported across the metro and as far south as Altus, Lawton, Ardmore, and Durant. As the upper wave departed the region to the east late Sunday night, snow and sleet ended across the region through the evening hours.
Total Snowfall Amounts for the March 1-2, 2014 Winter Weather Event in Southern Oklahoma and North Texas
NWUS54 KOUN 031442
LSROUN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
841 AM CST MON MAR 03 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW GARBER 36.44N 97.58W
03/03/2014 M5.0 INCH GARFIELD OK PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW MUTUAL 36.23N 99.17W
03/03/2014 M2.0 INCH WOODWARD OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 5 W MEEKER 35.50N 96.98W
03/03/2014 M1.0 INCH LINCOLN OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW JEFFERSON 36.72N 97.79W
03/03/2014 M4.0 INCH GRANT OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW HARDY 36.97N 96.80W
03/03/2014 M4.0 INCH KAY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW BLACKWELL 36.80N 97.28W
03/03/2014 M5.0 INCH KAY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW OKARCHE 35.73N 97.98W
03/03/2014 M2.0 INCH KINGFISHER OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW PONCA CITY 36.70N 97.08W
03/03/2014 M4.0 INCH KAY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW BLANCHARD 35.13N 97.68W
03/03/2014 M1.0 INCH GRADY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW SAYRE 35.30N 99.64W
03/03/2014 M2.0 INCH BECKHAM OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW PERKINS 35.98N 97.03W
03/03/2014 M4.0 INCH PAYNE OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SLEET CHATTANOOGA 34.42N 98.65W
03/03/2014 M0.50 INCH COMANCHE OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW ERICK 35.21N 99.87W
03/03/2014 E0.5 INCH BECKHAM OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WILEY POST AIRPORT 35.53N 97.65W
03/03/2014 M1.3 INCH OKLAHOMA OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 3 SSE NORMAN 35.18N 97.42W
03/03/2014 M0.2 INCH CLEVELAND OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW FILLMORE 34.27N 96.50W
03/03/2014 M0.5 INCH JOHNSTON OK PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW LEEDEY 35.87N 99.35W
03/03/2014 E1.0 INCH DEWEY OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW ENID 36.40N 97.88W
03/03/2014 M3.0 INCH GARFIELD OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SLEET EDMOND 35.65N 97.48W
03/03/2014 M1.00 INCH OKLAHOMA OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW PERRY 36.29N 97.29W
03/03/2014 M5.0 INCH NOBLE OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW ALVA 36.80N 98.67W
03/03/2014 M5.4 INCH WOODS OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW FREEDOM 36.77N 99.11W
03/03/2014 M4.0 INCH WOODS OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW HELENA 36.55N 98.27W
03/03/2014 M0.4 INCH ALFALFA OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW MADILL 34.09N 96.77W
03/03/2014 M0.1 INCH MARSHALL OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 3 E ANADARKO 35.08N 98.19W
03/03/2014 M0.5 INCH CADDO OK CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 3 NE STILLWATER 36.15N 97.02W
03/03/2014 M2.0 INCH PAYNE OK PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW 1 N ELMORE CITY 34.64N 97.40W
03/03/2014 M2.5 INCH GARVIN OK PUBLIC
&&
$$
DW
Visible Satellite Image at 9:45 AM CST on March 4, 2014 Showing the Snow and Sleet Field in Oklahoma
Blair, OK - Photo Courtesy of Albert Tyner |
Bridge Creek, OK - Photo Courtesy of Donna Strother |
Edmond, OK - Photo Courtesy of Kim Moyer |
Norman, OK - Photo Courtesy of Julia |
Pauls Valley, OK - Photo Courtesy of Stacy Mayo |
Wynnewood, OK - Photo Courtesy of Chance Plett |
Winter Weather Briefing - March 1, 2014
Winter Weather Briefing - February 28, 2014
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