Winter Weather in Texas, March 28, 2009

Name: Winter Weather in Texas, March 28, 2009
Start: 2009-03-28T00:00
End: 2009-03-28T06:00
Location: Texas

March 28, 2009 · NWS OUN · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong, late-season storm system moved through parts of western north Texas. A cold front moved through western north Texas during the morning hours of the 27th, dropping temperatures into 30s.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

A strong, late-season storm system moved through parts of western north Texas. A cold front moved through western north Texas during the morning hours of the 27th, dropping temperatures into 30s. Snow began after midnight on the 28th, and accumulated to around an inch near Vernon and points west. Trace amounts were observed farther south. The snow had melted by the afternoon of the 28th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 27, 10:16 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 10:16 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1116 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS - LOWEST CIGS/VSBYS WILL BE ACROSS N OK BUT WRAPAROUND ON
BACK SIDE OF UPPER LOW STILL LIKELY TO BRING AT LEAST MVFR CIGS
AND ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW BACK INTO SW OK AND PERHAPS NCENTRAL TX
LATER TONIGHT. NAM SOUNDINGS SUGGEST CONTINUED TRANSITION TO
NEARLY ALL SNOW BY 06Z OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER AT KPNC/KOKC/KOUN.
SFC WINDS WILL BE LOWERED FROM WHAT WAS/IS IN 00Z TAFS BASED ON
MODEL FORECASTS. RH PROGS INDICATE RAPID DEPARTURE OF LOW CLOUDS
BEGINNING SAT MORNING NW OK TO LATE DAY OR EARLY EVENING CENTRAL
OK.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 840 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009/

UPDATE...
HEAVY SNOW CONTINUING IN NW OK WITH MIX OF RA/FZRA/PL/SN EASTWARD
TO I-35 CORRIDOR MAINLY FROM OKC NORTH. HIGHEST REPORTED SNOW TOTALS
SO FAR IN NW OK ARE IN THE 4-9 INCH RANGE AS OF 730-745 PM. MAX
STORM TOTALS 12-20 INCHES LIKELY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH PIVOT POINT
N OF THE UPPER LOW OVER NW OK... BUT REPORTED TOTALS ARE APT TO BE
HIGHLY VARIABLE DUE TO BLOWING/DRIFTING. TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO
PL/FZRA>SNOW WILL WORK SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY E AS DYNAMIC COOLING
ALOFT MOVES E WITH THE UPPER LOW NOW NEAR CDS. PRECIP HAS LET UP
FOR THE TIME BEING IN MOST AREAS S OF I-40... BUT WRAPAROUND NOW
OCCURRING OVER OK/TX PANHANDLES INTO TX S PLAINS WILL LIKELY MOVE
BACK INTO OUR SW CWA LATER TONIGHT. ISOLATED T-STORMS LIKELY TO
CONTINUE TONIGHT IN THE WARM ADVECTION REGIME MAINLY ACROSS N
OK... BUT SEVERE RISK HAS DIMINISHED IN OUR SE CWA AS SFC LOW AND
COLD FRONT MOVE INTO AR/LA.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 254 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009/

DISCUSSION...
SIGNIFICANT LATE-SEASON STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

APPEAR 12Z NAM12 HAS A FAIRLY DECENT HANDLE ON CURRENT WEATHER
TRENDS THIS MORNING/AFTERNOON...SO WILL USE FOR MAIN GUIDANCE.
MAIN CONCERNS FOR PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WILL
BE WARM NOSE AND MIXED PRECIP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
COMPARING 18Z OUN SOUNDING AND NAM12...NAM12 IS TOO COOL.

OVERALL HAVE ADJUSTED WEATHER GRIDS MAINLY EAST OF MEDFORD...ENID
AND EL RENO FOR MORE FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET LASTING INTO THIS
EVENING/OVERNIGHT. PRECIP SHOULD BECOME ALL SNOW BY 6-9Z SAT MOST
AREAS. HOWEVER MIXED PRECIP MAY HOLD SNOWFALL TOTALS DOWN ACROSS
PARTS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING.  HOWEVER
INTENSE WRAP AROUND BAND MAY BRING HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALS TO NORTH
CENTRAL AND PARTS OF CENTRAL OK EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.  THIS MAY
INCLUDE THE OKC METRO AREA.

HAVE ALSO ADDED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA.

REPORTS FROM BOISE CITY IN THE OK PANHANDLE OF DRIFTS UP TO THE
ROOFS OF SOME HOMES AND 5 FOOT DRIFTS IN KENTON. EXPECT SNOWFALL
RATES TO INCREASE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING WITH 1 TO 2 INCH PER HOUR RATES
POSSIBLE. THIS COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE VERY
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR THOSE ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL.

SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA MAY NEED TO BE
INCREASED IF CHANGE OVER OCCURS EARLIER AND 12Z NAM IS MORE
CORRECT WITH WRAP AROUND BAND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

CONSIDERABLE BLOWING OF SNOW WILL OCCUR...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN
PARTS OF OKLAHOMA WHERE TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COLDER.

VERY MINOR IF ANY CHANGES WERE MADE TO SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FORECAST.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  29  38  26  51 /  90 100   0   0
HOBART OK         27  40  28  52 /  80  40   0   0
WICHITA FALLS TX  29  46  33  71 /  40  30   0   0
GAGE OK           22  36  22  38 / 100  10   0   0
PONCA CITY OK     28  36  21  42 / 100 100   0   0
DURANT OK         34  46  35  67 /  40  50   0   0

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR OKZ008-013-019-
     020-025-026-028>030.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR OKZ018-022>024-
     027-033>036-038.

     BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR OKZ004>007-009>012-
     014>017-021.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR OKZ037-039-
     044.

TX...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR TXZ083.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR TXZ084>087.

&&

25/24/24

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 27, 8:15 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
915 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-281300-
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-
ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-BECKHAM-
WASHITA-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-
COMANCHE-STEPHENS-GARVIN-MURRAY-PONTOTOC-COAL-COTTON-JEFFERSON-
CARTER-JOHNSTON-ATOKA-LOVE-MARSHALL-BRYAN-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-
WICHITA-KNOX-BAYLOR-ARCHER-CLAY-
915 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

DISCUSSION...
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE RED RIVER VALLEY TONIGHT.
AN ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW... AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE LOW-LEVEL AIR
AHEAD OF IT... HAD MOVED OUT OF OKLAHOMA INTO SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS.
THE LOW LEVELS HAVE COOLED AND STABILIZED OVER SOUTHEASTERN
OKLAHOMA... ENDING THE CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

SOME THUNDER WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SNOW... SLEET... AND FREEZING
RAIN ACROSS NORTHERN OKLAHOMA TONIGHT. COLD AIR ALOFT WILL RESULT IN
SOME WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY... DESPITE THE VERY COLD CONDITIONS
AT LOW LEVELS.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT SATURDAY MAR 28.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...30 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...5 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA TONIGHT. HEAVY SNOWFALL OR
ACCUMULATING ICE WILL AFFECT PARTS OF NORTHERN... CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. REFER TO THE
LATEST BLIZZARD WARNING... WINTER STORM WARNING... AND WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY PRODUCTS FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA
ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE ACROSS CENTRAL
AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS ON TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
ACCUMULATING SNOW.. AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA SATURDAY MORNING. REFER TO
THE LATEST BLIZZARD AND WINTER STORM WARNING PRODUCTS FOR ADDITIONAL
DETAILS.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 7 AM
SATURDAY.

30/24

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 27, 6:56 PM CST, 5 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
756 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

0745 PM     SNOW             BUFFALO                 36.83N 99.63W
03/27/2009  E9.0 INCH        HARPER             OK   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

JBOWEN

Local storm report, Mar 27, 7:16 PM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
816 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

0615 PM     SNOW             4 S FORT SUPPLY         36.51N 99.57W
03/27/2009  E2.5 INCH        WOODWARD           OK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VISIBILITY WAS 3/8 OF A MILE.

0640 PM     SNOW             6 N FORT SUPPLY         36.66N 99.57W
03/27/2009  M6.0 INCH        HARPER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW DEPTH WAS MEASURED IN NON-DRIFT AREA.

0735 PM     SNOW             ENE CHEYENNE            35.61N 99.67W
03/27/2009  E2.0 INCH        ROGER MILLS        OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A MIXTURE AND SNOW AND SLEET WAS REPORTED.

0735 PM     SNOW             FAIRVIEW                36.27N 98.48W
03/27/2009  E4.0 INCH        MAJOR              OK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF.

0737 PM     SNOW             FREEDOM                 36.77N 99.11W
03/27/2009  E4.0 INCH        WOODS              OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0740 PM     SNOW             WOODWARD                36.43N 99.39W
03/27/2009  E7.0 INCH        WOODWARD           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED BY THE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER.

0741 PM     SNOW             1 ENE CHEYENNE          35.62N 99.66W
03/27/2009  E2.0 INCH        ROGER MILLS        OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND SNOW WAS REPORTED.

0745 PM     SNOW             BUFFALO                 36.83N 99.63W
03/27/2009  E9.0 INCH        HARPER             OK   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0750 PM     SNOW             CHEROKEE                36.75N 98.35W
03/27/2009  E1.0 INCH        ALFALFA            OK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0755 PM     SNOW             ALINE                   36.51N 98.45W
03/27/2009  E3.0 INCH        ALFALFA            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0802 PM     SNOW             ALVA                    36.80N 98.67W
03/27/2009  E3.0 INCH        WOODS              OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            THE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED ONE INCH OF SNOW ON
            TOP OF TWO INCHES OF SLEET ACCUMULATION.

&&

TY/JB

Local storm report, Mar 27, 8:52 PM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
952 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

0755 PM     SNOW             ALINE                   36.51N 98.45W
03/27/2009  E3.0 INCH        ALFALFA            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0817 PM     FREEZING RAIN    PONCA CITY              36.71N 97.09W
03/27/2009  E0.10 INCH       KAY                OK   PUBLIC

            DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO TREES AND POWER LINES. FOUR TO
            FIVE INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS WERE DOWNED. POWER WAS
            BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED.

0830 PM     SNOW             6 N FORT SUPPLY         36.66N 99.57W
03/27/2009  M9.0 INCH        HARPER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW DEPTH WAS MEASURED IN NON-DRIFT AREA.

0830 PM     SNOW             MOORELAND               36.44N 99.21W
03/27/2009  E6.0 INCH        WOODWARD           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW WAS STILL FALLING HEAVILY.

0919 PM     SNOW             ALVA                    36.80N 98.67W
03/27/2009  E5.5 INCH        WOODS              OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HEAVY SNOW WAS STILL FALLING.

0930 PM     SLEET            ENID                    36.40N 97.88W
03/27/2009  E1.00 INCH       GARFIELD           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            THE TOTAL IS A SLEET AND SNOW ACCUMULATION. THE
            PRECIPITATION HAS SWITCHED OVER TO ALL SNOW.

0945 PM     SNOW             FORT SUPPLY             36.57N 99.57W
03/27/2009  M9.0 INCH        WOODWARD           OK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO TO TWO AND A HALF FOOT DRIFTS WERE ALSO REPORTED.

0947 PM     SNOW             TABLER                  35.05N 97.82W
03/27/2009  M0.5 INCH        GRADY              OK   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

TY/JB

Local storm report, Mar 27, 9:25 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1025 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

1000 PM     SNOW             WATONGA                 35.85N 98.41W
03/27/2009  E2.0 INCH        BLAINE             OK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1000 PM     FREEZING RAIN    PONCA CITY              36.71N 97.09W
03/27/2009  E0.10 INCH       KAY                OK   PUBLIC

            DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO BRADFORD PEAR TREES, POWER LINES,
            AND METAL SURFACES. FOUR TO FIVE INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS
            HAVE BEEN DOWNED. POWER IS OUT IN PONCA CITY.

1015 PM     SNOW             MOORELAND               36.44N 99.21W
03/27/2009  E9.0 INCH        WOODWARD           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW WAS STILL FALLING HEAVILY.

1020 PM     SNOW             6 N FORT SUPPLY         36.66N 99.57W
03/27/2009  M12.0 INCH       HARPER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW DEPTH WAS MEASURED IN NON-DRIFT AREA.

&&

TY/JB

Local storm report, Mar 27, 10:33 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1133 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

1130 PM     SNOW             WOODWARD                36.43N 99.39W
03/27/2009  E10.0 INCH       WOODWARD           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED BY THE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER. SNOWFALL RATES
            HAVE AVERAGED ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR OVER THE LAST
            SEVERAL HOURS.

1130 PM     SNOW             6 N FORT SUPPLY         36.66N 99.57W
03/27/2009  M13.0 INCH       HARPER             OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOWFALL RATES HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ONE TO TWO INCHES PER
            HOUR OVER THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. SPORADIC POWER OUTAGES
            HAVE BEEN REPORTED, ESPECIALLY OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL
            PORTION OF HARPER COUNTY.

&&

TY/JB

Local storm report, Mar 27, 10:42 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1142 PM CDT FRI MAR 27 2009

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

1115 PM     SNOW             4 E SAYRE               35.30N 99.56W
03/27/2009  E1.0 INCH        BECKHAM            OK   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

TY/JB

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Wilbarger

When: March 28, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wilbarger forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.081, -99.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of snow accumulated in Vernon.

Winter Weather, Hardeman

When: March 28, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hardeman forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.290, -99.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of snow accumulated in and around Quanah.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, March 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 161879, 162074.