Fresh on the heels of the record-setting blizzard that occurred a few days before, another significant winter storm affected the southern Plains. Snowfall totals reached a foot over parts of northern Oklahoma, with widespread totals of 4 to 8 inches over the northern 2/3 of Oklahoma.
Every event with a place to put it; 36 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.
Fresh on the heels of the record-setting blizzard that occurred a few days before, another significant winter storm affected the southern Plains. Snowfall totals reached a foot over parts of northern Oklahoma, with widespread totals of 4 to 8 inches over the northern 2/3 of Oklahoma.
A strong surface high pressure developed south out of Canada into Kansas early on the 8th behind a cold front, that finally moved into northern Oklahoma during the late morning and early afternoon hours. Behind the arctic front were very cold temperatures, with temperatures falling into the single digits, and even sub-zero readings across many areas of the northern and central Plains (sub-zero temperatures would soon overspread much of Oklahoma). Precipitation, some of it heavy, developed behind the front as a strong low-level jet transported relatively warm and more moist air north over-top of the front. Snowfall totals north of the Oklahoma/Kansas border totaled 6 to 10 inches, with northerly surface winds gusting over 30 mph.
During the day, the cold front made substantially more southward progress over the Texas panhandle into western Oklahoma, with additional heavy snow accumulations developing behind the boundary by late afternoon. Additional support for precipitation development had developed ahead of a potent mid-level disturbance that moved southeast toward Oklahoma. Normally, progressive storm systems such as this one would not big snow-producers over the southern Plains, but with strong warm advection and very cold temperatures at the surface and aloft (and getting colder through the event), snow growth was maximized, which in turn caused moderate to heavy snowfall to occur.
By mid evening, the main snow band had developed over northern Oklahoma, with moderate to heavy snowfall occurring over the northern two or three tiers of counties for several hours. Here, widespread totals of 8 to 12 inches of snow was reported, with even higher totals toward northeast Oklahoma. Further to the south, an area of moderate to heavy snowfall progressed east, but started a little later and did not last near as long. This included the Oklahoma City metro, although Will Rogers World Airport still managed to pick up almost 6 inches of snow. Even further south toward the Red River, lighter totals of 2 to 4 inches occurred due to the even later onset and quicker progression of the precipitation.
In addition to the snowfall, a strong pressure gradient created very gusty winds behind the front. The strongest winds were reported over western Oklahoma, as pressure rises were maximized behind the quickly moving cold front. Gusts to almost 50 mph created wind chill values well below zero as temperatures fell into the lower teens, which also caused considerable blowing and drifting snow. Farther north and east, blowing and drifting snow also became a significant issue, even with slightly lower wind speeds. Wind gusts over 30 mph were reported at times, with visibilities falling to an 1/8 of a mile at times in the heavier snow bands.
Around 240 injuries statewide were reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, with 33 injuries associated with around 84 automobile accidents. And, like last storm, there were fatalities (2) with this storm.
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 Feb 8, 10:28 AM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1028 AM CST TUE FEB 8 2011
.DISCUSSION...
UPDATED GRIDDED FORECAST TO REMOVE MENTION OF FREEZING RAIN MOST
LOCATIONS. CURRENT AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS COLD ENOUGH FOR A
QUICK TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW WHERE BOUNDARY LAYER
TEMPERATURES ARE WARM ENOUGH FOR INITIAL MIX. SOME SLEET WILL BE
POSSIBLE AT ONSET OF PRECIPITATION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING AS FINE-SCALE MODEL OUTPUT IS SHOWING SIGNALS FOR THUNDER
SLEET NEAR AND JUST NORTH OF FRONT. THIS WOULD MAINLY BE AN ISSUE
FROM WESTERN NORTH TEXAS THROUGH SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EARLY TO MID-EVENING BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF HEAVY SNOW.
DID NOT ALTER SNOWFALL TOTALS WITH THIS UPDATE. WIDESPREAD 4 TO 6
INCHES STILL APPEAR LIKELY...WITH HIGHER TOTALS OF AS MUCH AS 8
TO 10+ INCHES STILL APPEARING POSSIBLE IN ANY BANDED STRUCTURES
THAT DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF OKLAHOMA
OVERNIGHT. WHAT IS A CERTAINTY ACROSS THE REGION WILL BE
DRASTICALLY COLDER CONDITIONS TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK 35 10 19 4 / 50 100 90 0
HOBART OK 38 9 15 2 / 50 100 60 0
WICHITA FALLS TX 51 16 21 7 / 20 90 70 0
GAGE OK 28 3 23 -2 / 100 100 50 0
PONCA CITY OK 22 6 17 2 / 70 100 70 0
DURANT OK 47 22 26 9 / 20 80 100 10
&&
.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR OKZ016>031-033>040-044-045.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR OKZ004>015.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR OKZ032-041>043-046>048-050>052.
TX...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR TXZ083>086-089-090.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR TXZ087-088.
&&
11/08HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1147 AM CST TUE FEB 8 2011
OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-091300-
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-
1147 AM CST TUE FEB 8 2011
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
A FEW WEAK THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS...INTO SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING.
DISCUSSION...
ARCTIC AIR WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TODAY AND
TONIGHT...WHICH WILL ELIMINATE ANY CHANCE OF SURFACE-BASED
THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER...WE CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW HIGHLY ELEVATED
AND WEAK THUNDERSTORMS DUE TO STRONG LIFT AND SOME VERY WEAK
ELEVATED INSTABILITY NEAR AND JUST BEHIND THE ARCTIC FRONT. THESE
BRIEF STORMS COULD PRODUCE VERY INTENSE BURSTS OF SLEET AND SNOW.
PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CST WEDNESDAY FEB 9.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...20 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...ZERO.
OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT NORTHERN AND WESTERN
OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON...AND ALL OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. TRAVEL IS LIKELY TO BE VERY
HAZARDOUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE IN MANY AREAS BY LATE TONIGHT. REFER TO
OUR WINTER STORM WARNING MESSAGE FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.
OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND BITTER COLD WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS
WINTER STORM CONDITIONS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TRAVEL IS LIKELY TO BE
VERY HAZARDOUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE IN MANY AREAS. REFER TO THE WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. A WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE
BY FRIDAY.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 5 AM
WEDNESDAY.The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
32 winter storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The observer measured 6.4 inches in Laverne. Frequent gusts of 30 to 40 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Observers measured 13.0 inches in Laverne, 6.0 inches near Shattuck, and 7.0 inches in Fargo. Frequent wind gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibility and caused significant blowing and drifting of the snow.
Observers measured 4.0 inches in Erick and 2.5 inches in Sayre. Frequent gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Eight inches of snow was measured in Roll. Frequent gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Eight inches of snow was measured in Freedom, and ten inches measured in Alva. Frequent gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Seven inches of snow was measured in Mutual, and eight inches measured in Woodward. Frequent gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Four inches of snow was measured in Leedey, and six inches measured in Taloga. Frequent gusts over 30 mph greatly reduced visibilities and caused considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.
Eleven inches of snow was measured in Ames, with ten inches measured near Orienta. Numerous wind gusts over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Thirteen inches of snow was measured near Helena, with eleven inches measured in Cherokee. Numerous wind gusts over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three inches of snow was measured in Weatherford. Wind gusts of over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Four inches of snow was measured in Cordell. Wind gusts of over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Twelve inches of snow was measured in Lamont, with ten inches measured in Jefferson, and nine inches measured in Medford. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Eleven to thirteen inches of snow was measured in and around Enid, and eight to nine inches measured at Vance Air Force Base. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Eight inches of snow was measured in Watonga. Numerous wind gusts over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Ten inches of snow was measured in and around Hennessey. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Twelve to thirteen inches of snow was measured in Ponca City and Braman, with ten to eleven inches measured at Newkirk and Blackwell. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Twelve inches of snow was measured in Billings. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Five inches of snow was measured in Okarche, with three to four inches measured in Union City. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Caddo county, including three inches in Apache and Anadarko, and four inches measured in Carnegie. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
The observer measured 2.2 inches in Mangum. Considerable blowing and drifting snow was also reported.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Kiowa county, including 3.5 inches south of Mountain View. Numerous wind gusts over 40 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three inches was measured in Altus, with two inches in Headrick. . Considerable blowing and drifting snow was also reported.
Five to six inches was measured in and around Guthrie and Crescent, with seven inches measured in Marshall, and eight inches measured in Mulhall. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Four to six inches of snow was measured in and around Cushing and Stillwater. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Four to six inches of snow was measured around Oklahoma county, including 5.9 inches at Will Rogers World Airport. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Grady county, including three inches measured in Blanchard. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured in and around Waurika. Numerous wind gusts over 40 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Lincoln county, including three inches west of Meeker. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Two to four inches of snow was measured around McClain county, with the highest totals over the northern half of the county. Numerous wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Two to four inches of snow was measured around Pottawatomie county, including three inches measured around Tecumseh and Shawnee. Numerous wind gusts over 25 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Two to four inches of snow was measured around Seminole county, including two inches measured in Seminole. Numerous wind gusts over 30 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Four inches of snow was measured near Loco and Duncan, with 2.5 inches at Empire City, and two inches measured in Marlow. Numerous wind gusts over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Comanche county, including four inches measured around Lawton. Numerous wind gusts over 35 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
Three to four inches of snow was measured around Hughes county, including four inches measured around Holdenville. Numerous wind gusts over 25 mph were reported for several hours greatly reducing visibilities and causing considerable blowing and drifting of the snowfall.
The observer measured 3.0 inches in Centrahoma. Considerable blowing and drifting snow was also reported.
The observer measured 1.5 inches in Healdton. Considerable blowing and drifting snow was also reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, February 2011
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: 278285, 278286, 278288, 278292, 278294, 278296, 278298, 286316, 286318, 278301, 278304, 286319, 286320, 286317, 286323, 286321, 286322, 286336, 286339, 286991, 286970, 287006, 286327, 286331, 286337, 286340, 286976, 286338, 286341, 286342, 287000, 286967, 286973, 286980, 287001, 287002.