Between the evening hours of February 24 and the afternoon hours of February 25th, widespread snowfall totals of 1 to 15 inches of snow were reported across the Oklahoma Panhandle. This snowfall crippled the Panhandle in ways not seen since the 1957 and 1934 blizzards.
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.
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 AMA wrote it up.
Between the evening hours of February 24 and the afternoon hours of February 25th, widespread snowfall totals of 1 to 15 inches of snow were reported across the Oklahoma Panhandle. This snowfall crippled the Panhandle in ways not seen since the 1957 and 1934 blizzards. | |The 6 PM CST upper air analysis on February 24th reviled a closed mid-level low pressure system diving south-southeastward from the Four Corners Region. This positioning put the Oklahoma Panhandle under the front right quadrant of a 90 mph to 120 mph upper level jet streak, and caused a transition of a surface stationary front draped across the Southern Texas Panhandle into a cold front. The large scale forcing provided by the aforementioned factors coupled with low level moisture advection to initiate snow showers over eastern New Mexico. These snow showers quickly expanded into the western Oklahoma Panhandles. The surface cold front surged southward in advance of the snow showers, which ensured any precipitation reaching the ground would be in a frozen state. A few embedded lightning strikes were evident as snow showers taped into very steep mid-level temperature lapse rates and weak elevated instability while moving further into the Panhandle. Snowfall rates of 1 inch to 2 inches per hour were observed, but higher snow fall rates of 2 inches to 3 inches per hour were possible given the weakly convective nature of some of the storms.
By midnight of the 25th, the mid-level closed low had progressed into southeastern New Mexico. This placed the Panhandles squarely in the comma head of the system. As a result, bands of heavy snow developed from Hereford, Texas (Deaf Smith County) to Slapout, Oklahoma (Beaver County). Weak instability continued to produce isolated lightning strikes within these snow bands. Sustained surface winds across the Panhandle had built into the 30 to 40 mph range in response to the strong post-frontal surface pressure gradient and occasional 55 to 65 mph winds gusts were reported within the heavier snow bands. These blizzard conditions caused visibilities to drop as low as 50 feet, and produced multiple inches of snow over several hours.
By 6 AM CST, the mid-level closed low was positioned near Sweetwater, Texas, and heavy bands of snow were still evident on radar along a Hereford, TX (Deaf Smith County) to Slapout, Oklahoma (Beaver County) line. Snow amount reports averaged between 4 to 10 inches along and to either side this line with Beaver (Beaver County) measuring eight inches. Blizzard conditions continued throughout the morning hours.
By 12 PM CST, the mid-level closed low had progressed into north central Texas allowing a clearing line to approach the New Mexico/Oklahoma state line. This further east position of the low also had a diminishing effect on the heaviest snow bands as the upper level forcing had lessen. Snowfall rates dropped to below 1 inch per hour, and the surface pressure gradient was slowly weakening to allow slower sustained surface winds. However, near zero visibilities were still reported in locations where snow had ended due to blowing snow. The clearing line was positioned from Amarillo, Texas (Randall and Potter County) to Guymon, Oklahoma (Texas County) by 3 PM CST, and distinct snow bands were no longer evident on radar. Surface winds had also dropped below 35 mph sustained to bring an end to blizzard conditions across the Panhandles. Snow showers continued to diminish before coming to an end just before 10 PM CST.
The following is a listing of the highest snow amounts per county: 15.0 inches in Slapout (Beaver County); 5 inches in Guymon (Texas County); and trace of snow in Boise City (Cimarron County).| |While the total economic losses due to the blizzard remains largely undocumented, the blizzard cost cattle farmers across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle $10.24 million in cattle losses. The 5 to 15 inch swath of snow across the central and eastern Oklahoma Panhandle paralyzed traffic, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OKDOT) to close all roads and highways across the region. Numerous motorists became stranded during and after the blizzard. | |The blizzard forced businesses to shut down, caused temporary power outages, and limited the supply of goods by paralyzing delivery methods. Toot-n-Totum closed 52 of their 62 locations across the panhandles, which was the first time in 62 years of operations that so many locations were closed. The remaining 10 locations were reported to have been visited by 11,000 customers with lines of 40 to 50 people deep according to security camera estimates.
Economic losses per county estimated from known cattle losses, estimated department of transportation costs, and estimated vehicle repairs.
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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 7:49 PM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
749 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013
.UPDATE...
QUICK UPDATE ISSUED TO ADD THUNDERSTORMS TO THE FORECAST IN THE
SOUTHEAST TX PANHANDLE THIS EVENING. ELEVATED INSTABILITY BEHIND THE
COLD FRONT /MUCAPES 200-400 J/KG/ IN THIS AREA HAS SUPPORTED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS AS LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT HAS
GREATLY INCREASED AHEAD OF VERY DYNAMIC UPPER LOW OVER NM. COULD SEE
SOME SMALL HAIL OUT OF THESE STORMS GIVEN COLD TEMPS ALOFT. CAN/T
EVEN RULE OUT A FEW STRIKES/RUMBLES OF THUNDER FARTHER WEST/NORTHWEST
ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE SNOW DUE TO STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND
STRONG DYNAMIC FORCING. HAVE SEEN A FEW STRIKES ACROSS NM THIS
EVENING.
NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES MADE TO THE FORECAST ATTM. INITIAL
SHARP/NARROW DEFORMATION SNOW BAND CONTINUES TO SHIFT NORTH ACROSS
THE PANHANDLES AND LOSE SOME OF ITS DEFINITION. DID RECEIVE A QUICK
COUPLE OF INCHES IN FRITCH AND VEGA OUT OF THIS BAND. NEXT BAND
CURRENTLY INTENSIFYING/EXPANDING ACROSS EASTERN NM. EXPECT BROADER
DEFORMATION BAND TO FORM OUT OF THIS AND THE CURRENT BAND OVER THE
NORTHERN PANHANDLES AS UPPER LOW CONTINUES TO ADVANCE EAST/SOUTHEAST
ACROSS NM AND EVENTUALLY THE TX SOUTH PLAINS/ROLLING PLAINS TONIGHT.
THIS MAIN MUCH BROADER SNOW BAND WILL THEN SLOWLY PIVOT
EAST/SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AND MONDAY.
ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST TX PANHANDLE...MAY NOT SEE PRECIP TURN OVER TO
ALL SNOW UNTIL AROUND 3 AM. CANNOT RULE OUT A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET
OR FZRA DURING THE TRANSITION PHASE...BUT OVERALL SHOULD BE A PRETTY
QUICK/CLEAN CHANGEOVER. ELSEWHERE...ALL SNOW IS STILL EXPECTED. WILL
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS AS 00Z MODEL DATA ROLLS
IN AND SEE IF ANY ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEEDED.
KB
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 535 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013/
AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
UPPER LOW OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO WILL TRACK EASTWARD
INTO THE TEXAS SOUTH PLAINS AND PERMIAN BASIN REGION TONIGHT BEFORE
LIFTING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE RED RIVER VALLEY EAST OF CHILDRESS
MONDAY. INCREASING CHANCES FOR SNOW THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT...WITH GRADUALLY IMPROVING CONDITIONS BY 00Z TUESDAY.
NORTHERLY AND NORTHEASTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 KNOTS INCREASING TO
AROUND 35 TO 45 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS TONIGHT AND MONDAY WILL
CREATE BLOWING OF THE SNOW. MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS WILL BECOME LIFR
TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY...BUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE TO
MVFR AFTER 18Z TO 22Z MONDAY.
SCHNEIDER
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 307 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013/
DISCUSSION...
OUR WINTER STORM IS GATHERING STRENGTH OVER WESTERN NEW MEXICO THIS
AFTERNOON. LIFT IS ALREADY INCREASING AHEAD OF THIS STORM AS PER THE
RADAR RETURNS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST CWA. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED ACROSS THE PANHANDLES STARTING THIS EVENING IN THE
NORTHWEST CWA AND SPREADING SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE NIGHT. THE
HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 AM TONIGHT AND 6 PM
ON MONDAY. HOWEVER...THE NORTHWEST CWA WILL PROBABLY HAVE HEAVIER
SNOW THIS EVENING AS A BAND OF SNOW MAY SET UP FROM SOUTHWEST TO
NORTHEAST ACROSS THESE AREAS BETWEEN 6 PM TONIGHT AND
MIDNIGHT. STRONG NORTH WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR WITH GUSTS
TO AROUND 55 MILES AN HOUR WILL DEVELOP LATER THIS EVENING AND WILL
LAST THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS ON MONDAY. THE HEAVY SNOW AND
STRONG WINDS WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO DROP TO AROUND ZERO IN MANY
LOCATIONS DURING THIS EVENT.
THE STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE PANHANDLES MONDAY NIGHT...
BUT WINDS WILL DECREASE SLOWLY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN
PANHANDLES...SO WE MAY NEED TO CONSIDER A WIND CHILL ADVISORY LATE
MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY.
ANOTHER...MUCH WEAKER...SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE
CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS TUESDAY NIGHT. THE PANHANDLES WILL BE ON THE
SOUTHERN EDGE OF THIS WAVE AND IT MAY PROVIDE ENOUGH LIFT TO
PRODUCE SOME LIGHT SNOW...SO WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE
TUESDAY NIGHT.
THE NORTHERLY TO NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
REST OF THIS FORECAST. HOWEVER...BEYOND TUESDAY NIGHT THERE DOES
NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYMORE PRECIPITATION PRODUCING SHORT WAVE TROUGHS
HEADED FOR THE PANHANDLES THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND.
FIRE WEATHER...
ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED
THROUGH NEXT GIVEN THE EXPECTED SNOW COVER.
&&
.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 3 AM CST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
ARMSTRONG...CARSON...COLLINGSWORTH...DALLAM...DEAF SMITH...
DONLEY...GRAY...HANSFORD...HARTLEY...HEMPHILL...
HUTCHINSON...LIPSCOMB...MOORE...OCHILTREE...OLDHAM...
POTTER...RANDALL...ROBERTS...SHERMAN...WHEELER.
OK...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 3 AM CST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
BEAVER...CIMARRON...TEXAS.
&&
08/11HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 700 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-251200- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 700 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR ALL OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. SNOW WILL INTENSIFY THROUGH THE NIGHT AND SPREAD FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. THIS WILL CREATE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS PANHANDLE THIS EVENING. NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED...BUT SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT FOR ALL OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY ACROSS THE AREA. HEAVY SNOW COMBINED WITH STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AT 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION. WINDS WILL ONLY SLOWLY DECREASE MONDAY EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 3 TO 8 INCHES IN THE WESTERN OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHWEST TEXAS PANHANDLE TO 8 TO 15 INCHES ELSEWHERE. TRAVEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...BUT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS. KB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
727 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM SNOW FRITCH 35.64N 101.60W
02/24/2013 M2.0 INCH HUTCHINSON TX STORM CHASER
2 INCHES ON THE GROUND IN 45 MINUTES
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300253
KJSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
743 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0740 PM SNOW VEGA 35.25N 102.43W
02/24/2013 E2.0 INCH OLDHAM TX PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300254
DHTThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions observed at the Guymon ASOS, a total of 5 inches of snow, and a max wind gusts of 49 mph.
Blizzard conditions observed by the Beaver County Emergency Manager, a maximum of 15 inches of snow at Slapout, and a max wind gusts of 46 mph. Also multiple stranded motorist were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, February 2013
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: 437606, 437608.