A cold front moved through the Oklahoma during the day on the 18th. Behind the cold front a strong surface pressure gradient developed over the western and central Oklahoma Panhandle.
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.
A cold front moved through the Oklahoma during the day on the 18th. Behind the cold front a strong surface pressure gradient developed over the western and central Oklahoma Panhandle. This strong pressure gradient caused sustained winds of 40 to 42 mph at Boise City (Cimarron County) and Guymon (Texas County). The pressure gradient weakened during the evening hours of the 18th and brought an end to these sustained high winds.
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 Mar 18, 5:09 PM CST, 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
609 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
.AVIATION...
WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH BY MID EVENING AND VISIBILITIES WILL
IMPROVE TO THE VFR RANGE. LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING WILL BECOME LIGHT SOUTHWEST GENERALLY UNDER 10 KNOTS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 510 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014/
UPDATE...
UPGRADED TO A DUST STORM WARNING ACROSS MUCH OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE
WHERE LOWEST VISIBILITIES EXIST BASED ON DUST PLUME ON SATELLITE
IMAGERY AND REPORTS ACROSS THE AREA. ALSO UPGRADED THE WIND ADVISORY
TO A HIGH WIND WARNING ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE.
KB
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 432 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014/
DISCUSSION...
.ANOTHER WIND AND DUST EVENT ONGOING ACROSS THE PANHANDLES...
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS HAVE ENVELOPED THE OK PANHANDLE AND NORTHERN
TX PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON TO THE SOUTH OF A POTENT UPPER LOW MOVING
ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. A COUPLE OF SITES ACROSS THE OK PANHANDLE
HAVE BEEN BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH NEAR HIGH WIND WARNING
CRITERIA...BUT ELSEWHERE REMAIN IN ADVISORY CRITERIA. ONE DUST PLUME
ORIGINATING OVER EAST CENTRAL NM LATE THIS MORNING CLIPPED THE
EXTREME SOUTHWEST TX PANHANDLE EARLIER TODAY BENEATH A MID-LEVEL WIND
MAX. THIS PLUME HAS SINCE SHIFTED SOUTH OF THE AREA IN TANDEM WITH
THE MID-LEVEL JET MAX. ANOTHER DUST PLUME WHICH ORIGINATED OVER
SOUTHEAST CO HAS SINCE SPREAD SOUTH ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA AND IS
JUST NOW MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE SOUTHERN TX PANHANDLE. HAVE EXPANDED
THE BLOWING DUST ADVISORY SOUTHWARD TO COVER THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA
AS THIS PLUME WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE SOUTHWARD. ALSO UPGRADED THE
BLOWING DUST ADVISORY TO A DUST STORM WARNING ACROSS THE WESTERN OK
PANHANDLE AND FAR NORTHWEST TX PANHANDLE WHERE SEVERAL REPORTS OF
VISIBILITIES OF A QUARTER MILE TO NEAR ZERO HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
THESE WINDY...DUSTY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY THIS EVENING.
HOWEVER...WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH FAIRLY QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET.
EXPANDED ALL WIND/DUST HEADLINES THROUGH 8 PM CDT EARLIER AND THIS
END TIME STILL LOOKS ON TRACK.
A VERY WELCOME BREAK FROM THE WINDS IS ON TAP FOR WEDNESDAY AS A
SURFACE HIGH TRAVERSES THE AREA. IN WAKE OF TODAY/S COLD
FRONT...TEMPS WILL BE COOLER WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER
60S. TEMPS WILL REBOUND QUICKLY ON THURSDAY THANKS TO THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF A LEE SURFACE TROUGH. BREEZY DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL
PUSH HIGHS BACK INTO THE 70S.
THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH ON FRIDAY...KNOCKING TEMPS
DOWN. COOLER AIR WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND ON THE
SOUTHERN FRINGE OF A BROAD SURFACE RIDGE. A REINFORCING COLD FRONT
WILL MOVE IN LATE MONDAY. UNFORTUNATELY PRECIP CHANCES CONTINUE TO
LOOK BLEAK WITH THESE FRONTS...BUT THEY SHOULD PROVIDE SOME RELIEF
FROM CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF LATE.
FIRE WEATHER...
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TX PANHANDLE. LIGHT WINDS ON WEDNESDAY
WILL PRECLUDE ANY ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
DESPITE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 10 TO 15 PERCENT. ELEVATED TO NEAR
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN ON THURSDAY WITH BREEZY
SOUTHWEST WINDS. NO ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
CURRENTLY EXPECTED FRIDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...DUST STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: CARSON...DALLAM...GRAY...HANSFORD...HEMPHILL...
HUTCHINSON...MOORE...OCHILTREE...ROBERTS...SHERMAN...
WHEELER.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: CARSON...DALLAM...GRAY...HANSFORD...HARTLEY...
HEMPHILL...HUTCHINSON...LIPSCOMB...MOORE...OCHILTREE...
ROBERTS...SHERMAN...WHEELER.
BLOWING DUST ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: ARMSTRONG...COLLINGSWORTH...DEAF SMITH...
DONLEY...HARTLEY...LIPSCOMB...OLDHAM...POTTER...RANDALL.
RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARMSTRONG...COLLINGSWORTH...DEAF SMITH...DONLEY...
OLDHAM...POTTER...RANDALL.
OK...DUST STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: CIMARRON.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: BEAVER.
BLOWING DUST ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: BEAVER...TEXAS.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: CIMARRON...TEXAS.
&&
15/05HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 506 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-191100- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 506 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS SUSTAINED AT SPEEDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL TEXAS PANHANDLE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. WIND ADVISORIES AND HIGH WIND WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS THROUGH 8 PM CDT. BLOWING DUST WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE VISIBILITIES ACROSS ALL OF THE PANHANDLES THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. DUST STORM WARNINGS AND BLOWING DUST ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM CDT. IN ADDITION...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING...WHERE A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM CDT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY AGAIN DEVELOP THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. AREA FIRE MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD EXPECT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER TROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING OVER THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...AND ALSO SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY. KB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
437 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 PM DUST STORM BOISE CITY 36.73N 102.51W
03/18/2014 CIMARRON OK LAW ENFORCEMENT
VISIBILITIES ONE QUARTER MILE TO NEAR ZERO. HIGHWAY 287
CLOSED. A FEW ACCIDENTS IN THE AREA.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400233
BUFFALOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
441 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0257 PM DUST STORM STRATFORD 36.34N 102.07W
03/18/2014 SHERMAN TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
LOCALIZED VISIBILITIES AROUND ONE QUARTER MILE
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400234
BUFFALOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
534 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0527 PM DUST STORM 18 N CONLEN 36.50N 102.24W
03/18/2014 DALLAM TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
VISIBILITY DOWN TO ZERO ON U.S. HIGHWAY 287 DUE TO
BLOWING DUST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400235
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
544 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0541 PM DUST STORM DUMAS 35.86N 101.97W
03/18/2014 MOORE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
VISIBILITY 50 YARDS IN DUMAS DUE TO BLOWING DUST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400236
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
548 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0546 PM DUST STORM SPEARMAN 36.20N 101.19W
03/18/2014 HANSFORD TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
SOME PLACES IN THE COUNTY ARE DOWN TO ZERO VISIBILITY
IN BLOWING DUST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400237
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
613 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0612 PM DUST STORM PERRYTON 36.39N 100.80W
03/18/2014 OCHILTREE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
VISIBILITY 100 YARDS IN BLOWING DUST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1400238
LGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained 42 mph wind at Boise City.
Sustained 40 mph wind at Guymon.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, March 2014
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: 504991, 504992.