Winter Storm, McCurtain
- When
- March 4, 10:00 PM CST to March 5, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- McCurtain forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 34.115, -94.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm in Oklahoma, March 4 to 5, 2015
A cold, arctic airmass entered the region from the northwest during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Wednesday, March 4th. The flow aloft was from the west southwest and disturbances embedded in this flow produced the lift necessary for precipitation to overspread the region from west to east.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 SHV wrote it up.
A cold, arctic airmass entered the region from the northwest during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Wednesday, March 4th. The flow aloft was from the west southwest and disturbances embedded in this flow produced the lift necessary for precipitation to overspread the region from west to east. The precipitation began as a cold rain but quickly transitioned to sleet during the late night hours of March 4th with the precipitation transitioning over to snow during the morning hours of March 5th. Freezing rain amounts were near one tenth of an inch with sleet accumulations between one half inch and one inch. Snow amounts were less than 4 inches with widespread one to three inches reported across McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 4, 9:54 PM CST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 4, 9:54 PM CST, 6 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
954 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015
.DISCUSSION...
WILL NOT BE UPDATING THE FORECAST SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE IN LINE
WITH WHAT IS EXPECTED. HAVE REPORTS OF SLEET MIXED IN WITH THE
RAIN OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS...ALONG
WITH NORTHERN PARTS OF EAST AND NORTHEAST TEXAS...AND ALONG THE
ARKANSAS/LOUISIANA BORDER. SUSPECT A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SLEET OVER SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR AND BELOW
FREEZING. /06/
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 552 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015/
AVIATION...
VERY STG BUT SHALLOW ARCTIC COLD FRONT HAS JUST FINISHED MOVG
ACROSS KMLU AND KLFK TERMINALS...WITH WINDS ABRUPLY SHIFTING TO
NORTH. THESE NORTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 KTS...WITH GUSTS TO OVER 30
KTS AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...ALONG WITH IFR TO LOW
MVFR CIG...AND WIDESPREAD RAIN....WITHIN A 2 TO 4 HOUR PERIOD OF TIME
AFT FROPA. EMBEDDED THUNDER WITH ELEVATED INSTABILITY ABOVE SHARP
LOW LAYER INVERSION POSSIBLE UNTIL AROUND 05/06Z. PRECIP WILL
CONTINUE INTO MID/LATE MORNING THUR...WITH FRZG LINE REACHING
KTXK AND KELD AROUND 05/09Z...I-20 TERMINALS AROUND 05/12Z. FRZG
RAIN...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH IP WITH CHANGOVER TO FRZG...AND
POSSIBLE BRIEF -SN BEFORE PRECIP ENDING. NORTH WINDS TO DECREASE
TO 10 TO 15 KTS MOSTLY DURG THIS PERIOD OF TIME...BUT WILL
MAINTAIN SPEED INTO AFTN AS SKIES PARTIALLY CLEAR TO HIGH MVFR OR
SCT DECKS ACROSS AREA./VII/.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 444 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015/
DISCUSSION...
THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS MOVING INTO DEEP EAST TEXAS AND NORTH
CENTRAL LOUISIANA. MOS WAS RIGHT ON AT MCALESTER AT 18Z...BUT NAM
WAS COLDER BY 2 DEGREES. IT IS HARD TO IGNORE ACTUAL OBS WHICH ARE
NOW FREEZING OVER ALL OF OKLAHOMA AND THE NORTHERN THIRD OF
ARKANSAS. SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE FRONT DOOR AND THE BACK DOOR. THE
SURFACE COLD FRONT WAS AHEAD OF MODEL GUIDANCE BY ALMOST TWO
HOURS. AS SUCH...THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF FALLING TEMPERATURES IS OR
MAYBE ON A SLIGHTLY FASTER PACE. ALSO...THE VAD WIND PROFILER AT
FORT SMITH AND NORMAN WAS UP TO 5KFT OF COLD AIR DEPTH A COUPLE OF
HOURS AGO. SO...NO CHANGES TO PREVIOUS WINTER STORM WARNING ASIDE FROM
EXTENDING OUT IN TIME TO NOON. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS A
TAIL SECTION NOW OVER NORTH CENTRAL LA FOR A BIT LONGER WITH
FREEZING TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE PAST NOON...TO NEAR MID AFTERNOON
WITH WHAT EVER REMAINS BACK TO JUST LIGHT RAIN.
ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY GREATLY OVER BOTH THE WARNING AND
ADVISORY IF POCKETS OF SLEET EMERGE ON TOP OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.
THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR GROUND TEMPS TO
CHILL ENOUGH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS...THEY MAY NOT EVER SOUTH OF I-20. THE
RAIN TODAY WILL HELP THE COLD PENETRATE...BUT WE WENT FROM MID 40S
TWO DAYS AGO TO 55 THIS AFTERNOON AT LEAST FOR SHREVEPORT. SOIL
TEMPS NORTH OF I-30 ARE COLDER AND HAVE REMAINED COLDER WITH MUCH
LESS WARM AIR OVER THE LAST DAY OR TWO. ROADS MAY SEE ISSUES AND
ELEVATED STRUCTURE IS IN FOR IT WITH PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL BY
DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...IT IS LIKELY THAT SOUTH OF I-30...MOST ROADS
MAY HAVE ENOUGH RESIDUAL HEAT TO MELT FROM BELOW KEEPING A SLUSH
PRESENT COMPARED TO FROZEN ICE. OF COURSE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
WILL ACCUMULATE ANYWHERE NORTH OF THE FREEZING LINE AS IT
PENETRATES SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE CWA. SLEET CAN FALL EVEN WITH AIR
TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING...WHICH WILL HELP LOWER THAT AIR...AT
LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE NAM LIKES. AT THIS TIME...WE HAVE SEEN PATCHY
UP AND SNOW KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AT PARIS TX AND JUST NORTH OF
LITTLE ROCK AT THIS TIME. AS SUCH WE HAVE LEFT THE START TIMES ON
THE PRODUCTS AS IS WITH SUCH UNCERTAINTY. ALSO...KEEP IN MIND
NORTHERN PARTS OF COUNTIES AND PARISHES WILL BE AFFECTED PERHAPS
HOURS SOONER THAN SOUTHERN PARTS. AND CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSE
WITH ICE IN SHELTERED VALLEYS COMPARED TO UP ON WINDY RIDGES...SO
BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND JUST HAVE A LOOK SEE IN
THE MORNING AND GET A GOOD CHECK OF THE ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE
BEFORE HEADING OUT.
LASTLY...KEEP IN MIND THE COLDEST AIR WILL ONLY REACH THE SOUTHERN
TIER OF OUR CWA AROUND DAYBREAK AND ESPECIALLY INTO THE MID
MORNING HOURS. RAIN MAY WILL TRANSITION LATE FOR THE SCHOOL DAY
ANYWHERE SOUTH OF I-20...IT IS JUST TOO UNPREDICTABLE CONSIDERING
EVAPORATIONAL COOLING THAT IS NOT MODELED WELL. TO NOTE...THIS
EVENT IS NOT LIKE THE LAST 3 DAY PERIOD OF ICE AND
SNOW...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING A 15 DEGREE WARMER SOIL TO START.
AS IT TURNS OUT THIS MAY BE WINTERS LAST GASP FOR SUCH ON A WIDE
SPREAD SCALE WITH ICE. OF COURSE SNOW CAN HAPPEN UNDER ANY CLOSED
LOW EVEN INTO APRIL. IN THE SHORT TERM WE ARE IN FOR SOME MORE
VERY COLD AIR IN THE WAKE OF THE CLOUDS WITH A POSSIBLE HARD
FREEZE IN A SPOT OR TWO TOMORROW NIGHT AND STILL VERY COLD FOR
THIS TIME OF YEAR ON THE HIGH END AS WELL. LITTLE CHANGE TO THE
EXTENDED PORTION OF THE PERIOD WITH MODELS ON THE FENCE WITH QPF
HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF OUR CWA. /24/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 29 36 23 44 27 / 90 50 10 10 10
MLU 28 32 19 40 22 / 90 70 10 10 10
DEQ 25 37 19 44 19 / 90 10 10 10 10
TXK 25 34 20 43 25 / 90 20 10 10 10
ELD 25 35 17 40 21 / 90 50 10 10 10
TYR 30 37 24 46 28 / 90 20 10 10 10
GGG 29 37 23 45 25 / 90 50 10 10 10
LFK 32 39 25 50 30 / 90 50 10 10 10
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073.
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: LAZ001>006-014.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CST THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: LAZ013-019>022.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: LAZ010>012-017-018.
OK...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: OKZ077.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: OKZ077.
TX...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-138.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: TXZ136-137-149>153-165>167.
&&
06Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 4, 12:10 PM CST, 9 hours 50 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015 LAZ010>013-017>022-TXZ136-137-149>153-165>167-051815- DE SOTO-RED RIVER-BIENVILLE-JACKSON-SABINE LA-NATCHITOCHES-WINN- GRANT-CALDWELL-LA SALLE-SMITH-GREGG-CHEROKEE-RUSK-PANOLA- NACOGDOCHES-SHELBY-ANGELINA-SAN AUGUSTINE-SABINE TX- 1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...EAST TEXAS AND NORTHEAST TEXAS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND A COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE WINDY CONDITIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME A COL RAIN BY THIS EVENING AND TO TRANSITION TO FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET OVERNIGHT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH MAY BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN TO EXIT THE REGION BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS AND STORM SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SHOULD BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS. ANY REPORTS OF SUCH SHOULD BE REPORTED VIA OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/SHV. ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-014-OKZ077-TXZ096-097- 108>112-124>126-138-051815- SEVIER-HOWARD-LITTLE RIVER-HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-MILLER-LAFAYETTE- COLUMBIA-UNION AR-CADDO-BOSSIER-WEBSTER-CLAIBORNE-LINCOLN- UNION LA-OUACHITA-MCCURTAIN-RED RIVER-BOWIE-FRANKLIN-TITUS-CAMP- MORRIS-CASS-WOOD-UPSHUR-MARION-HARRISON- 1210 PM CST WED MAR 4 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA... NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHEAST TEXAS...GENERALLY NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING BEHIND A COLD FRONT WILL PRODUCE WINDY CONDITIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS WILL TRANSITION TO A COLD RAIN BY THIS AFTERNOON TO FURTHER TRANSITION TO FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW LATE THIS EVENING AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE OVERNIGHT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH MAY BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW TO EXIT THE REGION BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS AND STORM SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SHOULD BE AWARE OF ISSUES WITH EXPECTED ICE ACCUMULATIONS. ANY REPORTS OF SUCH SHOULD BE REPORTED VIA OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/SHV. 24
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Texas, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Winter Storm in Kentucky, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Flooding in Ohio, March 4, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Virginia, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Avalanche in Utah, March 4, 2015
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Winter Storm and Flooding in Kentucky, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding in West Virginia, March 4 to 6, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Kentucky, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, March 4, 2015
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, March 2015
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: 555553.