The record cold airmass remained entrenched over the area as yet another trough approached from the west. Snowfall covered most of Oklahoma but the heaviest snow fell across southern OK and western north Texas where 6 to as much as 8 inches were reported.
Every event with a place to put it; 30 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.
The record cold airmass remained entrenched over the area as yet another trough approached from the west. Snowfall covered most of Oklahoma but the heaviest snow fell across southern OK and western north Texas where 6 to as much as 8 inches were reported.
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 16, 6:18 PM CST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
618 PM CST Tue Feb 16 2021
...New AVIATION...
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 429 PM CST Tue Feb 16 2021
We ended up making most of the significant changes to the forecast
this morning, so the afternoon package is similar to the morning
update for this storm.
12Z models began to show a consistent signal of a snow band
developing this evening from across northwestern Oklahoma roughly
from south of Gage/Arnett toward Cherokee. And the developing
precipitation near and northeast of Amarillo look like it is
probably the initial stages of this banding. So we did extend the
warning into Ellis, Woodward, Woods and Alfalfa County. But there
will also likely be a strong gradient of snow on the north side of
this band, so Harper County, and perhaps even the northern
portions of these counties will likely see less.
The large scale area of snow moved into the southwest portion of
the area after noon and is spreading into central and south
central Oklahoma now. This will continue to spread east and north
this afternoon and evening and some additional snow may develop in
west Texas and spread into the area. There may be a relative lull
in the southwest between these initial areas of snow, and a last
round of snow along a deformation zone moving southeast through
the area late tonight, but this time gap will likely be less
noticable farther north and east.
Except for the increase in expected snowfall in the northwest
where the banding is expected, the overall thoughts for expected
snowfall has not changed significantly from the overnight
forecast... with the highest amounts expected to be from south
central toward east central Oklahoma.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday night through next Monday)
Issued at 323 PM CST Tue Feb 16 2021
The deep upper trough will remain over the region Wednesday night
and Thursday, but as a strong shortwave trough passes far to our
south, the main trough will begin to shift east Thursday night
onward. This will bring southwest low-level flow Friday and
Saturday. This would ordinarily result in high temperatures around
60 degrees F. However, since there is snow-covered ground across
nearly the entire state of Texas, and much of that will still be
there by Saturday, highs across our forecast area will be mainly
in the 30s and lower 40s.
A shortwave trough will pass over the region on Sunday. It appears
that the lower atmosphere will be too dry for precipitation,
except possibly over eastern Oklahoma. With temperatures above
freezing, this precipitation should be in the form of rain (!).
Following the passage of the Sunday system, somewhat cooler air
will flow in behind the departing storm. However, this "cooler
air" is not arctic in origin, so temperatures will be relatively
close to the seasonal averages (highs mostly in the 50s F) early
next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 542 PM CST Tue Feb 16 2021
Snowfall will continue to increase across the area through the
evening. Heavy snowfall will be possible over many of the
terminals through 04Z. Visbys will vary from MVFR to LIFR, and
cigs will vary from MVFR to IFR. Snowfall rates will decrease
after 06Z, with light snow continuing into late Wednesday morning.
Winds will remain fairly light from ENE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK 10 16 7 21 / 100 30 0 0
Hobart OK 9 16 5 24 / 90 30 0 0
Wichita Falls TX 11 19 11 25 / 90 30 0 0
Gage OK 0 14 -3 23 / 80 0 0 0
Ponca City OK 6 19 4 22 / 100 20 0 0
Durant OK 10 20 15 26 / 100 70 0 0
&&
.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Wednesday for OKZ005>048-
050>052.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST Wednesday for OKZ004.
TX...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Wednesday for TXZ083-085-086-
089-090.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST Wednesday for TXZ084-087-
088.
&&
SHORT TERM...26
LONG TERM....23
AVIATION...03Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 453 AM CST Tue Feb 16 2021 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-171100- 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- 453 AM CST Tue Feb 16 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... .Wind Chills... Dangerous wind chills of 10 to 25 degrees below zero are ongoing this morning with record cold temperatures. Wind chills will improve this afternoon and tonight, but will still be around 10 degrees below zero to near zero degrees. .Snow... A winter storm will bring significant snowfall late this afternoon through tonight. Snow move into western Oklahoma and adjacent parts of north Texas this afternoon. Snow will approach central Oklahoma by late afternoon and should persist through the evening and overnight hours. Snowfall totals of 3 to 8 inches are expected with locally higher amounts. The highest snowfall totals are currently expected from east central into southeast Oklahoma with lesser amounts across far northwest Oklahoma and parts of western north Texas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... .Snow... Lingering snow will continue across the area through Wednesday afternoon with the potential for some accumulations. .Wind Chills... Wind chills of 5 to 10 degrees below zero are expected Wednesday morning, especially across western and northern Oklahoma. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook. Mahale
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
30 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 3 to 4 inches, with a maximum of 4 inches reported in Atoka.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Elk City.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum of 8 inches reported in Ardmore.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.5 inches reported 3 north-northwest of Noble.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported 1 south of Coalgate.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 5.9 inches reported in Chattanooga.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 3 to 4 inches, with a maximum of 4 inches reported in Walters.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Arapaho.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 3 to 4 inches, with a maximum of 4 inches reported in Enid and Lahoma.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum of 8 inches reported 1 east of Pauls Valley.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported 8 west of Mangum.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 7 inches, with a maximum of 6.5 inches reported 4 north-northeast of Madge.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Wetumka.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 5 to 7 inches, with a maximum of 7 inches reported 1 northeast of Headrick.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 5 to 8 inches, with a maximum of 8 inches reported 3 northwest of Oscar.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.5 inches reported in Ponotoc.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.5 inches reported in Newkirk.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Hobart.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.8 inches reported near Stroud and Chandler.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.5 inches reported 3 south of Washington.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 5 inches, with a maximum of 4.8 inches reported in Davis.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 6 inches, with a maximum of 5.6 inches reported 5 east-southeast of Edmond.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 6 inches, with a maximum of 5.5 inches reported in Stillwater.
Reports from across the county generally ranged from 4 to about 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Ada.
Reports from across the county generally were around 4 inches, with a maximum of 4 inches reported near Bethel Acres and Tecumseh.
Reports from across the county generally ranged between 4 and about 5 inches, with a maximum of 5 inches reported in Cheyenne.
Reports from across the county generally ranged between 4 and about 6 inches, with a maximum of 5.5 inches reported in Seminole.
Reports from across the county generally ranged between 4 and about 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Duncan.
Reports from across the county generally ranged between 5 and about 6 inches, with a maximum of 6 inches reported in Grandfield.
Reports from across the county generally ranged between 3 and about 4 inches, with a maximum of 4 inches reported in Cordell.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, February 2021
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: 944956, 944957, 945097, 945101, 945102, 945103, 945104, 945107, 945108, 945114, 945115, 945122, 945582, 945584, 945586, 945587, 945588, 945609, 945610, 945611, 945612, 945613, 945614, 945616, 945620, 945623, 945627, 945629, 945634, 945635.