The combination of warm, dry and breezy conditions created favorable conditions for fire starts and spread.
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.
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 combination of warm, dry and breezy conditions created favorable conditions for fire starts and spread.
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 Mar 7, 5:42 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 542 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday) Issued at 257 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 Latest observations show a surface low centered over northwest Oklahoma with a sharp warm front extending across far northern Oklahoma and a dryline bulging over northwest Oklahoma. An attendant cold front was also situated over the Oklahoma panhandle. Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop along a dryline and ahead of the cold front over the next several hours as dynamic lift overspreads the area. The storms that develop initially along the dryline are could become supercellular and produce large hail up to the size of golfballs over far southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas. Meanwhile, severe storm development is also possible along/ahead of the warm front - though whether these storms impact our area is uncertain as satellite indicates the warm front lifting into southern Kansas as of 2PM. Nevertheless, storms along the warm front will pose a tornado threat with RAP effective helicity values prog'd at 200-300 m2/s2. Storms could congeal into a linear MCS tonight upon reaching central Oklahoma as the cold front approaches and becomes quasi-stationary. Large hail up to the size of quarters and damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible as storms reach central Oklahoma later tonight. Showers and a few thunderstorms could linger across parts of southern Oklahoma and western north Texas towards Friday morning. The upper trough will continue to push the cold front across our area through Friday morning with some rain showers behind the front. Large scale warm air ascent seen on the isentropic surfaces in a weak to low-end moderately unstable environment will produce clusters of isolated thunderstorms in the warm sector ahead of the cold front with more liner storms along the fronts leading edge. The severe risk during the morning with the isolated storms will be lower although with additional cooling aloft from the upper trough within a deep-layer sheared environment for storm organization in the warm sector cannot completely rule hail perhaps up to quarter size. The severe risk increases during the afternoon in the warm sector with moderate instability but models not in full agreement with the location of the cold front. The GFS solution has the cold front east of I-35 and pushing into southeast Oklahoma, while all other solutions have the front already through our area and into northeast Texas. Should the GFS solution be correct, then southeast Oklahoma would be in the warm sector which could see supercells producing up to golf ball size hail while DCAPE values would also support damaging wind gusts as a second severe hazard. Although this is a Pacific-based storm system coming through, the air mass behind the cold front will be more colder Canadian-based with the surface high up in North Dakota. Northwest Oklahoma will feel the brunt of this colder air with lower 40s highs by late morning then rapidly falling through the afternoon to near freezing. Forecast soundings across northwest Oklahoma on Friday afternoon support a freezing to below freezing column of air above ground level with a moist dendritic zone for ice crystals, so will likely see a changeover to snow on the ground there. Although Ensemble forecast have a bullseye of 60% chance for up to 1-inch of snow in far northwest Oklahoma, warm ground temperatures will make it unlikely this amount will actually accumulate. As a result, snowfall may be greater than what accumulates. However, gusty north winds could reduce visibilities due to snowfall on Friday afternoon across northwest Oklahoma. By Friday evening, will keep POPs east of I-35 and completely out by midnight Saturday morning. As far as grids for Fridays MaxT temperatures, did go colder than NBM using the CONSMOS. && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through next Wednesday) Issued at 257 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 Friday night/Saturday morning will be much colder areawide, as gusty north winds will produce wind chill values well in the 20s. Cooler than average for the rest of Saturday as the upper trough makes its exit. Cold again Saturday night/Sunday morning as high pressure settles in, although less of a wind chill but more strong radiational cooling night. Breezy south winds make a return by Sunday afternoon with temperatures warming above average, and increasing gusty south winds through Wednesday will continue the warming trend with mild highs in the upper 70s by mid-week across Oklahoma to lower 80s across western north Texas. However, increasing dry air across the Panhandles will start elevating fire weather conditions across our west during the afternoons starting on Sunday. A couple of upper waves come through during the mid to latter half of next week bringing our next chance for rain on Tuesday night with perhaps a stronger trough at the end of the week pushing our next cold front through. For now, any rain on Tuesday night would be east of I-35. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 537 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 Scattered thunderstorms will continue to move slowly east this evening, potentially impacting many of our sites. Storm activity will diminish after midnight but low ceilings and/or scattered showers will linger into Friday morning. Additional showers and continued low ceilings are likely as we head into Friday afternoon. A cold front will bring a northerly wind shift with it as it moves across the area from north to south tonight into tomorrow morning. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 50 53 33 54 / 70 50 20 0 Hobart OK 46 51 32 54 / 60 40 10 0 Wichita Falls TX 53 58 37 58 / 50 30 10 0 Gage OK 35 40 26 56 / 30 50 10 0 Ponca City OK 47 52 32 54 / 70 30 20 0 Durant OK 56 65 40 57 / 60 60 20 0 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && SHORT TERM...68 LONG TERM....68 AVIATION...08
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 321 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-082130- 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- 321 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms will be possible through tonight across the western two-thirds of Oklahoma and western north Texas. Some of these storms could become severe with possible supercells producing up to golf ball size hail and 60 mph damaging wind gusts as the potential hazards. The tornado potential is very low but cannot be completely be ruled out should a supercell develop. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms will be possible Friday morning into the early evening hours. Some of these storms could become severe with up to quarter size hail, with the highest risk across southeast Oklahoma toward the afternoon hours with up to golf ball size hail and damaging wind gusts as the two potential hazards. .Fire Weather... Fire weather conditions will be elevated across parts of western Oklahoma every afternoon beginning Sunday through Wednesday due to gusty south winds, drier air increasing across the Southern High Plains and warmer temperatures. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
533 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM Hail 5 SE Quanah 34.25N 99.67W
03/07/2024 E1.50 inch Hardeman TX Public
Time estimated by radar.
&&
SCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
537 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
OKZ033-034-080000-
Harmon OK-Greer OK-
537 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Harmon and
south central Greer Counties through 600 PM CST
...
At 536 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles northeast of Dodson, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Vinson and McKnight.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3494 9972 3473 9966 3471 9999 3482 10000
3489 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 264DEG 29KT 3481 9992
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
30Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Norman OK 539 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 OKZ022-023-080015- Washita OK-Caddo OK- 539 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Washita and northwestern Caddo Counties through 615 PM CST ... At 539 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Cloud Chief, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD...Half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Cordell, Corn, Eakly, Colony, Alfalfa, Cloud Chief, Fort Cobb Reservoir, and Cowden. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && LAT...LON 3520 9896 3535 9896 3548 9851 3521 9844 TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 259DEG 37KT 3528 9885 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH 30
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
542 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
OKZ017-018-080015-
Kingfisher OK-Blaine OK-
542 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Kingfisher
and east central Blaine Counties through 615 PM CST
...
At 541 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 4 miles southeast of Loyal to 11 miles east of
Watonga to near Greenfield. Movement was east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40 mph and hail up to the size of dimes.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Kingfisher, Dover, Greenfield, and Omega.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3582 9775 3572 9812 3572 9847 3586 9837
3595 9821 3603 9774
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 253DEG 30KT 3592 9808 3584 9820 3575 9843
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
03Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
613 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
OKZ017>020-022>024-027-080100-
Payne OK-Grady OK-Kingfisher OK-Logan OK-Washita OK-Canadian OK-
Caddo OK-Blaine OK-
613 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northeastern Washita,
southeastern Kingfisher, northwestern Grady, northern Caddo,
southeastern Blaine, Logan, southwestern Payne and Canadian Counties
through 700 PM CST
...
At 613 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Lovell to 7 miles northeast of Kingfisher
to near Geary to 7 miles south of Hydro to 4 miles south of Colony.
Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
El Reno, Guthrie, Kingfisher, Piedmont, Hinton, Langston, Crescent,
Geary, Okarche, Hydro, Cashion, Binger, Calumet, Dover, Eakly, Cedar
Valley, Marshall, Mulhall, Lookeba, and Cimarron City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3590 9730 3563 9783 3523 9810 3522 9882
3547 9865 3547 9862 3571 9849 3592 9804
3616 9766 3616 9714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0013Z 264DEG 33KT 3605 9766 3589 9782 3563 9836 3545
9855 3528 9869
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
03Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
621 PM CST Thu Mar 7 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0619 PM Hail Lone Wolf 34.99N 99.25W
03/07/2024 E2.50 inch Kiowa OK Public
&&
MADThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The 'Persimmon Creek Fire' spread over 315 acres across southwestern Woodward County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, March 2024
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: 1166126.