An impactful and long-duration winter storm impacted Oklahoma and western-north Texas beginning on the evening of the 23rd and lasting into the morning of the 25th. A strong surface high, with origins across far northern latitudes, ushered in a very cold/sub-freezing airmass across the region by the morning of the 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
An impactful and long-duration winter storm impacted Oklahoma and western-north Texas beginning on the evening of the 23rd and lasting into the morning of the 25th. A strong surface high, with origins across far northern latitudes, ushered in a very cold/sub-freezing airmass across the region by the morning of the 23rd. Over the coming 36 hours, increasingly strong west-southwesterly flow (and associated lift) fostered multiple waves of frozen precipitation across the forecast area. Initially, a mix of snow and sleet occurred, owing to a notable warm layer (i.e., warm nose) located between 700 and 800 mb. Eventually, by Saturday evening, continued mid-level cooling allowed for a transition to mostly snow with continued precipitation into Sunday morning.
While individual event narratives are not included for Clay County, with no direct surface observations reported during the event, at least 2 inches of snow/sleet accumulations and slick roadways likely occurred.
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 Jan 23, 12:04 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
1204 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026
...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1137 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026
- A significant winter storm will impact the area Friday through
Sunday.
- There is a high chance (at least 80%) of snowfall accumulations
of 6+ inches across at least the northern half of Oklahoma.
- Lower snowfall totals across southern Oklahoma and northern
Texas, with significant sleet accumulations.
- Ice accumulations from freezing rain are expected to be less
than 0.15 of an inch
- There is a very high (>95%) chance for very cold temperatures
across the area Friday into Monday, with wind chills below 0F
likely.
&&
.NEAR TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 1137 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026
Strong, gusty northeast winds will continue to advect Arctic air
southward, as cold high pressure builds into the northern Plains
and Upper Midwest. A stable layer will continue to moisten through
the afternoon which will slowly improve chances of mainly light
precipitation. By early to mid afternoon, a deeper, moist layer
may result in convective elements across mainly southwest/south
central Oklahoma and western north Texas. Although surface
temperatures by afternoon will be below freezing, the depth of the
cold air may not be sufficient for sleet, so freezing rain may be
the dominant precipitation type.
By late afternoon into the early evening, forecast soundings suggest
sufficient moisture within the dendritic growth zone and above for
better chances of snow. However, a warm nose across parts of
southern/central Oklahoma and northern Texas may result in mainly
mainly sleet and perhaps freezing rain across far south central and
southeastern Oklahoma.
Overall, the trend with this system is for warmer temperatures
aloft (warm nose) to be situated farther south than previous
forecast. This is expected to result in better chances of mainly
snow in parts of central Oklahoma and a reduced chance of
freezing rain (amounts) across southern Oklahoma and western north
Texas.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Saturday through Sunday night)
Issued at 1137 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026
Late Friday night into early Saturday morning, isentropic ascent
is expected to weaken significantly across much of the area. This is
expected to bring a lull in the precipitation for parts of the day
Saturday. Even with a "lull", there will likely be some light
snow or flurries that occurs or light sleet. The exception may be
south central and southeastern Oklahoma during the morning, when
isentropic ascent remains strong enough for a continued chance of
moderate sleet/low chances of freezing rain.
Saturday night into Sunday, the mid-level flow will become more
convergent from West Texas into Oklahoma. This is expected to
result in a band of heavier precipitation that extends from western
north Texas into parts of central/north central Oklahoma. This
area of enhanced precipitation will gradually shift to the south
and east, as the mid-level flow becomes more north/northwest
Sunday morning/early afternoon.
In general, areas along and north of I-40 have a high chance (over
80%) of receiving at least 6-8 inches of snow and sleet. Far
southern Oklahoma and northern Texas have a low to medium chance (20-
40%) of similar amounts, as more sleet is expected. Ice
accumulations with freezing rain is expected to be below 0.15 of
an inch.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Monday through next Thursday)
Issued at 1146 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
Next week appears mainly dry after Sunday, but cold temperatures
will persist for some time. Highs continue mainly in the 30s with
lows in the teens through most of the week. There are some hints of
precipitation chances returning next weekend.
Day
&&
.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 520 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026
Cold front is located just south of I-40 and advancing southward
early this morning. Behind it, gusty northeast winds (gusts to 25
knots) are expected throughout the day today. In front of it, an
area of stratus as low as 400-800 feet is in place in southwest
OK/western north TX, though frontal scouring should at least
return ceilings to MVFR. Later today, precipitation will begin to
develop across the area. Mostly snow is expected north of I-40
with a mix of snow and sleet primarily south of I-40, though all
areas may see freezing drizzle or light freezing rain to start. A
changeover toward all snow and dropping visibilities is expected
tonight.
Meister
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK 35 6 12 5 / 30 100 90 100
Hobart OK 36 6 11 5 / 50 100 90 100
Wichita Falls TX 46 11 15 9 / 100 100 90 100
Gage OK 25 -1 10 0 / 30 90 90 100
Ponca City OK 26 4 12 4 / 30 100 90 100
Durant OK 46 18 22 11 / 80 100 100 100
&&
.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for OKZ004>048-
050>052.
Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Monday
for OKZ004>048-050>052.
TX...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for TXZ083>090.
Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Monday
for TXZ083>090.
&&
NEAR TERM...06
SHORT TERM...06
LONG TERM....14
AVIATION...04The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 2 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (2 inches) was reported near and east of Crowell. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 4 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (4 inches) was reported near Quanah. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 2 to 5 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (5 inches) was reported west of Knox City and near Munday. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 2 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (2 inches) was reported near Scotland. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 3 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (3 inches) was reported near Lake Kemp. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 4 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (4 inches) was reported near Wichita Falls. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
The county received a combination of mainly sleet and some snow during this event, producing 1 to 3 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (1 inch) was reported near Vernon. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2026
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: 1314364, 1314366, 1314368, 1314331, 1314363, 1314370, 1314556.