The March 27-28, 2009 Winter Storm

Summary
Snowfall Map
Snowfall Reports
Satellite Imagery
Snowfall Photos

Summary

A strong, late-season winter storm walloped northwest Oklahoma with record setting snowfall. North winds began gusting over 40 mph when a cold front moved into northwest Oklahoma just after midnight on March 27th. Temperatures quickly fell into the 20s and 30s. At the same time, a powerful upper level storm moved out of New Mexico, and began to intensify over the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, spreading moisture and lift downstream into northwest Oklahoma.

Snow began around daybreak from Buffalo to Woodward and Gage. It was late afternoon, however, when snow became moderate and heavy, leading to significant accumulations. By early evening, some locations had already picked up over six inches of snow. The blustery winds also caused blowing and drifting which further reduced visibility and soon made traveling dangerous or impossible.

Snow became more widespread overnight, and some thunder was even observed with the more intense squalls beneath the upper level storm. Snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour were reported, and locations north of a line from Roll to Mutual and Cherokee received between one and two feet of snow by sunrise. Snowfall totals lessened rapidly to the south of the upper level storm track, but a respectable 3 to 6 inches of snow was measured from Elk City and Cordell up to Watonga and Enid, and over to Stillwater. Snowfall totals of up to two inches were reported as far southeast as Oklahoma City. A sharp southern cut-off to the snowfall represents the influence of a stream of dry mid and upper level air that developed from the Texas South Plains up through southwest and central Oklahoma.

Almost all roads in northwest Oklahoma were snow packed and impassable for some time. Some roads were said to be unidentifiable, and in other cases the snow pack was so tall and heavy that bulldozers could not clear a path. Several roofs collapsed under the weight of the heavy, wet snow pack. During the storm, numerous traffic accidents resulted in mostly minor injuries. Two people died, however, in accidents that were indirectly related to the presence of the winter storm. At least 6,000 people lost power during the peak of the blizzard, and some went without power for two full days.

In June, the White House approved a request from Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry for federal disaster aid in four counties, Beaver, Ellis, Woods, and Woodard, where up to two feet of snow fell.

Snowfall Photo in Arnett, Oklahoma

Snowfall Map

Storm Total Snowfall for the March 27-28, 2009 Winter Storm

Snowfall Totals

Snowfall Reports

Below is a table of storm total snowfall reports from areas in Oklahoma affected by the March 27-28, 2009 winter storm.

Location	County	Precip Type	Storm Total
Laverne, OK	Harper	Snow	M29.0"
6N Fort Supply, OK	Harper	Snow	M25.0"
Freedom, OK	Woods	Snow	M24.0"
Alva, OK	Woods	Snow	M24.0"
Laverne, OK	Harper	Snow	M24.0"
2S Buffalo, OK	Harper	Snow	M23.0"
Arnett, OK	Ellis	Snow	M22.0"
Fargo, OK	Ellis	Snow	M18.4"
Alabaster Caverns State Park	Woodward	Snow	M18.0"
Waynoka, OK	Woods	Snow	M18.0"
Woodward, OK	Woodward	Snow	M18.0"
Vici, OK	Dewey	Snow	M13.0"
Cherokee, OK	Alfalfa	Snow	M12.0"
Mutual, OK	Woodward	Snow	M11.0"
Roll, OK	Roger Mills	Snow	M10.0"
Fairview, OK	Major	Snow	M9.0"
1ESE Helena, OK	Alfalfa	Snow	M9.0"
2NE Nash, OK	Grant	Snow	E8.0"
Cheyenne, OK	Roger Mills	Snow	M6.0"
Taloga, OK	Dewey	Snow	M6.0"
Okeene, OK	Blaine	Snow	E6.0"
Thomas, OK	Custer	Snow	E6.0"
Elk City, OK	Beckham	Snow	E6.0"
Watonga, OK	Blaine	Snow	M5.0"
Leedy, OK	Dewey	Snow	M5.0"
Cordell, OK	Washita	Snow	M5.0"
Cushing, OK	Payne	Snow	E5.0"
1.7N Glencoe, OK	Noble	Snow	M4.5"
Jefferson, OK	Grant	Snow	M4.0"
3N Stroud, OK	Lincoln	Snow	M4.0"
4E Agra, OK	Lincoln	Snow	M4.0"
Sentinel, OK	Washita	Snow	E4.0"
5SE Red Rock, OK	Noble	Snow	E4.0"
Clinton, OK	Custer	Snow	E4.0"
4W Hillsdale, OK	Garfield	Snow	E4.0"
2.4NE Fay, OK	Blaine	Snow	M4.0"
0.5ENE Pond Creek, OK	Grant	Snow	M4.0"
Newkirk, OK	Kay	Snow	M3.8"
1W Crescent, OK	Logan	Snow	M3.0"
Kingfisher, OK	Kingfisher	Snow	E3.0"
Gotebo, OK	Kiowa	Snow	E3.0"
1NE Sayre, OK	Beckham	Snow	M3.0"
9.8WNW Geary, OK	Blaine	Snow	M2.9"
Erick, OK	Beckham	Snow	M2.8"
Enid, OK	Garfield	Snow	M2.7"
2ENE Lookeba, OK	Caddo	Snow	M2.6"
6NNE Hunter, OK	Grant	Snow	M2.1"
Roosevelt, OK	Kiowa	Snow	M2.0"
Hobart, OK	Kiowa	Snow	E2.0"
Weatherford, OK	Custer	Snow	E2.0"
Blackwell, OK	Kay	Snow	M2.0"
2NNE Moravia, OK	Greer	Snow	M2.0"
6.5N Willow, OK	Beckham	Snow	M2.0"
3.9ENE Covington, OK	Garfield	Snow	M2.0"
0.6WSW Granite, OK	Greer	Snow	M1.7"
Hollis, OK	Harmon	Snow	M1.5"
2SSW Blanchard, OK	McClain	Snow	M1.5"
3N Piedmont, OK	Canadian	Snow	M1.5"
Braman, OK	Kay	Snow	M1.5"
3.2ESE Piedmont, OK	Canadian	Snow	M1.4"
Retrop, OK	Beckham	Snow	M1.0"
0.7SSW Bethany, OK	Oklahoma	Snow	M1.0"
Headrick, OK	Jackson	Snow	M1.0"
4.9SSE Guthrie, OK	Logan	Snow	M1.0"
4.1SSE Billings, OK	Noble	Snow	M1.0"
Chickasha, OK	Grady	Snow	M1.0"
Will Rogers Airport	Oklahoma	Snow	M1.0"
6SW Oklahoma City, OK	Oklahoma	Snow	M1.0"
El Reno, OK	Canadian	Snow	E1.0"
Vernon, TX	Wilbarger	Snow	E1.0"
Norman, OK	Cleveland	Snow	TRACE
Elmore City, OK	Garvin	Snow	TRACE

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Image Showing Snow Cover over the Great Plains on March 29, 2009

Snowfall Photos

Below are links to snowfall photos from areas affected by the March 27-28, 2009 winter storm. This storm moved over the Great Plains region including the states of Oklahoma and Texas.

Snowfall Photos in Arnett, Oklahoma Photos Courtesy of Bryan Hajny

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West