State of Emergency in Oklahoma, S. Dakota, Texas

Raging blizzard hits the lower plains

State of Emergency declared in Oklahoma, S. Dakota and Texas after winter storm kills dozens of people

“The storm is spanning two thirds of the country.  Its effects run the gamut from severe thunderstorms in the Gulf Coast to ice in New England to really what is a raging blizzard in the lower plains.” The National Weather Service said.

Highlights of Storm Related Events:

• Oklahoma’s governor Brad Henry declares state of emergency, closes all state highways and interstates.
• As many as 3 dozen people have been killed in accidents in the Midwest.
• About 50 vehicles pile up in chain-reaction crash in Oklahoma.
• About a dozen states in the Midwest are under blizzard warnings.
• Heavy snow forced the cancellation of at least 80 flights in Oklahoma Thursday, trapping hundreds of passengers and employees at Oklahoma’s main  airport.

• About 10,000 customers lost power in Oklahoma.
• Oklahoma City received  35cm (14in) of snow by Thursday night, nearly 6 times the record  of 6cm (2.5in) set in 1914.
• 80kph (50mph) winds pummeled Kansas

• 105 kph (65mph) helped bury parts of Texas in 1.5m (5ft) snow drifts.
• Blizzard warnings stretch from Texas to northern Minnesota.
• The real misery will commence after the snowmelt will cause large scale flooding in the south and the north-east.

Near Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image.  Click image to enlarge.

National Weather service reported:

A powerful weather system pushing through the central U.S. will continue to significantly impact travel plans during this holiday season…
The north-central states can expect some of the heavier snowfall, occasionally accompanied by blizzard-like conditions as cold and windy conditions will spread through the region. Even places as far south as Oklahoma and northern Texas have seen snowfall totals in excess of a foot. The swath of precipitation will move toward the north and east, spreading a mixture of rain and snow to much of the Great Lakes by midday on Christmas. For more details, check the web site of the local Weather Forecast Office. Details…

Hazards. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Snow Accumulation.   Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Weather Forecast.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Predominant Weather. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

IR Satellite Image. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Water Vapor Satellite Image. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Max Temps. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Min Temps. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Temp – Real Time Mesoscale Analysis. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

6-Hr Precipitation amount.  (24-Hr FE ED). Click Image to enlarge and update.

12-Hr Probability Precipitation (%).   Click Image to enlarge and update. (24-Hr FE ED).

Wind Speed.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED).

Wind Gusts.  Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED)

Sky Cover. Click Image to enlarge and update. (24hr- FE ED)

Related Links:

• ‘Humongous’ storm spreads across the US
• Winter Officially Starts Today!
• You Don’t Bring A Gun To A Snowball Fight!