Winter Storm in Kiowa, Oklahoma

The county received a combination of sleet and snow during this event, producing 4 to 6 inches of accumulation. The highest observed total (6 inches) was reported near Roosevelt. Listed amounts reflect a synthesis of both remote sensing and direct observations.

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 Cotton, Harmon, Harper, Jefferson, Love and Tillman Counties, with no direct surface observations reported during the event, at least 2 inches of snow/sleet accumulations and slick roadways likely occurred.