Ice Storm — Jackson, Oklahoma

2010-01-28 to 2010-01-29 · Jackson, Oklahoma

Event narrative

At least three quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on elevated surfaces, with localized areas reporting over an inch of accumulation. Most of the trees sustained some sort of damage. Over 200 power poles and associated power lines were downed, including the main power feeder line between Altus and Hollis (Harmon County). Thousands were without power for several days, and several roads were impassable for days due to debris lying on top of them. Monetary damages were estimated.

Wider weather episode

A major winter storm impacted much of Oklahoma beginning on the morning of January 28th and continued through much of the day. While the storm produced a variety of wintry precipitation, its most significant impacts came with an extended period of heavy freezing rain across southern into parts of central Oklahoma. Significant icing on trees and power lines resulted in widespread damage to trees and power lines. The day before the winter storm was unusually warm for a January day in Oklahoma, with the high temperature at Oklahoma City at 65 degrees, which was 17 degrees above normal. However, that same day, a strong cold front was sweeping south down the Plains. By noon, the cold front had pushed into southern Kansas, bringing gusty north winds and a rapid decrease in temperature. Behind the front, temperatures were falling back into the 30s and 40s, and the freezing line at the surface was very near the Kansas-Nebraska border.

Overnight, and into the morning of January 28th, the cold front pushed through most of Oklahoma and all of western North Texas. The cold front had stalled to the south in northern Texas leaving a shallow cold air mass in place across much of the area to the north of the front, with the cold air gradually deepening towards northern Oklahoma. As an upper level low became better organized in the southwestern United States, it helped draw warm, moist air north from the Gulf of Mexico. This warm air was lifted over the dome of cold air and contributed to the development of widespread precipitation during the morning across much of Oklahoma. The shallow cold air mass north of the front placed a broad swath of southwest Oklahoma and central Oklahoma under-the-gun for a major icing event. During the afternoon, the precipitation increased in intensity, particularly over southwest Oklahoma, which then moved into parts of central Oklahoma. A pocket of drier air in the middle of the atmosphere quickly swept in behind the precipitation and started clearing it out of Oklahoma by late afternoon. At the same time, enough cooling was starting to occur in the warm layer of air aloft to change the precipitation over to sleet across parts of the area, including much of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Luckily, northern Oklahoma remained cold enough that snow was the dominant type, which accumulated several inches in some areas. During the evening hours, light snow continued over western and northern Oklahoma, while much of the remainder of the area, except for southeast Oklahoma, saw periodic freezing drizzle.

Overnight, and into the morning of the 29th, a surface low pressure developed over southeast Texas and began to move northeast towards western Louisiana. Behind this low, more widespread precipitation began to redevelop over west Texas. The area of precipitation pivoted through much of Oklahoma during the daytime hours in the form of snow. Localized heavier bands of snow produced reduced visibilities and substantial accumulations. One notable band set up from southeast Cleveland County, through northern Pottawatomie County, and into southwest Lincoln County. The large storm system finally moved east of the region by late evening on the 29th.

In total, the large storm system resulted in over 900 slip-and-fall accidents. Almost 90 accidents were reported, with over 200 non-life threatening injuries with the accidents. Almost 180,000 homes and business' were without power at the peak of the storm, several of which (mainly in SW Oklahoma) were without power for almost a week. The monetary value for the damage may not be known for a while, but estimates are well into the millions of dollars.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 211687. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.