Wild Weather in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle

Top 10 Weather Events of the 20^th Century

(as prepared by the staff at the National Weather Service in Amarillo)

1. Dust Bowl (1930 to 1939)

2. April 9, 1947 White Deer/Glazier/Higgins Tornado

3. March 22-25, 1957 Blizzard

• Worst spring blizzard on record.
• Responsible for 11 panhandle deaths, numerous injuries, $6 million in damage.
• Texas Panhandle reported 30 ft drifts; Oklahoma Panhandle reported 15 ft drifts.
• 10 to 20 inches of snow reported across the panhandles.
• 20 percent of the panhandles cattle population was lost in the storm.
• Huge drifts stranded thousands of motorists, including snowplows attempting rescues.
• True white out conditions, with visibilities reduced to zero at times.

4. Great Ice Storm (November 23-25, 1940)

• Considered the worst ice storm in the nation through 1940.
• Freezing rain (heavy at times) or drizzle fell for 2 ½ days.
• Ice formed around power lines, 2 inches in diameter, and 6 inches in circumference, and weighed 13 lbs per linear foot.
• Huge trees split in half and downed trees littered residential sections of Amarillo and Canyon.
• Thousands of power poles and wires were down.
• Communications in the panhandles failed completely for up to 3 days.
• Complete power failure in Amarillo/Canyon for 3 days.
• Amarillo city water supply failed for 3 days.

5. April 6-8, 1938 Blizzard

• Known as the 84-hour blizzard.
• Occurred across the eastern half of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles.
• 8 deaths, 7 in Pampa, 1 in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
• 10 to 20 foot drifts.
• Sustained winds of 77 mph reported in Pampa at midnight April 7.
• True white out conditions, with visibilities reduced to zero at times.
• All transportation was brought to a standstill.

6. 1995 Tornado Outbreak (including the Pampa tornado)

7. April 17-18, 1970 Tornado Outbreak

8. February 1-8, 1956 Snowstorm

• Largest “unofficial” snow totals occurred in the Panhandles.
• 43 inches fell in Vega, 24 inches in Hereford, and 14 inches in Amarillo.
• 23 deaths, numerous injuries.
• Longest continuous snowfall: snowed continuously for 92 hours in some locations.
• All modes of transportation were brought to a standstill.
• Hundreds of cattle died due to the storm.
• Feed and supplies for cattle had to be airlifted in.

9. May 15, 1949 Amarillo Tornado

10. (tie) Feb 1-15, 1905 and Dec 29, 1978 – Jan 11,1979 Arctic Outbreaks

• Average high during cold wave: 21 (1905 outbreak) and 20 (1978-79 outbreak).
• Average low during cold wave: 4 (1905 outbreak) and 5 (1978-79 outbreak).
• Average temperature during cold wave: 13 for both.
• Coldest max temperature: -2 (1905 outbreak and all-time record) and 6 (1978-79 outbreak).
• Coldest min temperature: -15 (1905 outbreak).
• Coldest wind chill: -43 (1905 outbreak) and -45 (1978-79 outbreak).
• Longest continuous period of below freezing temperatures; 13 days, 5 hours: (1978-79 outbreak).
• Coldest month on record with an average monthly temperature of 24.7: (1978-79 outbreak).
• Number of days max temperature 20 degrees or colder: 7 (1905 outbreak) and 6 (1978-79 outbreak).

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HONORABLE MENTION 10

(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

• February 2-5, 1964 Blizzard
• 17.5 inches of snow in Amarillo, 26″ in Borger, 21″ in Panhandle.

• Fritch Tornado Outbreak (June 27, 1992)

• February 21-22, 1971 Blizzard
• 1 to 2 feet of snow, roads closed for 2 days, 12 ft drifts, high cattle losses.

• March 23, 1987 Blizzard
• 1 to 2 feet of snow, 12 ft drifts, 3 injuries, thousands of motorists stranded.

• Summer Heat Wave of 1953

• December 1983 Arctic Outbreak
• 7 days temps fell below 0, 9 record lows stand today, 13 days below 32.

• Summer Heat Wave of 1998

• June 16, 1969 Amarillo hailstorm

Canyon Flood (May 26, 1978)

January 28-30, 1999 Winter Storm

$8.5 million damage, 50,000 lost power – some for days , All travel ceased.

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