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Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles Top 10 Weather
Events of the 20th Century |
Dust Bowl (1930 to 1939)
- Longest period of heat and drought in the Panhandles
and much of the U.S. Plains.
- 5 of the 10 warmest years (average annual temperature
in Amarillo) occurred in the 1930's.
- The 1930's remain the driest decade on record
in Amarillo.
- Dust drifted to roof tops of homes, and buried
farm equipment.
- Surface visibility often reduced to zero during
the height of the duststorms.
- Astronomical economic losses, especially to
farmers and ranchers.
- Thousands of Panhandle residents relocated,
3.5 million nationwide, as a result of the Dust Bowl years.
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April 9, 1947 White Deer/Glazier/Higgins
Tornado
- Completely destroyed the town of Glazier, nearly
destroyed Higgins.
- Responsible for 68 panhandle deaths, 272 injuries,
$1.5 million in damage.
- Only documented F5 tornado in the panhandles.
- Reported as being 1 to 2 miles wide at times
along its path.
- The tornado or a family of tornadoes remained
on ground for 5 hours, 20 minutes on a path from White Deer, TX
to St. Leo, KS.
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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.
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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 � 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.
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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.
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1995 Tornado Outbreak (including the
Pampa tornado)
- Over 70 tornadoes reported across the panhandles
for the season, the most ever.
- 20 tornadoes reported on June 8th
across the panhandles, the most ever reported in one day.
- F4 tornado hit the industrial section of Pampa,
destroying or damaging 200 homes and 50 businesses.
- 7 injuries, fortunately no deaths.
- Pampa tornado resulted in $30 million in damage
which is the costliest tornado on record.
- Total tornado damage for June 8 exceeded $40
million, and for the entire season the total surpassed $60 million.
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April 17-18, 1970 Tornado Outbreak
- Tornadoes affected 9 counties across the south
central portion of the Texas Panhandle during the 2-day event.
- 17 panhandle fatalities in the Clarendon and
Greenbelt Reservoir area.
- At least 66 injured.
- Hundreds of cattle killed or injured.
- Damage exceeded $8 million.
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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.
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May 15, 1949 Amarillo Tornado
- F4 tornado that moved along the south side of
Amarillo and then on to the airport.
- 200 homes damaged or destroyed.
- 7 fatalities, 82 injured.
- $5 million in damage.
- Costliest tornado to hit Amarillo.
- All time max wind of 84 mph was clocked at the
NWS office at English Field (Amarillo International Airport).
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(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 |
- February 2-5, 1964 Blizzard
- 17.5 inches of snow in Amarillo, 26" in Borger,
21" in Panhandle.
- Fritch Tornado Outbreak (June 27, 1992)
- F4 tornado, 1 mile wide, destroyed/damaged 1360
homes, 7 injuries.
- 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
- 26 days 100+ (most ever), 7 record high temps
stand today, 108 on 6/24.
- December 1983 Arctic Outbreak
- 7 days temps fell below 0, 9 record lows stand
today, 13 days below 32.
- Summer Heat Wave of 1998
- 23 days 100+, 2 consecutive days at 108, 8 consecutive
days over 100.
- June 17, 1969 Amarillo hailstorm
- Costliest hailstorm - $20 million damage to homes,
autos, and crops.
- Canyon Flood (May 26, 1978)
- 10 inches rain in 90 minutes, 4 deaths, 15 injured,
123 homes damaged.
- January 28-30, 1999 Winter Storm
- $8.5 million damage, 50,000 lost power - some
for days , All travel ceased.
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