Satellite Images from the Winter Storm of February 24-26, 2013

Satellite Images

Visible satellite images from 9:45 CST and 11:31 CST 02-26-13 showing snow-pack over northwest Oklahoma.

The above infrared satellite animation shows the progression of the winter storm across the area beginning at 6 pm CST Sunday, Feb 24, and running through 7 pm CST, Feb 26. IR satellite depicts cloud top temperatures. In this animation, blues indicate cold cloud tops, which are normally in the high levels of the atmosphere, and are often convective in nature. The reds, yellows, and greens indicated low to mid-level cloud tops. The cold cloud tops with this system were initially associated with thunderstorms over southwest Oklahoma and north Texas. these storms produced very heavy rainfall, hail, and even damaging winds. However, much of this transitioned to snow by the morning of February 25th. Note the cold cloud tops over northwest Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle halfway through the animation. These were associated with convective snow bands, which produced very heavy snowfall and, at times, thunder and lightning. Toward the end of the animation, cloud tops begin to warm, indicating most of the heavier snow had come to an end - one of the reasons much of central Oklahoma didn't see the heavy snows that were forecast. - Images courtesy University Corporation for Atmospheric Research archived images page

Radar Images

The above radar animation shows the progression of the winter storm across the area beginning at 6 pm CST Sunday, Feb 24, and running through 7 pm CST, Feb 26. An area of thunderstorms initially developed over southwest Oklahoma on the evening of the 24th. These storms produced a few severe wind gusts up to 80 mph and small hail. This was quite unique in that some areas over southwest Oklahoma were within severe thunderstorm warnings and blizzard warnings at the same time. These storms were fueld by a strong cold front that surged southward during the overnight hours. Rain and storms quickly changed over to snow, sleet, and freezing rain over portions of northern and western Oklahoma, and even western north Texas. As frozen precipitiation began this early in the event, it's no wonder that these areas saw the greatest amount of snow.  - Images courtesy University Corporation for Atmospheric Research archived images page