Power Outage in Ponca City, OK

Minor tree damage was reported throughout the city as well as power outages and significant street flooding.

Three power poles were snapped by high wind.

Up to an inch of ice accumulation reported. Two men out duck hunting were killed when their boat capsized on Kaw Lake during the storm. Damage estimates reported by local power companies.

Observed 0.25 inches of ice accumulation. Ice knocked out power for 132 customers. Damage estimates are from local power cooperatives.

Four large hail bales were rolled across the street. Power poles were also downed at this location. Monetary damages were estimated.

A very strong rear-flank downdraft caused significant damage in and around Ponca City, with the most severe damage occurring on the west side of town. The Ponca City airport sustained extensive damage, with the roof peeled off of a hangar, and heavy damage done to several other buildings. Wind gusts here were measured at 59 and 94 mph. The Mid America Door Company building (80,000 sq. feet) was destroyed. Several other structures sustained various types of damage. Signs and light posts were blown down. Trees and power lines took a large hit, with a large part of Ponca City without power for several hours. The high winds combined with large hail damaged numerous vehicles. Monetary damage estimates were not available.

The back wall of an industrial building was partially blown down. A few power lines were also downed by the severe winds. Monetary damages were estimated.

Widespread wind damage was reported over the southeast parts of Ponca City. The damage area was from S. 8th to S. 13th from South Ave north about 4 to 5 blocks. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Several houses reported at least minor damage, with one home blown off its foundation and losing its roof. Monetary damage is estimated based on figures from Ponca City Emergency Management.

Freezing rain accumulated to a quarter of an inch in and to the east of Ponca City. Numerous four to five inch diameter tree limbs were downed throughout town. Power outages were also reported.

Freezing rain accumulated to a third of an inch in Braman. The precipitation eventually switched over to heavy snow, where at least two inches was reported. The ice build-up on the limbs caused several to break, and power was out for a short time on the east side of Braman. Frequent wind gusts over 40 mph, combined with the heavy snowfall reduced visibilities to less than a quarter of an inch at times.

Power lines were downed in various locations around the city, causing widespread power outages. Some power poles were downed as well. Monetary damages were estimated.

Four inches of snowfall accumulated near Newkirk, with three inches reported in Ponca City and Blackwell. The snowfall contributed to a three car crash in Blackwell. A cross-arm on a power pole snapped in Blackwell as well, resulting in 1500 people without power for four hours. Monetary damages were estimated.

Heavy rainfall totals of 3 to 7 inches over northern Kay County during the morning hours of March 20 produced flash flooding in the area. At 1200 CST, the Kay County emergency manager reported that flash flooding from along Turkey Creek had covered and closed Oklahoma State Highway 11 four miles northeast of Ponca City and one miles east of the intersection with U.S. Highway 77. The powerful forces of the floodwaters damaged a temporary low water crossing on OK State Highway 11, tearing a 10-foot-wide section from the highway and damaging culverts under the highway.

Several power poles were downed.

Strong winds and blowing dust combined to greatly reduced visibility in a small area on U.S. 60, 5 miles west of Interstate 35, near Tonkawa where the strong winds blew over a newly plowed field on the north side of the highway. The wind and dust caused several vehicular accidents in this area, where two people were killed (indirect death). The strong winds caused two cars to clip each other. While investigating the damage, a pick-up ran into the vehicles because the driver could not see the cars. After this second accident, a semi-truck came upon the accidents. However, due to the reduced visibilities the driver did not see the vehicles immediately causing the driver to have to swerve to try to avoid them. While swerving to avoid the vehicles, the driver of the semi-truck did not see the drivers of the first two vehicles standing on the side of the road. The semi-truck struck the two women killing them.Strong northerly winds also caused some problems across Oklahoma City. The highest wind gust of 37 knots (43 mph) was measured by the KOKC ASOS at the Will Rogers Airport. The winds caused a power pole to snap and several transformers to explode. One of these transformers caused a fire at the Cleveland School for Art and Science on Northwest 23rd in Oklahoma City. An air conditioning unit on the roof of the school was burned. Twenty children and twelve adults in the school were evacuated, but no one was injured.

Severe thunderstorms produced isolated areas of large hail and damaging wind gusts across portions of western and northern Oklahoma during the evening of the 16th. Although numerous wind gusts in access of 58 mph were reported, there was just 1 report of damage, which occurred in Newkirk in Kay County where power poles and large tree limbs were downed.