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Mon, May 02, 2022

April Winds Highest in Mesonet Era   Opinions on Oklahoma’s weather are often more variable than the weather itself. Some Oklahomans will look back on April… Read More »

Wed, Apr 13, 2022

Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »

Fri, Apr 01, 2022

Variety Describes March Weather March’s weather ran the gamut of nearly all the hazards Oklahoma has to offer, befitting a seasonal transition month in… Read More »

Tue, Mar 01, 2022

Wintry Weather Rules February   Three impactful winter storms struck Oklahoma during February, snarling traffic on state highways, bringing down power lines, and forcing… Read More »

Tue, Feb 01, 2022

Winter Arrives In January Winter arrived with conviction at the dawn of the new year in Oklahoma and delivered a startling counterpunch to the… Read More »

Tue, Jan 04, 2022

December Shatters Temperature Record   In what could best be described as a climatological anomaly on steroids, Oklahoma soared to its warmest December on… Read More »

Wed, Dec 01, 2021

November Caps Off Warm, Dry Fall   An extended pattern of warm, dry weather exacerbated drought conditions during November. Drought impacts, including fire danger and soil… Read More »

Thu, Nov 18, 2021

Spring 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Spring 2022 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »

Mon, Nov 01, 2021

October Sets Tornado Record   Oklahomans are growing accustomed to Mother Nature’s October weather shenanigans following a snowstorm of up to 13 inches in… Read More »

Tue, Oct 05, 2021

Fall 2021 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision… Read More »

Fri, Oct 01, 2021

Drought Makes September Push The 17th warmest and driest September in Oklahoma since records began in 1895 allowed drought to flourish during the month.… Read More »

Wed, Sep 01, 2021

Drought Returns During Arid August A run of hot, dry weather finished off climatological summer in true Oklahoma fashion following a delightfully mild first two… Read More »

Mon, Aug 02, 2021

Summer Heat Scarce During July Oklahoma’s July was mild for the most part, and a bit wet for much of the state. Extreme temperatures—at least… Read More »

Thu, Jul 01, 2021

June Sees Summer Swoon   A slow start to summer gave way to sweltering heat through the middle of June before once again succumbing… Read More »

Tue, Jun 01, 2021

Heat Hiatus Continues During May   May’s weather was rather tame by Oklahoma standards, with severe weather greatly diminished by an abundance of cool, cloudy… Read More »

Fri, May 07, 2021

Fall 2021 Mesonet OK-First Classes Fall 2021 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »

Mon, May 03, 2021

Cold April Feels Severe Weather Impacts Cool weather helped keep severe weather at bay in Oklahoma throughout much of April. A late spring freeze—damaging in its… Read More »

Thu, Apr 01, 2021

March Weather More Lamb Than Lion The first month of spring greeted Oklahoma with warmer and more tranquil weather than the historic cold and snowy February… Read More »

Mon, Mar 01, 2021

Historically Frigid February Punctuates Winter Oklahoma experienced a historic cold air event during February, boosting the month into the company of other legendary frozen periods… Read More »

Tue, Feb 02, 2021

Warm and Wet January Greets New Year The winter storm that began the year captured January’s biggest weather headline. The event straddled the changeover from 2020 to… Read More »

News

Black Sunday Remembered

Tue, Apr 13, 2010

 

That Sunday 75 years ago in the Oklahoma Panhandle began magnificently with bright sunshine, calm winds and plenty of spring warmth. Area residents, so burdened by incessant dust that month, enjoyed the reprieve by flocking outdoors. Picnics, car rides and odd jobs around the farm were tackled with a renewed vigor. The region had suffered a significant dust storm just four days previous on the 10th. It was as if the "Dust Gods," a term used by locals during that period to embody the evil force behind their plight, had averted their gaze from the beleaguered populace. The respite would prove to be short-lived, however, and the calm was soon replaced with the violence of the worst "duster" of the Dust Bowl drought. The date was April 14, 1935, and will be forever remembered as "Black Sunday."

Unlike the sand blows that occurred with the sirocco-like winds from the southwest, the Black Sunday event was one of the less frequent but more dramatic storms borne south on polar air originating in Canada. Rising some 8000 feet into the air, these churning walls of dirt generated massive amounts of static electricity, complete with their own thunder and lightning. Reports of the storm indicate that the cold air from the "Norther" struck first, with the wall of dust following soon thereafter. Temperatures plunged 40 degrees along the storm front before the dust hit. Mr. Ralph H. Guy, National Weather Service cooperative observer in Kenton, Oklahoma, noted about the storm:

"Severe dust storm hit at 4:20 p.m., turning afternoon brightness immediately into midnight darkness, and absolutely zero visibility. It was totally dark and impossible to see without searchlight, for at least 15 minutes...the storm came from the north and northeast and traveled at a very great speed."

Many area residents were caught unaware by this unique storm, remembered by locals at the time as one of only three in living memory that appeared to "roll" as it approached. Those caught out in the open were forced to crawl on hands and knees in search of shelter in the impenetrable darkness, literally unable to see their hands in front of their faces. Cars stalled and stopped in the choking dust, and many thought the end of the world had come.

Associated Press reporter Robert Geiger and photographer Harry Eisenhand were caught 6 miles north of Boise City, Oklahoma. The dust cloud enveloped their car as they raced at 60 miles an hour in an attempt to outrun it. The trip the rest of the way into Boise City took over two hours as they drove with the door open so they could see the edge of the highway. A newspaper report by Geiger the following day would give the era its name, a term eventually used as a measuring stick for the severity of every drought thereafter.

In that report, Geiger wrote:

"Three little words — achingly familiar on a western farmer's tongue — rule life today in the dust bowl of the continent ... 'if it rains.'"

Some survivors claim the term "dust bowl" had been used by locals prior to Geiger's reports, an amalgam of the dust they were suffering and a soup bowl, which was a familiar item due to the prevalence of Depression-era soup kitchen lines. Nevertheless, the popularized term soon spread both nationally and internationally.

Black Sunday storm seemed to mark the peak of the dust storms across the region, although the dust would not stop with that most violent of storms. Several stations in the Oklahoma panhandle reported moderate to heavy dust on 20 days during the month, and light dust on other days. Other areas of Oklahoma were not immune to the dust. The Oklahoma City Airport station noted dust on 18 days during the month.

Black Sunday marked the turning point in the Federal Government's recognition of the soil erosion occurring in the Dust Bowl region, labeling it a "national menace." Hugh Bennett, considered the father of the soil conservation movement, had long tried to draw attention to the farmer's plight. Up to that point, he had been largely ignored, and the Dust Bowl was seen in the nation's capitol as just another facet of the depression. Already scheduled to deliver an address to Congress concerning the matter, he heard tales of the massive Black Sunday storm, spreading its dust towards the east. He stalled his report until the dust settled over Washington D.C. Upon its arrival, many of the Congressmen were horrified at the fine, powdery sand choking their throats and scratching their eyes. Using the moment to full effect, Bennett proclaimed "This, gentlemen, is what I've been talking about." On April 27th, 1935, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) was created, and placed under the control of Bennett.

A boiling cloud of dust approaches Stratford, Texas. Photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, George E. Marsh album.

To read more on the Dust Bowl, please see the Oklahoma Climatological Survey's "Summer 2004" edition of its seasonal summary series Oklahoma Climate: 

http://climate.ok.gov/index.php/climate/seasonal_summaries/reports_summaries

Or visit the Norman National Weather Service office's webpage at: 
https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19350414

And the Dodge City National Weather Service office's webpage at: 
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=ddc&storyid=50702&source=0

120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2900
Norman, OK 73072
phone: 405.325.2541
fax: 405.325.7282
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