Tulsa winter storm dwell updates: Snow, ice, wind chills and journey impacts this weekend

A serious winter storm is predicted to impression northeast Oklahoma starting Friday, bringing accumulating snow, attainable ice, and dangerously chilly temperatures by the weekend. A Winter Storm Watch is now in impact for a lot of the state, together with the Tulsa metro, as forecasters monitor a strong system stretching throughout the southern Plains.

News On 6 Meteorologist Travis Meyer says this storm may create hazardous journey, energy disruptions, and life-threatening chilly, particularly from Friday night by Sunday morning.

This dwell weblog shall be up to date

Updates will proceed a number of occasions every day as new forecasts, watches, warnings and impacts are issued.

Stay with News On 6 for the newest winter climate protection throughout Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma.

Wednesday afternoon replace

After a chilly entrance cleared the realm early Wednesday, skies turned largely sunny with afternoon highs within the decrease to mid-50s. Conditions stay calm forward of the creating winter storm, however colder air will arrive late Thursday evening.

Winter Storm Watch: What we all know

• Start: Noon Friday
• End: Early Sunday morning
• Coverage: Most of Oklahoma, together with Tulsa
• Threats: Snow, sleet, freezing drizzle, sturdy winds, harmful wind chills

Travis mentioned this is without doubt one of the largest winter storm watch areas seen in years, stretching from Texas into the Midwest and Deep South.

Precipitation timeline

• Friday morning:
  • Cold air settles in
  • Light freezing drizzle attainable in Tulsa, particularly on bridges and overpasses
• Friday afternoon:
  • Transition towards snow
  • Wintry combine attainable south of I-40
• Friday evening into Saturday morning:
  • Moderate to heavy snow develops throughout northeast Oklahoma
  • Travel situations quickly deteriorate
• Saturday by early Sunday:
  • Additional rounds of snow attainable
  • Slick and snow-covered roads persist

Snow vs. ice: Why the forecast is hard

Meteorologists are monitoring a heat layer of air above the floor, particularly throughout southern Oklahoma.

• Northern Oklahoma (together with Tulsa):
  • Air column anticipated to be chilly sufficient for largely snow
• Southern and southeastern Oklahoma:
  • Higher threat for sleet and freezing rain, particularly early within the occasion
  • Ice accumulation may impression energy strains and bushes

Forecasts will proceed to regulate because the storm system strikes nearer.

How a lot snow is feasible?

While actual totals will change, a number of inches of snow are attainable throughout jap Oklahoma by Sunday morning. Some areas may see increased totals if snow bands persist.

Travis forecasts that this won’t fall and will are available in waves.

Dangerous chilly and wind chills

In addition to wintry precipitation, very chilly air will transfer in behind the storm.

• Friday evening by Sunday morning:
  • Wind chills close to or beneath zero attainable
• Monday morning:
  • Potential for record-low temperatures
  • Wind chills might be life-threatening

Residents are urged to organize for excessive chilly, particularly if journey turns into restricted.

Travel impacts

• Roads could change into hazardous as early as Friday morning
• Friday night commute might be severely impacted
• Conditions doubtless stay harmful by the weekend
• Air journey throughout Texas, Oklahoma and the Southeast might even see delays

Officials advocate limiting journey as soon as situations deteriorate.

Power outage potential

• Heavy snow could trigger remoted outages
• Ice accumulation farther south will increase outage threat
• Power impacts in Tulsa at present thought-about low to average, however may change if ice shifts north

What occurs subsequent week?

• Monday:
  • Bitter chilly, gradual highway enchancment
  • Black ice attainable Monday evening
• Tuesday:
  • Temperatures close to freezing
  • First actual enchancment in journey situations for a lot of areas

What to do now

• Prepare an emergency equipment with blankets, meals, water and drugs
• Avoid pointless journey beginning Friday
• Protect pets, pipes and vegetation
• Keep units charged and monitor climate updates

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