Sleet, Freezing Rain Falls In Northeastern Oklahoma As Winter Storm Moves In

Green Country residents should remain weather aware late Sunday night into Monday morning, as the National Weather Service increases snow predictions.

Sunday, February 15th 2015, 2:52 pm

By: News On 6

Sleet, Freezing Rain Falls In Northeastern Oklahoma As Winter Storm Moves In

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from 6 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday for several northeast Oklahoma counties including Tulsa, Adair, Cherokee, Creek, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Rogers, Mayes, Sequoyah, Pawnee, Washington, Osage, Craig, Nowata and Muskogee.

Oklahomans are encouraged to remain weather aware late Sunday night into Monday morning with the likelihood of freezing rain, sleet and snow.

Northern Washington County already had begun to see sleet around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. By 10 p.m., about 1,000 customers in Bartlesville reported losing power.

A series of vehicle crashes on U.S. Highway 412 at Westport Road caused the westbound lanes of the highway to be closed for about 45 minutes around 10 p.m. Also about that time, in most areas above Interstate 44 and north of Tulsa, roads were slick and icy.

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On Sunday afternoon, forecasters updated the 24-hour snow/sleet accumulation map to a "significant" impact with 2 to 4 inches predicted in a band from Pawnee through Creek, Okmulgee, Tulsa, Cherokee, and Adair counties.
A band of counties from Osage, Washington, Rogers, Nowata, Craig, Mayes, and Delaware may see even greater amounts, up to 6 inches.

The timing for the event has been pushed back somewhat, coming into eastern Oklahoma late into the night. Elevated road surfaces may become hazardous in the Tulsa area starting around 9 to 10 p.m.

"Initially, the precipitation will be light and widely scattered," said WARN Team Meteorologist Mike Grogan.

As the temperature falls and the cold front advances, we can expect a full-blown wintry mix, he said. There is a chance Tulsa will have minor icing - less than a quarter of an inch, but the window of time for freezing rain will be less than that for sleet or snow, according to Grogan.

Read Mike Grogan's Weather Blog

An Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesperson said crews are on hand with 42 trucks and 9,000 tons of salt and sand ready to go.

Go to the Department of Public Safety website for Oklahoma highway conditions or call 405-425-2385.

Arkansas road conditions are available at 800-245-1672.

Keep checking back to News On 6 and NewsOn6.com for the latest weather updates.