Tulsa braces for 100 hours below freezing as Arctic blast brings bitter cold and snow flurries

Arctic Air Approaching Northern Oklahoma

Arctic air is set to arrive in northern Oklahoma later Friday night.

How Long Will the Cold Weather Last?

A second surge of cold weather will arrive by midday Saturday, plummeting our temperatures below freezing by afternoon. This bitterly cold weather will likely remain through at least Tuesday afternoon. 

Gusty north winds from 15 to 25 mph will continue for most of Saturday and Sunday creating wind chills in the teens. Most of the arctic air will continue through at least Tuesday. 

Any More Snow in the forecast?

By late Saturday afternoon into the early evening hours, some light snow showers will approach parts of northern Oklahoma into early Sunday morning. Measurable precipitation is unlikely, but a minor dusting cannot be ruled out in a few spots.

Another wave will approach the area Sunday night and Monday, with higher chances for measurable precipitation once again across far western sections of the state, into southwestern Oklahoma, and across North Texas.

A low-end chance for a few flurries will exist Monday near and south of the Tulsa Metro through the early morning hours.

>>> How To Prepare Your Car For Oklahoma Winter Weather

Tuesday Storm System

A storm system has been in the data for Tuesday across Texas for several days. The latest consensus indicates this system will remain too far south to impact most of our area.

By late in the week, another strong disturbance approaches, bringing another system near or across portions of Oklahoma on Thursday or Friday.

Cold Weather Concerns

The main concern with the cold front will be the cold weather arriving and continuing through the weekend. North winds behind the front tonight and continuing through most of Saturday will support lowering wind chill values.

Wind chill values this evening will drop into the 30s, and Saturday morning’s wind chills will be in the teens.

Sunday morning wind chills will start in the single digits, and Monday morning, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, wind chill values will be from 4 above to 4 below for the early morning hours.

The cold, shallow Arctic air mass should remain entrenched across most of the area until at least Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures will climb into the upper 30s and lower 40s Wednesday and Thursday before our next storm system moves across the state.

Where are the warming shelters available in Tulsa this year?

The city of Tulsa, local shelters, warming stations, and outreach teams are working to ensure access to safe, warm spaces during the cold temperatures.

>>> Warming Shelters Open Across Tulsa Amid Freezing Temperatures

Tulsa shelters and temporary warming locations are open to provide refuge. Major locations include:

1. John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne — Open 24/7
2. The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. — Open 24/7
3. Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. — Open 24/7

Temporary overflow shelters will also be open for the cold weather:

1. Tulsa Dream Center, 4122 W. 55th Pl. — Opens Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. and closes Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 9 a.m.; Adults only, pet-friendly.
2. Rose Bowl, 7419 E. 11th St. — Opens Sunday, Jan. 5, at 2 p.m. and closes Thursday, Jan. 9, at 9 a.m.; Adults only.

For a full list of warming station locations and hours, visit Housing Solutions’ Winter Weather Information Page.

>>> Warming Shelters, Safety Tips For Cold Temperatures This Winter In Oklahoma

Bring Pets Inside!

Winter temperatures can pose additional challenges for pets, particularly older animals or those with health conditions. Hartfield recommends:

1. Wellness Checks: Ensure pets are up to date on vaccines and discuss arthritis or other cold-weather health concerns with a veterinarian.
2. Outdoor Time: Monitor the duration of outdoor activities, especially for short-haired breeds or pets with conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
3. Paw Care: After walks, inspect and clean paws to remove ice or de-icing chemicals that could harm your pet.

>>> Cold Weather Pet Tips: How To Keep Animals Safe During Winter Months

How Can I Protect Myself From Sickness This Winter?

The Tulsa Health Department is urging residents to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent respiratory illnesses as Oklahoma enters the coldest months of the year.

1. Health experts say the risk of respiratory illnesses is higher during the winter, as colder weather often leads to more indoor gatherings, increasing the likelihood of viruses spreading. 
2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Oklahoma is one of 11 states with very high respiratory virus activity, and with flu vaccination rates lower than this time in 2024, more people have reported getting sick.

>>> How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Illness This Winter

Emergency Info: Outages Across Oklahoma:

Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric cooperatives, many of which have overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.

>>> Tulsa HVAC, Plumbing Companies Flooded With Calls During Cold Weather

1. PSO Outage Map
2. OG&E Outage Map
3. VVEC Outage Map
4. Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
5. Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map — (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DMugrZr5sRD8nzlPAe05O

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/oklahoma-news-from-kotv-news-on-6-in-tulsa-oklahoma/id1499556141

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