Arctic Chill Grips Oklahoma With Chance For Snow Later This Week

A Cold Weather Pattern Remains

Arctic air has settled over northern Oklahoma and will remain in place for most of the week. Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing through Wednesday, with a brief rise above freezing possible Thursday midday to afternoon.

Morning lows will generally be in the teens and highs in the mid to upper 20s both today and tomorrow. 

Strong northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph this morning will create wind chill values between zero and -10 across parts of northern Oklahoma.

As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory for portions of northern Oklahoma through the early morning hours. Winds will gradually diminish through midday and afternoon hours. A moderating air mass is expected to arrive this weekend, bringing some relief.

While morning lows will remain in the 20s, daytime highs are forecast to approach the lower 40s on both Saturday and Sunday. The system that brought wintry weather to parts of the area yesterday is now moving across the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys into the East Coast.

However, a new storm system developing to the west could bring wintry weather impacts to parts of Oklahoma Thursday night into early Friday morning.

Will it snow this week in Oklahoma? Here's what we know:

Winter weather enthusiasts, get ready—snow could be on the way for Thursday into Friday! Here's what we know so far:

1. Timing:
2. A strong storm system will develop across the southwest U.S. before moving into Texas and Oklahoma Thursday evening through early Friday morning.
3. Where Snow is Likely:
4. Northern Texas: Significant snowfall is expected Thursday.
5. Southeastern Oklahoma: Accumulating snow is likely from Thursday evening into early Friday morning.
6. Northeastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa: Many forecast models show the potential for accumulating snow, but confidence is lower than in southeastern areas.
7. What Could Change:
8. If the storm tracks farther south, snowfall amounts in northeastern Oklahoma may decrease.
9. Dry air could also reduce snowfall potential in northern parts of the system.
10. What to Do Now:
11. Keep an eye on the forecast, especially for the Thursday evening to Friday morning timeframe.
12. Expect more updates as meteorologists monitor the storm's track and conditions.

Tracking Another Winter Storm

A strong upper-level low will continue to deepen as it moves across portions of Southern California into the desert Southwest over the next few days. This nearly cut-off low will continue to dig south before ejecting eastward by the middle to the end of next week as an open wave.

The trajectory of this system will bring a threat for wintry precipitation across parts of North Texas and southern Oklahoma Thursday night into early Friday morning. Pre-existing cold weather combined with the upper-level cold air should support snow as the primary precipitation type across Oklahoma for this system.

>>> ODOT Shares Winter Travel Tips For Safer Driving In Snow And Ice

Any threats of mixed or freezing rain should be confined to parts of Texas. Precipitation will start as early as Thursday morning to our west, but higher probabilities will occur Thursday evening and exit the area early Friday morning. Based on the current data, which may continue to change, more significant snow with this system will be to our south of the metro, in locations across the Texoma Valley region.

These areas could experience winter warning criteria, while some locations closer to northeastern Oklahoma may experience winter advisory-level precipitation. A weak system may brush the area Sunday night. The patterns suggest another winter system may be possible by the middle to the end of the following week.

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

We'll continue to adjust the track and timing of the incoming system for later this week and update the possibilities of snowfall. Additional changes are likely for this portion of the forecast.

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
4. Denver Avenue Station, 319 S. Denver Ave. — Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

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/3omFKzSnoDxlrLZmSgZhpH

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:

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

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