Central U.S. braces for harsh ice, heavy rain

Oklahoma could see brunt of storms; supplies going fast.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A winter storm that brought heavy snow and rainfall to northern California was bearing down on the southern Plains on Thursday, and forecasters said crippling ice accumulations and heavy rain could cause widespread power outages and flooding this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for northwestern Oklahoma beginning this morning as well as a winter storm watch for much of the rest of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri along with parts of Illinois and Texas. Forecasters said the potential for a significant ice storm is increasing and the region could see up to 1 inch of ice. Storms are also expected Saturday and Sunday.

“We could see some fairly significant ice accumulations, enough ice accumulations to cause a lot of problems with trees and power lines and power interruptions,” said Kevin Brown, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla.

In northeastern Oklahoma, where the forecast calls for up to an inch of accumulated ice, residents Thursday were snatching up flashlights, batteries and alternative energy sources in anticipation of power disruptions.

“They’re grabbing generators, and I’m sold out,” said Raymond Bopp, assistant manager of the Woodward Ace Hardware store in Woodward, Okla., about 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

The last time the area experienced a significant ice storm was in 2001, when electrical power was interrupted for three or four days, Bopp said. Residents who recall the inconvenience were taking no chances.

“They’ve been buying a lot of flashlights,” Bopp said. Propane containers, kerosene and lamp oil also were selling well as the storm neared.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management was assembling generators and supplies for temporary shelters across northwestern and northern Oklahoma, said spokeswoman Keli Cain.

“If there’s a need for additional generators, we want them to be available,” Cain said.