Blast of wintry weather descends on Oklahoma
Oklahoma saw its first round of wintry weather Monday as a cold front swept through the state, bringing snow and frigid temperatures.
Forecasters predict another round of freezing temperatures Tuesday before sunshine and warmer weather return Wednesday.
The temperature in Oklahoma City was just above the freezing mark as snow began to fall early Monday. Snow continued well into Monday afternoon, and by 5 p.m., Oklahoma City had received .8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather service.
In Canadian County, El Reno recorded 2 inches.
Kristy Yager, city of Oklahoma City spokeswoman, said street crews kept an eye on weather conditions and roadways, but they didn’t have much to do Monday morning since ice didn’t form on streets. A road crew was scheduled to be on duty at midnight Monday, but Yager said the crew would only need to handle a few isolated slick spots.
“We really haven’t seen any action today,” Yager said Monday. “We had our crews out to monitor the streets and bridges. But it was nice to finally get a snow with no ice.”
Roadways were slushy as snowfall tapered off during the morning. Schools mostly stayed open in central Oklahoma, although some closings were reported in western and northern parts of the state, but roads cleared in central Oklahoma, officials reported.
By 4 p.m. Monday, paramedics had taken two people to hospitals to be treated for cold exposure and two more to be treated for injuries suffered during weatherrelated falls, said Lara O’Leary, a spokeswoman for Emergency Medical Services Authority. Paramedics also responded to 11 weatherrelated crashes, five people were taken to hospitals with injuries from those crashes, she said.
Trucks spread salt and sand on bridges and overpasses Monday morning in western Oklahoma, the state Transportation Department reported. Overnight freezing temperatures could cause ice to form on bridges or overpasses, so motorists venturing out Tuesday morning may need to slow down if snow melts and refreezes.
Forecasters predict much of central and western Oklahoma will see temperatures in the teens early Tuesday, with wind chills in the single digits. Sunny skies are expected to return Tuesday, and by Wednesday afternoon temperatures should be in the mid 40s.