Winter Storm To Bring Snow, Sleet, And Travel Disruptions To Oklahoma
The Winter Storm Heading Our Way
The lift from the upper-level system is already generating mixed precipitation across the Red River Valley. By midmorning, some of this will move northeast into portions of southern Oklahoma.
Due to the thermal profile of the atmosphere, precip may start as sleet and then transition into snow across southern sections over the next few hours. As the shield of precipitation moves northward, temperatures in the Tulsa metro are expected to be slightly above freezing by midday, reaching the mid to mid-30s.
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This may also allow a mix of precip for a short time early afternoon before becoming all snow. Snow accumulation this afternoon and early evening will remain relatively light, maybe near 1 inch in some locations across the northern sections.
More accumulating snow will occur this evening and into the overnight hours for most locations.
What’s The Timing For Wintry Weather?
Precipitation is already developing early this morning near the Dallas-Fort Worth area into far southern Oklahoma. Precipitation will likely develop from the Arbuckle’s into the Kiamichi’s by 9 a.m. and near the Tulsa metro around or after 11 a.m.
The highest likelihood for measurable snow in the Tulsa metro is late this afternoon through the early evening hours. Most of the precipitation will exit the eastern third of the state early Friday morning.
How Much Snow For The Tulsa Metro?
We continue to forecast snowfall accumulation, supporting 1 to 3 inches in the Tulsa metro. Overnight data is trending toward the higher amount for the Tulsa metro.
Locations from Okmulgee to Eufaula to Muskogee to Tahlequah may see nearly 4 inches.
From McAlester to Wilburton to Poteau, expect between 4 and 6 inches of snow.
The Southeastern sections of Pittsburg, Latimer, and Le Flore counties may see 6 to 8 inches of snow. The caveat for this higher amount remains the transitioning phase this morning through midday between freezing rain, sleet, and then finally all snow.
Snow accumulation by this afternoon and early evening will remain relatively light, maybe near 1 inch in some locations. Higher amounts of accumulating snow will occur this evening into overnight.
Some Uncertainty Remains
As is normal with Southern Plains winter storm events, the possibility of a localized band to the northwest of the immediate precipitation shield exists. This means some locations northwest of the Tulsa metro could end up with higher amounts than currently forecast.
The predictability of these mesoscale features is extremely difficult to pinpoint even at this hour. The exact amount of snowfall for other locations will depend on the temperature and moisture profile that will be changing throughout the day.
This changes the snow ratios and could result in additional changes into the snowfall forecast later tonight.
The key to the snowfall forecast is how long this transition zone takes. If precipitation cools the atmosphere quickly, slightly higher snow totals will be possible with this event, even across part of northern Oklahoma. Extreme southeastern Oklahoma into western Arkansas is still the favored location for a higher-end snowfall event.
Some locations along and east of Hwy. 69 and south of the I-40 area will see snowfall amounts from 4 to nearly 6 inches. Some localized banding on the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line region across far southeastern Oklahoma may exceed 7 inches.
Further south along the Red River Valley in parts of North Texas, the transitioning zone early this morning between freezing rain, sleet, and snow may cut down on some of the higher-end totals in those areas, but winter storm warning criteria are likely across the Red River Valley.
>>> Winter Precipitation Types And What You Need To Know
How Will This Impact Travel?
Travel impacts are likely from this system across most of the region. Impacts along the I-44 corridor are still considered to be mostly minor.
Locations south and east of Tulsa across east-central to southeastern Oklahoma will experience moderate travel impacts with this storm.
Regardless, you are encouraged to remain aware of your weather surroundings and travel cautiously if snow develops in your area.
>>> How To Prepare Your Car For Oklahoma Winter Weather
>>> ODOT Shares Winter Travel Tips For Safer Driving In Snow And Ice
What About The Weekend?
Friday morning temperatures will be in the 20s, with daytime highs tomorrow in the lower to mid-30s. Some melting or sublimation is possible tomorrow.
There will be a chance of some refreezing late Friday night into early Saturday morning, which could continue to cause some travel issues.
Temperature trends this weekend support morning lows in the 20s and daytime highs near 40 on Saturday and Sunday.
>>> Q&A With Tulsa City Crews As They Prepare For Winter Weather
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:
- John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne — Open 24/7
- The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. — Open 24/7
- Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. — Open 24/7
Temporary overflow shelters will also be open for the cold weather:
- 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.
- 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:
- Wellness Checks: Ensure pets are up to date on vaccines and discuss arthritis or other cold-weather health concerns with a veterinarian.
- Outdoor Time: Monitor the duration of outdoor activities, especially for short-haired breeds or pets with conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- PSO Outage Map
- OG&E Outage Map
- VVEC Outage Map
- Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
- 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/show/0dCHRWMFjs4fEPKLqTLjvy
The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:
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