tulsa weather

Residents await first nip by Jack Frost

CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Carl Harssenstein rides a bike through the Farm Shopping Center in Tulsa on Thursday.




By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
12/8/2007


Freezing rain is predicted to hit many areas between early Sunday and late Monday.


The first winter storm of the season is bearing down on Oklahoma, with forecasters predicting many areas of the state could see icy conditions by Sunday.

Winter storm watches were issued Friday by the National Weather Service for much of Oklahoma from Sunday morning through late Monday night.

The weather service said that as of Friday there was "much uncertainty" about where the line separating rain from freezing rain will develop.

It said it appeared that areas to the north and west of Interstate 44 face the greatest risk of significant accumulations of ice.

Steve Piltz, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Tulsa, said one community may have only rain while a nearby town may receive a considerable amount of freezing rain.

Piltz said it would be a good idea for Oklahomans to "plan for the worst and hope for the best."

Ice accumulations of up to one-half of an inch are possible in some areas, according to a statement released by the National Weather Service on Friday.

Piltz said that, as of Friday, snow seemed unlikely due to warm air aloft in the atmosphere.

Adding to the uncertainty of the forecast is the wide array of temperatures in Oklahoma. Southern Oklahoma basked in the 70s Friday, while those in the northern portion of the state shivered.

Piltz said the contrast in temperatures led to Friday's fog and drizzle in Tulsa and elsewhere. He said those conditions are expected to persist Saturday.

Piltz said some parts of the state may also experience thunderstorms as the chances for significant precipitation grow as the weekend progresses.

A second wave of precipitation is expected Monday, according to the weather service. This could prompt further icing.

The National Weather Service advised residents in the winter storm watch area to make sure they have ample supplies of food and water and to make sure their vehicles are properly winterized in advance of the storm.

Paul Strizek, city of Tulsa street maintenance contract manager, said Friday that crews are prepared if Tulsa finds itself on the wrong side of the frozen precipitation line.

Strizek said about 50 trucks, 9,000 tons of salt and 6,000 tons of sand are ready.

"Just like everyone else, we're waiting to see what happens," Strizek said.

Strizek said if Tulsa is hit with an ice storm, it will take between eight and 12 hours to treat the city's main streets "if everything goes perfectly."

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said it had nearly 130,000 tons of sand-salt mixtures to clear snow and ice from roadways with 500 trucks available statewide.

ODOT reminded people Friday:


Keep a distance of at least 200 feet between your vehicle and road-clearing equipment.


Do not attempt to pass road-clearing equipment.


Wait for crews to complete road clearing before approaching bridges and overpasses.


Strizek acknowledged it sounds obvious, but stressed the importance of slowing down during icy conditions.

He said about 90 percent of the accidents he sees on icy roads involve Another icy wave of rain is falling across the metro area while emergency crews statewide deal with already-icy road conditions from an early-morning wintry downfall.



The National Service has placed most of central Oklahoma under an ice storm warning and most of western Oklahoma's roads are already slick and hazardous, prompting authorities to urge citizens to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

"It's definitely getting worse as the day is getting longer," Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Betsy Randolph said.

Street and highway crews statewide have been spreading salt and sand on major roadways since last night.

Several churches have cancelled services.

One eastbound lane of Interstate 40 just west of U.S. Highway 77 in Pottawatomie County has been closed after a tractor trailer carrying diesel overturned, spilling the diesel across the highway.

Randolph said that lane will be closed "for quite some time" and warned motorists to expect delays in the area.

Authorities are working to determine whether a driver who was ejected from a car in Canadian County died from crash injuries or froze to death, Randolph said.

In Oklahoma City, police are still responding to accidents. If the weather makes it hazardous for police to continue to work accidents, the watch commander will ask that police only respond to injury accidents, Lt. Ron Bacy said.

Bacy didn't know how many accidents police had responded to this morning.

Oklahoma City street crews began laying snow and ice treatment materials on city bridges about 10 p.m. last night, Oklahoma City streets superintendent Mike DeGiacomo said.

Initially, roads on the city's north side were in the worst condition, but poor road conditions have now spread metrowide, DeGiacomo said.

He said the full staff of city street crews is expected to be working by the end of the morning.

The entire highway patrol is on call and Randolph said the patrol expects extra troopers will be on the roads soon.

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. is reporting more than 6,500 customers are without power. About 5,100 of those customers are in the Oklahoma City metro area. Most of those are in Yukon, where more than 3,000 are without power.

The ice storm is pounding most of the state and conditions are quickly deteriorating, authorities said.

At 8 a.m., Chickasha, Shawnee, Clinton, Grove and Tahlequah reported light snow, according to the National Weather Service Web sit. Oklahoma City had freezing drizzle, as did Enid and Tulsa.

Seminole, Ponca City, Watonga, Altus, Duncan and Oklmulgee reported mixed precipitation, according to the service