Icy conditions in today's Oklahoma forecast

By Brian Sargent

Published: February 21, 2008

Areas of freezing rain and freezing drizzle, possibly mixed with sleet at times, will affect much of central and northern Oklahoma through this morning. Scattered thunderstorms also will be likely.

In the south and east, rain is expected and the chances of ice are much lower from north central Texas into southeastern Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service. Freezing rain and sleet will create slick bridges and overpasses across western, central, and northern Oklahoma, along with icing of exposed objects such as cars and trees. The most likely time for widespread accumulating ice will be now through noon.

"It's not going to be a huge ice storm, but there could be enough freezing rain and drizzle out there that it could cause some problems," weather service meteorologist Kevin Brown said.

Areas north of Interstate 44 north may have the best chance of seeing accumulating ice.

"Once we get into far eastern and southeastern Oklahoma, where they will be above freezing for a large portion of the event, it's going to be mostly light rain," Brown said.

The main storm is expected to push out of the state by late tonight and early Friday, leaving a chance for a brief wet snow across portions of northern Oklahoma.

A winter weather advisory is effective until 6 p.m. today for Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Hughes, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, McClain, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodward counties.

A winter weather advisory is effective until 9 a.m. Friday for Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington counties.

A winter weather advisory means periods of freezing rain or sleet may cause travel difficulties. Motorists should be prepared for slick roads, especially bridges and overpasses, and limited visibilities.

The temperature in Oklahoma City at 9 a.m. today was 25 degrees 14-degree wind chill factor.

In Tulsa, the temperature was 29 degrees 20-degree wind chill factor.

Elsewhere:

• Gage in Ellis County: 21 degrees, 12-degree wind chill factor.

• Clinton in Custer County: 24 degrees, 14-degree wind chill factor.

• Enid in Garfield County: 24 degrees, 15-degree wind chill factor.

• Ponca City in Kay County: 24 degrees, 15-degree wind chill factor.

• Hobart in Kiowa County: 26 degrees, 15-degrees wind chill factor.

On Wednesday, high temperatures ranged from 28 degrees in Guymon to 59 degrees in Lawton. High temperatures were 39 degrees in Enid and Tulsa and 49 degrees in Oklahoma City, according to the weather service.

A burn ban is effective for Comanche and Texas counties in the Panhandle.

Still, officials in the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department urged Oklahomans not to burn outside when winds are higher than 15 mph.

For more ban information, call the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department at 522-6158.

The Oklahoma forecast ...

• Today: Highs in the mid-20s in the north to about 50 in the southeast. Light rain, light freezing rain, sleet and thunderstorms.

• Tonight: Lows in the lower 20s in the north to the lower 40s in the southeast. Light rain, light freezing rain and thunderstorms.

• Friday: Highs in the lower 30s to the lower 50s in the southeast. Slight chance of snow in the northeast.

The Oklahoma City area forecast ...

• Today: Cloudy. Highs in the lower 30s. Northerly winds 10 to 15 mph. Rain and thunderstorms in the morning. Light freezing rain likely through the day. Rain likely in the after afternoon. Seventy percent chance of precipitation.

• Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Northerly winds about 10 mph. Forty percent chance of rain and light freezing rain.

• Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s. Northwesterly winds 10 to 15 mph.

• Friday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Northeasterly winds about 10 mph.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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