While snow and brutally cold weather are in the forecast this week in Oklahoma, perhaps much of the state will catch a break and avoid a lot of freezing rain that had been in earlier forecasts.
Gary McManus, State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Mesonet reports forecast models have shifted much of the expected heavy freezing rain to the southeast part of the state.
” Well, not shifted, more like reduced it to mainly be in the southeast. I know that is not good for the southeast, but for the I-44 corridor, it means less chances of power disruptions,” he wrote in his Tuesday Mesonet Ticker.
“By Wednesday night heavy snows are falling and some heavy freezing rain down in the southeast,” continued McManus.
“Also by this time, if you go outside you’ll freeze faster than your snot can run down your nose, so not a good idea to be outdoors. Same thing on Thursday as the snow spreads over the entire state before tapering off later that night.”
Main threats:
NW OK: Heavy snow
NE OK: Heavy snow
NC OK: Heavy snow
WC OK: Moderate snow
C OK: Heavy snow and some sleet/freezing rain
EC OK: Heavy snow and some sleet/freezing rain, possibly heavy
SW OK: Moderate-to-heavy snow, some sleet/freezing rain
SC OK: Sleet/freezing rain, snow on top
SE OK: Heavy freezing rain, power disruptions possible