Oklahoma is bracing for a potentially life-threatening blizzard. The governor of the state is warning people to stay home.
“To all Oklahomans, I would urge you to not get out and travel. If you must, make sure you have provisions with you,” Henry said during a Friday afternoon news conference.
Henry said significant travel problems are expected, and forecasters agree. Chief meteorologist Rick Mitchell said during a 2 p.m. weather briefing that road conditions could be worse in the metro area than initially expected. However, the primary concern is west and north of the Oklahoma City metro area.
Snow has already started to fall in northwest Oklahoma with up to 6 inches already reported in the panhandle. KOCO meteorologists say sleet is possible for the drive home Friday in Oklahoma City.
A blizzard warning is in effect for far northwestern Oklahoma, including the panhandle, while much of central and north-central Oklahoma is under a winter storm warning. However, the National Weather Service updated its winter storm warning for west-central and north-central Oklahoma for the possibility of treacherously icy roads and widespread power outages.
The Red River has reached a record flood stage at Fargo, North Dakota – 40.57 feet. It has not yet crested. Flood stage is 18 feet. It is currently 18° F and snowing there. Just what they need, more water. The sandbagging effort has essentially stopped at this point, as I understand it from the radio report I heard coming home. But they have not given up:
“We do not want to give up yet. We want to go down swinging if we go down,” Walaker said. “Does that put fear in everybody’s heart? I hope it doesn’t. We have to do everything possible to be successful. And I think that’s what everybody is committed to.”
Keep them in your thoughts.
Well, I guess the old saying is true about March: In like a lion, out like a rabid wolverine.
It isn’t over in Kansas either. US 50 from Hutchinson to Garden City ws closed yesterday due to heavy snowfall and blowing and drifting snow. Here in Wichita it is still coming down on top of the sleet and freezing rain from yesterday. And at 0800 it was 29 degrees F. Winter on the plains is over when it is ready to be over and not before. I grew up in North Central Montana, qualified, OK.