Snow blankets OKC, winter storm brings dangerously cold temperatures

Dry air aloft sucked some of the danger out of OKC’s first winter storm of 2026, keeping initial snowfall far below the 2 feet predicted by some forecast models, but it was enough to shut down flights, keep road crews busy and perhaps, to many Oklahomans, justify the raiding of grocery store shelves.

The storm stretched from the Texas Panhandle, across the upland South and Midwest to the southern Mid-Atlantic states. By noon Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Oklahoma City area, the heaviest sleet and snow were still to come, with frozen precipitation picking up by nightfall and into the morning of Sunday, Jan. 25.

The first wave hit late Friday, Jan. 23, fortunately after rush hour. A second wave Saturday into Sunday morning was forecast to leave a combined accumulation up to 8 inches in OKC, possibly including a thin layer of ice.

Wind chills could plunge to 20 below into Monday, Jan. 26, according to the National Weather Service. People were advised to take special care with pets and livestock.

Photos posted on social media of empty milk and meat cases, bread aisles and store shelves cleaned of groceries indicated that people barricaded themselves at home prepared to stay for days.

More: Winter storm updates: Another round of snow to hit Oklahoma Saturday night. See latest timelines

Slick roads, dangerous conditions persist with subfreezing temps

By 4 p.m. Saturday, EMSA had reported responding to seven cold-weather emergencies and two carbon-monoxide incidents, with four people taken to hospitals for additional treatment.

An online “Highway Conditions Alert” by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation was giving an “ERROR” message Saturday morning, but slick roads were expected to persist through Monday, at least, the weather service said. State, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County crews were salting roads, however.

“We’ve got 30 trucks out plowing in tandem teams. We completed the full emergency route around 7 a.m. and we are going over the routes again. We will do that all day at midnight until it’s clear,” said Kristy Yager, spokesperson for the city of OKC.

The Oklahoma National Guard said on Facebook that it helped get an ODOT plow truck back into service after it slid off a highway, “a reminder that even trained, professional drivers can be affected by hazardous conditions.”

ODOT said it had 500 “multi-use trucks,” including 50 out in Oklahoma City and 25 in Tulsa.

Flights were canceled at Will Rogers International Airport Saturday. A spokesperson for the airport said flights could resume by mid-day Sunday but it was too early to tell. Air traffic was halted at Tulsa and Dallas, as well, according to reports.

Churches across Oklahoma canceled Sunday services.

The Oklahoma City Fire Department cautioned that the dangerous conditions could slow response times.

The storm could derail processing, transportation, and delivery of mail and packages, the postal service said.

More: Oklahoma hunkering down for heavy snow, ice and 100 hours below freezing

AG Drummond says he’s monitoring natural gas supply and pricing

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his office was monitoring natural gas supply and marketing “to help ensure consumers are protected from potential price manipulation or unfair practices” and prevent “a repeat of the market abuses” that sent energy costs soaring during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri.

“It is critical that Oklahomans are not exploited, especially during extreme weather events,” Drummond said. “While energy markets can experience volatility during periods of severe cold, those conditions do not excuse predatory behavior or violations of contractual obligations. Ratepayers deserve fair and transparent costs that reflect legitimate market conditions.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt told News9 in Oklahoma City that he had not declared an emergency because he had received no requests to do so. But, he said earlier, state resources were being employed.

“We’re coordinating closely with our partners and making sure everyone has the resources needed to get through it safely,” Stitt said.

More: See photos of extreme winter storm hitting Oklahoma metro area with ice, snow

Gov. Stitt outlines state response to first winter storm of 2026

The governor outlined the state’s response.

• The State Emergency Operations Center was activated at Level 2 Friday, with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management boosting staffing levels to assist local efforts statewide as needed.

• Seven Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams, including Oklahoma National Guard members and equipment, were activated in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Woodward, Weatherford, Ardmore, Vinita, and Durant. The teams, under direction of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, stood ready to work with local first responders in hard-hit areas.

• ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority “have plenty of materials stocked across the state to treat snowy and icy conditions through the duration of this winter weather event,” the governor’s office said.

• The Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Corporation Commission issued waivers allowing for temporary suspension of size and weight limits for oversized vehicles and equipment for utility crews responding from out of state to assist with power restoration efforts.

• The Oklahoma State Department of Health activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Center to assist regional and local emergency authorities providing health and medical services.

• The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has been coordinating with drinking water and wastewater facilities to help ensure they are prepared for extreme cold and potential power outages.

• The Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry and Oklahoma Forestry Services has crews and equipment on standby to aid in emergency response, if needed.

More: Winter storm path: Live updates as brutal mix of snow, ice hits millions

Staff writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com, starting in 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Winter storm brings snow, sleet, ice, danger to Oklahoma; more to come