Jessie Christopher Smith,Josh DulaneyOklahoman
After a lull in wintry precipitation overnight Tuesday and daytime Wednesday, the third (and likely final) wave of an ongoing ice storm was expected to pass through Oklahoma Wednesday night ― although forecasters were less certain about what time and how much various counties would be affected.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Norman said clouds of light freezing rain and sleet would develop Wednesday evening in southern portions of Oklahoma first, before expanding north into central Oklahoma. The agency did not expect the wintry precipitation to hit the Oklahoma City metro area until after 10 p.m.
Ice, rain and sunshine: OKC weather could lead to slick roads Wednesday
Ice accumulation in central Oklahoma is expected to reach trace amount levels, up to one tenth of an inch, the NWS said. Counties further south of Oklahoma City could see layers of ice up to a quarter of an inch.
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., the state's largest public utility, said response personnel would continue to monitor conditions throughout eastern and southern Oklahoma, but the company did not expect the Oklahoma City metro service area's power grid to be affected Wednesday night, due to low wind.
Frigid conditions are likely to persist until early Thursday. Temperatures are expected to gradually warm as the weekend approaches.
- Jessie Christopher Smith
Oklahoma City school plans for Thursday still uncertain
With the onset of icy precipitation expected to be very late Wednesday, several metro school administrations announced their campuses would reopen Thursday, but only after officials had evaluated road conditions for safety early that morning.
Anna Aguilar, director of communications at Moore Public Schools, said members of the district's administrative team would drive bus routes and check school lots at 4 a.m. Thursday, after which they would determine how to conduct operations for the day by 6 a.m. If parents and students don't get an alert by that time, it would mean in-person learning has resumed, she said.
Similarly, Norman Public Schools officials also said they expected to hold in-person classes Thursday. But employees planned to check road conditions and bus routes early in the morning, with the expectation to inform families if schools needed to be closed by 5 a.m. If not, in-person classes and activities would resume, although school officials also advised that buses might run later than scheduled.
By 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oklahoma City Public Schools officials had not announced Thursday plans for the district. Several other schools, colleges and universities in the Oklahoma City metro had not updated their websites or social media platforms with Thursday announcements by Wednesday evening, either.
Only one known schoolin the Oklahoma City area, Shawnee Public Schools, had canceled classes Thursday. Pivoting away from virtual instruction the previous day, Shawnee school officials said Thursday would be a traditional "snow day" for students.
It is recommended that families keep in contact with individual schools for what plans are being made the rest of the week.
- Jessie Christopher Smith
Improved road conditions, but crews monitoring ahead of precipitation
With a relatively dry overnight Tuesday in Oklahoma, the state Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority report improved road conditions across southern, southeastern and northeastern counties, although many roadways are slick in spots and elevated surfaces are being treated.
Crews are keeping watch on the weather as conditions are expected to change today.
Slick and hazardous areas remain in eastern Oklahoma in the Muskogee and Okmulgee areas, and surrounding counties.
Slick spots are reported on US-69 in McIntosh County and on portions of Interstate 40 from US-69 to the Arkansas state line.
Interstate 35 from Ardmore south to Texas has improved, but incoming weather could create hazardous conditions again.
Progress continues south and southeast of the metro while some slick spots remain.
- Josh Dulaney
OKC road conditions, highways slick and hazardous, authorities warn
Crews with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority continued treating and clearing roadways and interstates glazed over with ice, especially in counties south of Oklahoma City.
"(Interstate 35) from Ardmore south to Texas is considered extremely slick and hazardous and travel is discouraged," the agencies said in a joint statement late Tuesday. "I-35 from Oklahoma City to Purcell and I-40 from Shawnee east to the Arkansas state line is slick in spots."
More:How to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting during OKC ice storm
Crews were also staged throughout counties for the Oklahoma City metro to begin treating roads ahead of the sleet expected Wednesday.
Until roads are cleared again some time after the storm, ODOT recommended travelers drive carefully and warned of "black ice" that could be difficult to see on streets and roadways.
A map with ongoing updates of traffic conditions in central Oklahoma and elsewhere throughout the state is available on the ODOT website, and is embedded below.
- Jessie Christopher Smith
Oklahoma City school closings, online classes Wednesday
In advance of worsening weather conditions Wednesday, some schools announced they would continue classes online while others said they would cancel all activities outright on Feb. 1.
The list includes, but is not limited to:
- Oklahoma City Public Schools: Officials announced Wednesday would be a traditional "snow day" for students. No in-person classes will be held, and students will not be required to log in or complete work remotely from home that day. All activities Wednesday have been canceled.
- Edmond Public Schools: Classes will continue remotely Wednesday, according to a statement on the district's Facebook page, although all other activities had been canceled.
- Mid-Del Public Schools: The school district is continuing classes remotely Wednesday. Daytime classes and activities at its technology center are canceled.
- Moore Public Schools: The schools district's superintendent said classes would continue through virtual learning Wednesday, out of concern for conditions during early morning bus routes and later in the day.
- Norman Public Schools: All school activities and classes were canceled Wednesday, officials said. This would be a traditional "snow day" for students.
- Shawnee Public Schools: The district announced classes Wednesday would continue through distance learning "for the safety of students and staff." Students will be expected to log in to their Seesaw or Canvas accounts and complete assignments.
- Putnam City Schools: Officials announced Wednesday will be a snow day. All classes and activities have been canceled.
- The University of Central Oklahoma: Officials said the Edmond university is canceling classes and activities completely on Wednesday.
- University of Oklahoma: OU announced it would continue Wednesday classes online for its Norman campus and its facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The university also told students and staff to be prepared for the possibility of remote work Thursday as well.
- Metro Technology Centers: All campuses will be closed for daytime classes, events and activities Wednesday, officials for the vocational school said.
- Moore-Norman Technology Center: The trade school also said its Norman campus would be closed Wednesday, with all classes and activities canceled.
More:Oklahoma City metro school closings, virtual days for Wednesday due to severe winter weather
Multiple other schools in the metro area were considering whether or not to cancel classes Wednesday. With frigid precipitation to accumulate through Thursday, officials recommended parents keep in contact with individual schools for what plans were being made the rest of the week.
- Jessie Christopher Smith
