Oklahoma weather: Fatal wreck closes eastbound lanes of Turner Turnpike

A strong cold front moved through central Oklahoma early Thursday, bringing wind chills ranging from minus 10 to minus 25, freezing drizzle and light snow. A winter weather advisory was in effect through noon Thursday.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Norman said wind gusts were reaching 35-45 mph along and behind the cold front.

Light snow was expected to fall through Thursday, though accumulations in the Oklahoma City area were expected to be less than an inch. Parts of northeast Oklahoma could see up to 3 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

The Oklahoman will be providing updates as the cold front moves through the state on Thursday. Check back to this article for the latest developments.

More:Where to find overnight shelter in OKC for the unhoused during extreme winter weather

Thursday temperatures expected to flirt with record lows

Thursday's high temperature in Oklahoma City, 38 degrees, was set just after midnight. The forecast low temperature is 4 degrees.

The coldest high temperature on Dec. 22 recorded in Oklahoma City's history was in 1989, when it only reached 4 degrees. The coldest low temperature on Dec. 22 recorded in Oklahoma City's history was a minus 4 degrees, observed the same year.

Alex Zwink, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Norman, predicts Oklahoma City's high temperature on Friday will be 19 degrees. The low temperature for the day will be 4 degrees.

– Jack Money

Flights delayed, canceled at Will Rogers World Airport

Holiday travel plans took a hit Thursday because of the winter storm.

At least 19 flights coming into, or out of Oklahoma City, had been canceled at Will Rogers World Airport as of 10:45 Thursday, according to FlightAware.com.

Another 15 flights had been delayed.

Stacey Hamm, the airport's public information officers, described flight disruptions, so far, as minimal. Hamm said foot traffic inside the airport is pretty light and she encouraged passengers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport to make sure they don't make a trip unnecessarily.

– Staff reports

Oklahoma road conditions continue to deteriorate

Eastbound lanes of the Turner Turnpike were closed Thursday after the Oklahoma Highway Patrol responded to a fatal accident near the intersection with the Kickapoo Turnpike in Lincoln County.

Sarah Stewart, the Department of Public Safety's director of media operations, said there were two accidents at that location, involving five or six vehicles.

Eastbound lanes of the turnpike remained closed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Stewart said troopers have responded to dozens of accidents, most involving single vehicles where drivers lost control because they were traveling too fast for current road conditions.

"The wind chills are the most dangerous issue with today's storm," Stewart said. "If you are going anywhere, bundle up appropriately and take a blanket with you in your car.

"You might just think you are going from point A to point B, but if you are involved in a crash or get stuck on the side of the road, you want to be able to keep yourself as warm as possible."

Travelers can keep up to date with road conditions using the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's interactive road conditions map. You can click to see live images from cameras across the state.

– Jack Money

OG&E reporting power outages north and west of Oklahoma City

Nearly 6,000 OG&E customers north and west of Oklahoma City were without power Thursday morning as an arctic cold front hit the state with frigid temperatures and high winds.

Outages were being reported near El Reno, southeast of Enid and west of Perkins.

In a news release, OG&E said most outages were due to high winds that have downed power lines as well as broken power poles. OG&E also said its power plants were meeting customer demands for activity.

OG&E customers can keep track of outages using the company's System Watch.

– Ryan Sharp

Gov. Kevin Stitt declares state of emergency

Late Wednesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for all 77 counties in Oklahoma due to the inclement weather.

In a Twitter post announcing the declaration, Stitt urged Oklahomans to stay inside and check on their neighbors.

Stitt's executive order temporarily suspends requirements for size and weights permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies used for emergency relief and possible power restoration.

The order also temporarily waived some restrictions on storage of natural gas, effectively allowing dealers to stock their tanks if they are less than 10% full without going through the usual regulatory approval.

During Winter Storm Uri, in February 2021, natural gas was in such high demand it outpaced supply and led to massive spikes in prices. Utilities paid exorbitant rates to obtain the natural gas that was used throughout Oklahoma during the storm to keep homes and businesses heated, and residents are expected to pay back those costs for decades to come through their utility providers.

The Oklahoman will continue to monitor the natural gas markets in coming days to determine if a similar run on natural gas occurs.

The executive order will be in effect for seven days.

– Staff reports

More:How to keep your pipes from bursting during the deep freeze barreling toward Oklahoma

Red Cross provides tips for freezing weather

With bitterly-cold weather expected across much of the central United States, the Red Cross provided tips for managing the freezing temperatures.

• Have an emergency plan in place. Know who your support network will be in case you need help or a place to stay.

• Drain outside faucets so they don't freeze and burst. Insulate them as best you can.

• Make sure you have plenty of heating fuel, be it propane, wood, or other.

• Check your smoke alarms and be sure they are working properly. If you don't have any, the Red Cross can install them for free. Visit redcross.org to find information.

• Keep your phones charged and have a backup power source ready in case the power goes out.

• Keep your vehicle fueled. You never know if you may have to evacuate your home or could get stranded on the road. You want to be able to stay warm until help arrives.

• Make sure a roadside emergency kit is in your car and has everything you need in case you get stranded: blankets, gloves, flares, water, snacks.

• Remember your pets. Give them extra blankets or something to keep them warm. They withstand the cold about like we do. Bring them indoors if you have to. Check on outdoor animals and see that they have water and food that isn’t frozen.

• Check on your senior adult neighbors. Make sure they have everything they need to shelter in place if needed.

– Staff reports

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma freeze updates: Sub-freezing temps, light snow expected