Temps getting above the 20s saved most of the state it looks like. Roads will be just fine unless we get a dumping osf snow tonight.

Right it looks like western OK will see snow and most of C OK will be dry slotted. Just have to monitor radar trends.

Mike Morgan said this morning that the ground temps saved us as they are at about a 38-40 degree range from all those nice warm days we had.

The area of snow developing out in the Texas panhandle looks like it'll travel exactly where they've been predicting snow so looks like we'll only get that trace, if anything (of course, I just looked at the radar to verify and it's filling in more a little south and east of Amarillo but either way, we will see).

Temps falling again on north and west sides of metro.

The snow in the panhandle taking shape now. We will see how it develops, but looking like it may track where models have been placing it in NW OK into SW KS.

Want to note that we could see a deformation zone setup somewhere over OK that can dump condensed heavy snowfall if it comes to fruition. Some model indication of this occurring just north of OKC later tonight.

Mike Morgan hype machine wrong again. Unfortunately we can't afford to just not take him seriously because of events like May 20th and May 31st.

On the good side is this....
This system brought some needed moisture to places that still desperately needed it.

There are a few tree branches down in my area.
The radar looks like we still see more rain for a few more hours.

Fortunately, still no Ice Armageddon in Stillwater:

City of Stillwater Emergency Management Agency SEMA
Update for Stillwater:

POLICE: - The police reported to us that the roads were in good shape. Bridges and overpasses had slick spots on them, but nothing life threatening.

TRANSPORTATION: - Transportation remained active and continued to pretreat and treat areas that became slick or could cause travel issues.

ELECTRIC: - Stillwater Power did report a small outage, but it was the result of a partners equipment failure and not due to ice or weather.

NWS: - NWS has not made any estimates on current icing, but it appears that we received less than a .25" of ice on most elevated surfaces. Just a reminder that the freezing rain will continue until temperatures are above freezing. Then it will be rain throughout that time frame and then will transition back to freezing rain before turning to snow overnight. Snow accumulations will not be much and will be on the tail end of this winter storm system as it moves out of the area on Sunday.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: - We continue to gather information from our city, state and county partners about the current status in and around the Stillwater area. We are constantly monitoring the weather and will update our social media site as necessary. Remember, it is still cold out and precautions need to be taken for any long term exposure.

If we can just get through the end of the month we will be fine...Just watched a weather channel clip saying the ridge in the Pacific will break down moving the jet stream farther north...This will result in much warmer than average temps for us Okies in January :)

If we can just get through the end of the month we will be fine...Just watched a weather channel clip saying the ridge in the Pacific will break down moving the jet stream farther north...This will result in much warmer than average temps for us Okies in January :)

We want snow! We don't need no stinking warm weather. It's winter.

Lets pray that rain clouds stay over Canton lake for a few months.

Temps here in Norman have been consistently cooling for awhile now. Down to 30.6 now. Light Freezing Rain/Drizzle will continue over the metro for the next few hours. Getting some redevelopment of light showers to the SW that will keep moving up over the area.

Temps in OKC still dropping. Down to 28F on north sides.

Temps in OKC still dropping. Down to 28F on north sides.

Does this mean evening travel will be dicey?

That snow is starting to fill in north and west of Gage (Woodward County).

If we can just get through the end of the month we will be fine...Just watched a weather channel clip saying the ridge in the Pacific will break down moving the jet stream farther north...This will result in much warmer than average temps for us Okies in January :)Hopefully that won't happen. I would like to see a good blizzard or two here.

If we can just get through the end of the month we will be fine...Just watched a weather channel clip saying the ridge in the Pacific will break down moving the jet stream farther north...This will result in much warmer than average temps for us Okies in January :)
Hopefully it will happen and the snow will stay north where it belongs.

Hopefully that won't happen. I would like to see a good blizzard or two here.

I find the older you get, the less you wanna deal with any kind of bad weather. So here's to your blizzard or two but I'm going to hope for no blizzards this winter or next.

I look at it this way. It's Oklahoma. We get all extremes here for the most part. If you aren't able to handle ice storms and blizzards in the winter, with tornadoes and hail storms in the spring...you need to move because this isn't the state for you. :)

Granted people complain about the weather everywhere, but reality is...it means nothing. We can hope for whatever, but it'll do what it wants. Now, I will take snow over ice any day - so would the people sitting in the dark right now.

We could be like LA/MS/AR/TN dealing with tornadoes today or IN/OH/MI dealing with significant flooding. If you don't like any of it...San Diego is that way --->

:)

Basic setup for right now...


http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/dec13/21-2.png

For those of you who said this wasn't a major ice storm... Screw you... :P

I had to scrape my truck for a good 45+ minutes this morning, I was without power temporarily, and the trees in my front yard are trying to touch their toes.

Sure the roads were fine, but the clean up at home sucks!

For those of you who said this wasn't a major ice storm... Screw you... :P

I had to scrape my truck for a good 45+ minutes this morning, I was without power temporarily, and the trees in my front yard are trying to touch their toes.

Sure the roads were fine, but the clean up at home sucks!

Major yes,storm of the century no. But we should be thankful that the winds weren't howling regardless.

I look at it this way. It's Oklahoma. We get all extremes here for the most part. If you aren't able to handle ice storms and blizzards in the winter, with tornadoes and hail storms in the spring...you need to move because this isn't the state for you.:) I've lived in OKC my entire 54 years. The majority of those years there were no real winter storms. Zero. I only remember a hand full of major ice storms and only a hand full of snow storms of more than a couple of inches in all those years. So I think it's completely reasonable to hope for no or very little real winter weather in OKC. Tornadoes and hail are another matter.

I've lived in OKC my entire 54 years. The majority of those years there were no real winter storms. Zero. I only remember a hand full of major ice storms and only a hand full of snow storms of more than a couple of inches in all those years. So I think it's completely reasonable to hope for no or very little real winter weather in OKC. Tornadoes and hail are another matter.

I guess things are changing since for the 15 years I've lived here...there have definitely been plenty of heavy snow and icing events. :) To each their own. If I wanted 70 and sunny I would be in San Diego.

Moving on...Ice Storm Warning discontinued for OUN counties and are now covered by a Winter Wx Advisory through tomorrow morning.

Good info in this photo, so going to share it here...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcChLuwCUAEYiL-.png:large

I've lived in OKC my entire 54 years. The majority of those years there were no real winter storms. Zero. I only remember a hand full of major ice storms and only a hand full of snow storms of more than a couple of inches in all those years. So I think it's completely reasonable to hope for no or very little real winter weather in OKC. Tornadoes and hail are another matter.

Well, have to politely disagree with your counts there...I've lived here 49 years, and I remember the OKC blizzard of 2009 - an unqualified winter storm - and I remember a winter storm while I was in school at OU that turned my 15-minute commute from Norman into a 2-hour marathon up I-35, and I also remember a multi-day winter mess in 1978 that had us in half-day school for a week and a Saturday make up day the following spring. And I also remember one from just a couple of years ago that iced up the roads for a couple of days and knocked out our power for several days.

That's four winter storms I can remember quite readily. Perhaps we're living in different parts of the state..?

A typical winter just a hundred miles or so north and NW of OKC or in most of Kansas is significantly worse than the OKC area. The worst of our OKC winter events seems to come every few years where as in those areas they can get the same thing or worse every few weeks. The worst of what we have is child’s play compared to some other not that far away places.
I find that most people in the OKC metro really are pretty soft when comes to winter..... But I have gotten softer about it too, the longer I have lived in this area.

Even as someone who HATES winter, I tend to agree winters here are not a big deal. OKC is probably warmer than a good 60-65% of the nation in the winter months. Sure we can have pretty stout snow and ice events, but rarely do they linger. Last snow we had a few weeks ago was out of the ordinary for us because it was on the ground more than 5 days. Typically, snow is out of here in 48-72 hours. I remember the 2011 Blizzard, not so much because of the snow, but rather the fact it was 70 a week later and there were massive snow piles back dropped with people jogging in shorts. Now THATS and OKC winter.

Well, have to politely disagree with your counts there...I've lived here 49 years, and I remember the OKC blizzard of 2009 - an unqualified winter storm - and I remember a winter storm while I was in school at OU that turned my 15-minute commute from Norman into a 2-hour marathon up I-35, and I also remember a multi-day winter mess in 1978 that had us in half-day school for a week and a Saturday make up day the following spring. And I also remember one from just a couple of years ago that iced up the roads for a couple of days and knocked out our power for several days.

That's four winter storms I can remember quite readily. Perhaps we're living in different parts of the state..?OK, I'll even add 3 more. The ice storm of New Years Eve in about 1980 maybe, the ice storm of about 2007 or 2008 and the record snow storm of 1988. Between us that's 7 years out of your 49 or my 54. So far my point of the majority of years not having any major winter weather still stands.

I had no trouble agreeing with most of SoonerSoftail's comments. The 2009 blizzard was a very rare event for central Oklahoma, possibly the first one or two the NWS has ever had to issue a warning. I, too, don't remember major ice storms much. With two amazing misses, Stillwater hasn't had one since at least the year 2000. The current one needn't count as major, since trees aren't bending over much with no power outages blamed on the storm. However, I'll depart from SoonerSoftail from remembering that it seems the majority of winters featured at least a storm or two that had over 2 inches of snow. But there was one very extraordinary year back around 1978 when it snowed around 6 in. on New Year's Eve. From then on it generally stayed so cold and cloudy the snow couldn't get fully melted off before the next snow. It wasn't until early March until all the snow could melt off. But there's been no memorable winter like that since then.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

The winter of 77-78 and 78-79 where both very cold with the snow/ice pack effect being the worst I have ever seen.
There was ice fishing going on at Kaw lake one of those years.

Ice falling off the Outlet Mall covers

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101930422050627&set=o.141321506635&type=2&theater

Best thing I can add to the discussion is based off of NWS records for major events including Blizzard conditions, Heavy Snow, and Freezing Rain/Ice Storm. The records of the storm database only go back to 1996 and is through September of this year, but that's a good chunk of recent history.

Now this will be for Cleveland County, which usually has the same level of weather as Oklahoma County...usually.

Days with corresponding conditions (not for how long the snow stuck around):

Blizzards: 1 day - 12/24/2009
Heavy Snow: 6 days - 1/1/96, 1/8/97, 1/26/2000, 1/27/00, 1/01/02, 1/29/10
Ice Storm: 9 days - 11/24/96, 12/21/98, 12/23/98, 1/7/99, 12/26/2000, 1/30/02, 12/03/02, 12/09/07, 01/28/10
Winter Storm: 8 days - 12/13/2000, 11/28/01, 1/04/05, 11/29/06, 1/12/07, 1/26/09, 1/31/11, 2/01/11.
Generic Winter Weather: 10 days - 1/11/97, 2/14/01, 2/17/06, 12/22/07, 12/26/07, 1/31/08, 2/11/10, 2/14/10, 2/21/13, 2/25/13

The generic winter weather category is normally associated with a system that produced significant winter weather outside of the county, but it still had some effects.

So in the last 17 years we had 34 significant winter storms of some form or fashion in the state...or an average a 2 per year. Right now we are well above average for the year, with now 4 major events. However, 2012 we didn't have anything worth to note that impacted Cleveland County specifically. Law of averages...0 last year...4 this year = 2 or the 17 year average. :) Since I like looking for trends, let's look at the years broken down...

96: 2, 97: 2, 98: 2, 99: 1, 2000: 4, 01: 2, 02: 3, 03: 0, 04: 0, 05: 1, 06: 2, 07: 3, 08: 1, 09: 2, 10: 4, 11: 2, 12: 0, 13: 4 and counting

No real obvious trends except that a winter without at least one major storm is rare. Some probably just aren't as memorable as others and so they are easily forgotten.

Be on a sharp look out if you are going to be walking around tall buildings or broadcast type towers in the next few days...

Falling ice from height can be like falling knives or spears.... and it can kill you.

Best thing I can add to the discussion is based off of NWS records for major events including Blizzard conditions, Heavy Snow, and Freezing Rain/Ice Storm. The records of the storm database only go back to 1996 and is through September of this year, but that's a good chunk of recent history.

Now this will be for Cleveland County, which usually has the same level of weather as Oklahoma County...usually.

Days with corresponding conditions (not for how long the snow stuck around):

Blizzards: 1 day - 12/24/2009
Heavy Snow: 6 days - 1/1/96, 1/8/97, 1/26/2000, 1/27/00, 1/01/02, 1/29/10
Ice Storm: 9 days - 11/24/96, 12/21/98, 12/23/98, 1/7/99, 12/26/2000, 1/30/02, 12/03/02, 12/09/07, 01/28/10
Winter Storm: 8 days - 12/13/2000, 11/28/01, 1/04/05, 11/29/06, 1/12/07, 1/26/09, 1/31/11, 2/01/11.
Generic Winter Weather: 10 days - 1/11/97, 2/14/01, 2/17/06, 12/22/07, 12/26/07, 1/31/08, 2/11/10, 2/14/10, 2/21/13, 2/25/13

The generic winter weather category is normally associated with a system that produced significant winter weather outside of the county, but it still had some effects.

So in the last 17 years we had 34 significant winter storms of some form or fashion in the state...or an average a 2 per year. Right now we are well above average for the year, with now 4 major events. However, 2012 we didn't have anything worth to note that impacted Cleveland County specifically. Law of averages...0 last year...4 this year = 2 or the 17 year average. :) Since I like looking for trends, let's look at the years broken down...

96: 2, 97: 2, 98: 2, 99: 1, 2000: 4, 01: 2, 02: 3, 03: 0, 04: 0, 05: 1, 06: 2, 07: 3, 08: 1, 09: 2, 10: 4, 11: 2, 12: 0, 13: 4 and counting

No real obvious trends except that a winter without at least one major storm is rare. Some probably just aren't as memorable as others and so they are easily forgotten.The problem here seems to be how "major" events are determined. Today was not a major event. Nov. 21 & 22 was not a major event. The only thing close to a major event this year was the snow Thursday and Friday of two weeks ago. We have not had 4 major events this year. At least not in OKC. It's very vague what the NWS means by "Winter Storm" and "Generic Winter Event". To me if road travel isn't seriously affected it isn't a major winter storm.

The problem here seems to be how "major" events are determined. Today was not a major event. Nov. 21 & 22 was not a major event. The only thing close to a major event this year was the snow Thursday and Friday of two weeks ago. We have not had 4 major events this year. At least not in OKC. It's very vague what the NWS means by "Winter Storm" and "Generic Winter Event". To me if road travel isn't seriously affected it isn't a major winter storm.

I beg to differ that the storm we are currently feeling the effects of is not "major." When I see nearly an inch of ice coating trees and power lines that fully qualifies in my book as "major."

I beg to differ that the storm we are currently feeling the effects of is not "major." When I see nearly an inch of ice coating trees and power lines that fully qualifies in my book as "major."What major effects has it had. Roads are great. Extremely limited power outages. Really next to no effect on OKC residents.

You're right....major icing events with 1.0"+ of QPF happen all the time. :/

The problem here seems to be how "major" events are determined. Today was not a major event. Nov. 21 & 22 was not a major event. The only thing close to a major event this year was the snow Thursday and Friday of two weeks ago. We have not had 4 major events this year. At least not in OKC. It's very vague what the NWS means by "Winter Storm" and "Generic Winter Event". To me if road travel isn't seriously affected it isn't a major winter storm.

That's why you don't set the criteria. :) Blizzards, Ice Storms, Winter Storms are all classified by measurable precip, winds or other conditions...not if the road is too slippery for you to drive on.

Was this ice storm major? Absolutely. Over an inch of ice in places...that is major by any measure. Was road traffic severely impacted? No really, but the NWS isn't the department of transportation and isn't setting criteria based on that. The NWS definitions for Blizzard, Winter Storm, and Ice Storm are very clear and I've posted it several times - in this thread even, I would recommend going back and re-reading (or reading, since you aren't familiar with them). The "Generic Winter Event" was my wording, not theirs, based on it including a mix of several low end reports in Cleveland County but had a bigger impact elsewhere.

As far as "we have not had 4 major events this year"...again, I'll take the honor of helping your memory out...

The other two were both in February of...this year, since it is still 2013. :)

Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=428886)


The second in a series of winter storms impacted portions of northern and western Oklahoma late on the 20th as a potent upper level storm moved across western Oklahoma. A narrow corridor of snowfalls greater than one foot occurred across northwest Oklahoma, with many surrounding areas measuring between 4 and 8 inches of snow. A few spots across southeast Oklahoma also saw heavy snow before the storm eventually ended.

Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=430251)


A strong winter storm system moved from west Texas into southern Oklahoma overnight on the 24th and lasted through the morning hours of the 26th. Very heavy snowfall occurred to the north and west of the upper low, mainly over parts of northwest Oklahoma. As surface low pressure strengthened over southern Oklahoma, very strong and gusty northwest winds developed, leading to blizzard conditions for several hours over much of western Oklahoma. Up to 18 inches of snow fell over parts of northern and western Oklahoma, with lesser amounts from southwest through north central and central Oklahoma. The winter storm gradually moved east through the day on the 24th and slowly exited the region by the morning of the 26th.

You're right....major icing events with 1.0"+ of QPF happen all the time. :/
I've been all over OKC today. Haven't seen anything more than .5 inches.And again, what really matters is the effect on being able to go about daily activities. This storm had nearly zero impact oin that area.

What major effects has it had. Roads are great. Extremely limited power outages. Really next to no effect on OKC residents.

Okay...so major storms are only those that impact OKC residents? /facepalm

I've been all over OKC today. Haven't seen anything more than .5 inches.And again, what really matters is the effect on being able to go about daily activities. This storm had nearly zero impact oin that area.

So does that mean you've been stopping everywhere with your ruler all day to measure the ice? :)

Of course you are only concerned with YOUR daily activities. Not everyone had the same experience. Did see the people on the news tonight who had trees fall into their homes making them unlivable?

The other two were both in February of...this year, since it is still 2013. :)


Let's take 2/21/2013 as an example. NWS has total snowfall as .8 inches for the 20 to 22 period. Less than inc of snow is a winter event. But not a major one.

Okay...so major storms are only those that impact OKC residents? /facepalm
Yes. If not then, as a parallel, every rain storm could be considered the same as a major tornado.

venture, are we talking to pp?

Let's take 2/21/2013 as an example. NWS has total snowfall as .8 inches for the 20 to 22 period. Less than inc of snow is a winter event. But not a major one.

Not a major one? It dropped over 8 inches of snow over NW OK. I never restricted this to just one county. I'm sorry I didn't make it clear enough for you to understand that.

Yes. If not then, as a parallel, every rain storm could be considered the same as a major tornado.

The rationality of this statement just makes it crystal clear on what you are doing. I'm not wasting anymore time dealing with stupid tonight.

So does that mean you've been stopping everywhere with your ruler all day to measure the ice? :)

Of course you are only concerned with YOUR daily activities. Not everyone had the same experience. Did see the people on the news tonight who had trees fall into their homes making them unlivable?

It's not difficult to eyeball the thickness of ice. And again, the instances of ice causing damage was few and far between. I feel for those affected but it wasn't a large number. Nothing like the ice storm 6 or so years ago.

The rationality of this statement just makes it crystal clear on what you are doing. I'm not wasting anymore time dealing with stupid tonight.
Nor am I.

It's not difficult to eyeball the thickness of ice. And again, the instances of ice causing damage was few and far between. I feel for those affected but it wasn't a large number. Nothing like the ice storm 6 or so years ago.

So glad you weren't affected and have good eyeballs. I don't think anyone claimed it was the same as the storm you are referencing. Not every ice storm has to equal that to be major. The amount of ice we received was certainly enough to have caused major problems if the wind had been higher. The wind will go up tomorrow so the worries are not over yet.

So glad you weren't affected and have good eyeballs. I don't think anyone claimed it was the same as the storm you are referencing. Not every ice storm has to equal that to be major.

It's amazing what having next to no wind will do. If we had 20+ mph winds it would have been a nightmare.

I'm sorry, I'm going to agree with SoonerSofttail on this. This storm was not major in any way. I know people all over the state and not one of them has had any power outage. The streets are just fine and even the bridges are in excellent shape. The only major storms I recall is the ice storm in 2007 and the blizzards in 2009 and 2010.

OKC rarely has major winter storms. I've been in major winter storms in Alaska and South Dakota, to say we regular winter storms is a joke.

Is a tornado not a tornado until it is an F5? Nope. There are degrees -- a gradient of severity. The minimum threshold for this description has already been provided to you. Relevant measurements from these events and with dates, have also been provided to you.

Why are you arguing with something that's not really arguable? If you don't like the scientific description and definition, then try to get it changed maybe? But you're just trolling otherwise. This isn't a thread to debate standard weather terminology.Comparing a tornado that has winds of 100-300MPH to a winter storm that just dumps massive amounts of snow and sometimes is accompanied by winds of 50-70MPH? Really!?

Nor am I.

I don't think you're dealing with stupid. Venture seems to know what he's talking about & is using quite a bit of rationality. You on the other hand….

I see a major storm as a storm that directly and heavily impacts people and their daily routines. This storm has done nothing of the sort nor do the majority of winter storms that hit here. This does not compare to tornados.

This is more comparable to a major flood, sometimes we get light rain storms, but every once in awhile we get a storm that dumps massive amounts of rain like the one in 2007.

Also, to keep my opinion understood, I suppose this is most likely just an opinion and nothing else. I agree that this was a significant ice storm, but I just don't see how it was major in any way.

If there is some sort of ratings system that (you) are using, Venture, than I'm not arguing against it, just expressing my own opinions. You are from the north, I know you have experienced "major" winter storms.

Comparing a tornado that has winds of 100-300MPH to a winter storm that just dumps massive amounts of snow and sometimes is accompanied by winds of 50-70MPH? Really!?
Have you even been in a major big time blizzard....?
They are actually fairly destructive and often over a very large area.

Also, to keep my opinion understood, I suppose this is most likely just an opinion and nothing else. I agree that this was a significant ice storm, but I just don't see how it was major in any way.

If there is some sort of ratings system that (you) are using, Venture, than I'm not arguing against it, just expressing my own opinions. You are from the north, I know you have experienced "major" winter storms.
This is interesting
Hazardous Weather Outlook:
Definitions of Hazard Levels and Their Associated Triggers
Hazardous Weather Outlook Definitions (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/?n=hwohazardlevel)

I think people are really trying to divide the words major and significant, when they are used interchangeably very easily when dealing with weather.

Major Hurricanes...cat 3 or higher are still major hurricanes even if they only mess with the fish.

Significant icing is still anything going over half an inch.

A severe weather Outbreak for someone could be 2 tornadoes and some hail reports, for us...it's Tuesday.

Major/Significant is going to be used to describe winter events based on the criteria set by the National Weather Service. If people disagree with that, then you can provide feedback to them.

Also the Feb 20/21st storm this year...was pretty tough for the SE Metro area...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/oun/wxevents/20130220/20130220_snowfall_totals.png

Have you even been in a major big time blizzard....?
They are actually fairly destructive and often over a very large area.I've been in 3 blizzards in Alaska, one of which dumped 8ft. of snow. Yeah, I've experienced intense blizzards. I was in one back in November of 2011 that had the strength of a category 2 hurricane and had waves and surges of over 10 feet high. I know how destructive they can be.

I stand by my point that comparing a tornado to a blizzard is stupid.

This is interesting
Hazardous Weather Outlook:
Definitions of Hazard Levels and Their Associated Triggers
Hazardous Weather Outlook Definitions (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/?n=hwohazardlevel)Cool. Again, I was never arguing against that.