Oklahoma City snowstorm of the century

[Andrew4OU]

14 inches of snow reported at Will Rogers... DEFINITELY a winter storm of the century... if not ever.

[Spartan]

Decade..not century.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I disagree with calling it a "blizzard".

I've been in a blizzard, and this aint it.

Still pretty kickass though. I'm loving it.

[windowphobe]

Well, NewsOK had a KnowIt item up earlier, and they report that 11.3 inches fell on March 19, 1924.

I don't have any problem with calling it "century."

http://downloads.newsok.com/knowit/okcsnowfall.pdf

[soonerguru]

I disagree with calling it a "blizzard".

I've been in a blizzard, and this aint it.

Still pretty kickass though. I'm loving it.

The hundreds of people stuck in snow drifts across the state disagree with you.

On Channel 4, one of the reporters said he grew up in Minnesota and went to college in Iowa and said this is the worst blizzard he's ever seen.

I imagine if you were out driving in the 60 MPH WINDS, with 2 INCHES OF SNOW PER HOUR, you might have a different perspective.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I was out driving in it. In a 2wd pickup and no extra weight in the bed. When people get stuck in snow drifts so large, they can't open the doors and windows, and people don't even find the cars for 3 days because the drifts swallow them whole...That's a blizzard (to me, the actual definition probably is a bit more vague). I've been in Minnesota in January, I lived in Colorado for three years, I know what big snow is and I've experienced real cold weather. Hell, I've been in the water with nothing more than shorts on both north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle (I don't advise doing this by the way, it's quite painful).

I'm not trying to marginalize the people that get into trouble in this, but the only reason it's dangerous is because people don't know what to do. And that's terrible and I feel for them. But the collective jazz hands of the weather people in this state never ceases to amaze me.

*waves hands*

"ZOMGWTFBBQ!!!! IT'S A BLIZZARD!!!! STOCK UP ON CANNED GOODS!!! zZOOMG!!!!"

It's not THAT bad. Just bad for here and people aren't used to it.

[jbrown84]

I know someone who was stuck in his car for hours trying to get home. Ultimately had to get a ride to a hotel.

Another friend is a paramedic and had 20 calls today--at least one death--and was covered in blood at one point.

Kinda puts things in perspective. All our family plans were called off tonight and everybody is stuck inside.

[Platemaker]

Decade..not century.

It's the most snow we've had in a day since record keeping.... so OVER a century.

[wsucougz]

Not quite first. Been discussed for quite some time now.

Dammit. My reputation is destroyed.

[Spartan]

There have been 17 inch snowstorms in OKC before.

That aint nothin in a lot of places..

[Larry OKC]

While we may have gotten more snow from a storm (over a multiple day period) this IS the most OKC has EVER gotten in a single day.

[OKCisOK4me]

I was out driving in it. In a 2wd pickup and no extra weight in the bed. When people get stuck in snow drifts so large, they can't open the doors and windows, and people don't even find the cars for 3 days because the drifts swallow them whole...That's a blizzard (to me, the actual definition probably is a bit more vague). I've been in Minnesota in January, I lived in Colorado for three years, I know what big snow is and I've experienced real cold weather. Hell, I've been in the water with nothing more than shorts on both north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle (I don't advise doing this by the way, it's quite painful).

I'm not trying to marginalize the people that get into trouble in this, but the only reason it's dangerous is because people don't know what to do. And that's terrible and I feel for them. But the collective jazz hands of the weather people in this state never ceases to amaze me.

*waves hands*

"ZOMGWTFBBQ!!!! IT'S A BLIZZARD!!!! STOCK UP ON CANNED GOODS!!! zZOOMG!!!!"

It's not THAT bad. Just bad for here and people aren't used to it.

There are technically only three requirements for a storm to be considered a blizzard: a) Rate of Snowfall b) Windspeed c) Visibility.

So you've experienced crazier blizzards, but today was still a blizzard, by definition.

There have been 17 inch snowstorms in OKC before.

That aint nothin in a lot of places..

Yes, when I was 5 years old in 1983 (I believe it was), I remember playing in the snow and it was a thick heavy snow, at least two feet deep on the ground! I think that was a two day snow. Hella wicked...

But on average, I think central Oklahoma gets something like 6.5 inches of snow annually, if not less. The last time I saw a crazy amount like this was my freshman year of high school in March of 1994. OKC had 13 inches of snow that day and then the next day it was 60 degrees--obviously not going to happen tomorrow!

[metro]

Considering I'm home for the break from school in Calgary..I just don't see what the big deal is.

I think I'm gonna go put some shorts on and a hockey t-shirt and go get some food at Braum's.

If anyone wants to come with me send me a PM. Other than that be safe and Merry Christmas y'all.

I guess your tough then. OKC's new shock jock Spartan, soon to be filling in for Mark Shannon.

[nik4411]

ha ha @ metro.

[nik4411]

I'm trying to get my girlfriend over here to fort smith from Norman...can anyone tell me how the interstates are? any good websites that keep updated on the road conditions? she wouldn't leave until tomorrow so I'm hoping they will be OK.

[village idiot]

To CHECK THE CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS, call the Department of Public Safety's Road Conditions Hotline at 888-425-2385.

OUT OF STATE ROAD CONDITIONS

Arkansas: 800-245-1672

Colorado: 303-639-1111

Kansas: 866-511-5368

Missouri: 800-222-6400

New Mexico: 800-432-4269

Texas 800-452-9292

[jbrown84]

It's like the Rapture.

[Lauri101]

It's like the Rapture.

Or hell freezing over?

[nik4411]

thanks village idiot.

[Urbanized]

I'm sorry; 14 inches was a BS number, at least in central OKC. I have seen at least one storm in OKC leave far more snow on the ground. 1988 left more than a foot as an even layer. It was far more dramatic accumulation. This snow, thanks to the wind, left lots of bare spots, and I have yet to see a drift of much over two feet or so.

I would guess the actual accumulation downtown at about six inches. They said last night on the weather that they get accumulation numbers from random measurements and then sampling. I'm guessing "random measurements" means running from snowdrift to snow drift. With that wind, there is no way to get an accurate average. Don't get me wrong; six inches is enough to bring this city to its knees, and it obviously did, after getting out and driving around a bit today.

I think with the ridiculous wind you could make an argument that it was a historic-type snowSTORM, but there is no way those accumulation numbers are accurate. I've seen it several times growing up in Kansas, or at least 14" over several days' time, and it doesn't look anything like what we have outside right now. Ask someone who has actually SEEN 14" of snow in 24 hours and I'm betting they will tell you the same.

[soonerguru]

I'm sorry; 14 inches was a BS number, at least in central OKC. I have seen at least one storm in OKC leave far more snow on the ground. 1988 left more than a foot as an even layer. It was far more dramatic accumulation. This snow, thanks to the wind, left lots of bare spots, and I have yet to see a drift of much over two feet or so.

I would guess the actual accumulation downtown at about six inches. They said last night on the weather that they get accumulation numbers from random measurements and then sampling. I'm guessing "random measurements" means running from snowdrift to snow drift. With that wind, there is no way to get an accurate average. Don't get me wrong; six inches is enough to bring this city to its knees, and it obviously did, after getting out and driving around a bit today.

I think with the ridiculous wind you could make an argument that it was a historic-type snowSTORM, but there is no way those accumulation numbers are accurate. I've seen it several times growing up in Kansas, or at least 14" over several days' time, and it doesn't look anything like what we have outside right now. Ask someone who has actually SEEN 14" of snow in 24 hours and I'm betting they will tell you the same.

Urbanized,

My wife thought similarly to you until she actually went outside. We had every bit of 14 inches in our yard on the west side of town. Not sure about downtown.

[nik4411]

so, from personal experience, how is I-35 and I-40? are they cleared of snow and ice? have they been sanded and salted? will they be ok tomorrow?

[Lauri101]

We had drifts over 5 feet tall on south side of our house. That being said - the wind caused those, obviously.

I'm a bit skeptical of the 14 inches, but it was easily 7" or so in OSM of Midwest City. Still can't get out of driveway after hour or so of shoveling. Got enough cleared to let sun work tomorrow. At least we have electricity and internet/cable/etc.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I bet we got 6-8 inches here in Choctaw...That seems to be the most common depth.

But I've got a 5' tall drift on the east side of my house...I know it's that tall because pretty much just my head was just poking out of the top of it when I stood up inside it (I'm about 5'11" tall)

It was also a PITA to dig out the AC fan thingy...By the way...You heater doesn't work so well when that thing is buried under a drift. It was 66 in the house this morning.

[FritterGirl]

We live in SW Edmond / N Oklahoma City. Experienced about the same as others. Probably only about 7"-9" of straight accumulation, but very hefty drifts.

I got caught out in it yesterday afternoon, and had to abandon my car. Thankfully, I was at a gas station, and not on the road.

We finally dug me out about noon today, after getting some salt melt to help de-ice the areas under the tires and get me some traction.

Had to cancel Christmas dinner with parents and in-laws, so will reschdule for Sunday afternoon.

Hope everyone is safe.