Norman, OK – As of 6 AM Thursday morning, January 22, the winter storm expected to impact western Oklahoma is coming into clearer focus, with some important changes to timing and impacts.

The biggest change is that the storm is slower. That delay means the most significant snow does not arrive until Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and into early Sunday. Because of that slower pace, there is now a larger window for sleet and ice before the heavy snow begins.

Friday is not a major snow day. Instead, it will be cold, windy, and increasingly icy. Light freezing drizzle is possible Friday morning, which could create a few slick spots on roads. As the day goes on, freezing drizzle and sleet become more widespread and heavier, and road conditions are expected to deteriorate. Ice and sleet Friday afternoon and evening will likely cause more travel problems than snow.

Sleet has become the biggest concern in the latest forecast. A warm layer of air a few thousand feet above the ground is favoring sleet, especially south of I-40. That means less snow in those areas, but potentially significant sleet accumulation. Sleet can be especially dangerous for travel, and enough could fall to create major traffic issues.

Snow does arrive in waves. Some light snow is possible late Friday night into early Saturday, but the main event comes with a second, much stronger wave. Saturday morning may still feature sleet in spots, and parts of western Oklahoma could even see several dry hours during the day. By late Saturday afternoon and evening, precipitation turns heavy and is expected to fall mostly as snow. Heavy snow continues through Saturday night and into early Sunday before tapering off around midday Sunday.

Total accumulations are still subject to change. More sleet means lower snow totals, and if the storm track continues to shift north, snow amounts will decrease while sleet totals increase. Current trends suggest the heaviest snow north of I-40, with lighter snow and more sleet to the south. Ice remains a concern, especially farther southeast, where freezing rain could weigh down power lines and tree limbs and lead to power outages.

Cold will be a major factor throughout this event. Arctic air arrives late Thursday night, with temperatures dropping into the teens and 20s by Friday morning. Wind chills will fall into the single digits and at times 10 to 20 degrees below zero. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for more than 100 hours, lasting into early next week.

In short, expect worsening travel conditions beginning Friday, the most significant snow late Saturday into Sunday, and dangerously cold conditions through at least Tuesday morning. Forecast details will continue to fluctuate as the storm gets closer, so staying updated is critical.

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