What’s Happening Outside?
Oklahomans woke up today to a winter wonderland—or, depending on your perspective, a frozen nightmare. A significant snowstorm hit the state, bringing icy roads, brutal wind chills, and just enough snow to make everything miserable but not quite fun.
I’ll be honest—I tried to go into work this morning. I really did. But after spinning out twice before even leaving my neighborhood and watching a truck clip the back of a car right in front of me, I figured I’d take the hint. Before I even got onto the highway, I did a nice little 180-degree turn—this time on purpose—and went right back home.
As of this evening, February 18, Oklahoma City is dealing with:
- 8°F (-14°C) temperatures, with even colder wind chills.
- 2-4 cm of snow, though some areas have higher drifts thanks to the wind.
- Roads that look deceptively fine until you try to stop and realize you’re now an ice skater.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is basically begging people to stay home, and for good reason. Cars are getting stuck, sliding into ditches, and generally proving that we are not built for this kind of thing.
Extreme Cold Alert: Freeze-Your-Face-Off Conditions
This isn’t just a “grab a coat” kind of cold—it’s a “frostbite in under 30 minutes” kind of cold. The extreme cold warning is in effect until Thursday, with wind chills dropping as low as -15 to -30. If you must go outside, bundle up.
Safety Tips:
- Dress in layers—not just for style, but for survival.
- Avoid unnecessary travel (especially if you’ve already spun out twice like me).
- Check on your pets, pipes, and people—nobody should be out in this.
Schools & Roads: The Shutdown Begins
Most schools in the OKC metro have already called it quits for tomorrow, February 19, switching to virtual learning or full closures. City crews are working on the roads, but salt and sand can only do so much when it’s this cold.
Pro tip: If you thought about going to the store today for “just a few things,” you were either very brave or very foolish. The parking lots alone are a demolition derby in slow motion.
A Little History: How Bad Is This?
While today’s storm is a mess, it’s not the worst we’ve ever seen. The record daily snowfall in Oklahoma City was 13.5 inches on December 24, 2009—a blizzard that stranded people in their cars on Christmas Eve. At least today, we’re not stuck in a gas station trying to make a holiday dinner out of beef jerky and energy drinks.
Looking Ahead: Warmer Days Are Coming (Eventually)
If you can survive the next few days, things will start looking up:
- Wednesday (Feb 19): High of 13°F, low of 0°F—pretty much miserable.
- Thursday (Feb 20): High of 21°F, low of 5°F—still miserable, but slightly less painful.
- Friday (Feb 21): High of 31°F, low of 20°F—finally above freezing in some places.
- Saturday (Feb 22): High in the 50s—aka, “shorts and t-shirt weather” for Oklahomans.
Stay Warm & Stay Home
Unless you’re a die-hard winter enthusiast, there’s no reason to be out in this mess. Stay home, drink something warm, and wait for the ice to melt. If you do have to go out, drive slow, bundle up, and for the love of all things good—don’t trust the roads, even if they “look fine.”
After all, I tried that this morning. It didn’t end well.
