UPDATED: 6:20 am Friday CST -- OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE -- A record 14.1" of snow fell in Oklahoma City Thursday, as Oklahomans, emergency crews, news reporters and everyone stood in awe of Mother Nature's ferocious winter power. Thursday's snowfall was the largest total ever in state history for any storm.
Conditions across Oklahoma developed into highly dangerous winter conditions Thursday. During Thursday afternoon, over a foot of snow and drifts as high as five feet in many parts of the state were occurring, including the metro OKC area. The Oklahoma Governor's office has issued a State of Emergency declaration for all 77 Oklahoma counties. At Will Rogers International Airport, 12 inches of snow had fallen by 6:00pm. An unofficial count had the total at 14 inches as well. For December, today's snowfall total was an all-time record for Oklahoma.
I-40 eastbound and the H.E. Bailey turnpike were closed, and all major interstates in and out of the metro Oklahoma City were closed off completely by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation as of 3:34pm. Life-threatening conditions were being reported all over the western part of the state, where numerous multi-vehicle accidents left many motorists fighting just to seek shelter in Siberia-like blizzard conditions.
On I-40 near Hudiburg Drive near Midwest City, up to 50 cars were involved in a huge multi-car wreck, according to the OHP. As darkness fell and drivers continued to have issues driving to their destinations, the 4Warn storm team advised those who were inside and warm to stay where they were and not try to travel anywhere. KFOR-TV photojournalist Marc Dillard, a 15-year storm chasing veteran in Oklahoma, became stranded in his 4WD vehicle and thankfully was taken in for the night by a viewer on the west side of the metro area.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was highly discouraging any travel throughout the state, as blizzard conditions were making travel extremely dangerous, and in many cases, life-threatening. The OHP suggested those tied up in their cars to NOT leave to try and get help. The blizzard conditions could overwhelm and incapacitate in a manner of minutes. Wind gusts from 10:00am Thursday morning to late afternoon never wavered from 45mph to 60mph.
Visibility is extremely limited throughout more than half the state, including Oklahoma City. The sleet, snow, and fierce blowing winds are expecting to leave the state by midnight on Christmas Eve, but have already left a complete path of destruction through much of Oklahoma as of Thursday afternoon.
Stay tuned to NewsChannel 4 for continuing coverage, and check www.4warn.com throughout the weekend for regular updates on the recovery from this massive storm. On Christmas Day, the snow will have ceased across the state, but strong winds will continue to blow all day and temperatures won't venture over 26 degrees. Travel will be very dangerous Christmas Day as well even though snow will no longer continue to fall.
Conditions across Oklahoma developed into highly dangerous winter conditions Thursday. During Thursday afternoon, over a foot of snow and drifts as high as five feet in many parts of the state were occurring, including the metro OKC area. The Oklahoma Governor's office has issued a State of Emergency declaration for all 77 Oklahoma counties. At Will Rogers International Airport, 12 inches of snow had fallen by 6:00pm. An unofficial count had the total at 14 inches as well. For December, today's snowfall total was an all-time record for Oklahoma.
I-40 eastbound and the H.E. Bailey turnpike were closed, and all major interstates in and out of the metro Oklahoma City were closed off completely by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation as of 3:34pm. Life-threatening conditions were being reported all over the western part of the state, where numerous multi-vehicle accidents left many motorists fighting just to seek shelter in Siberia-like blizzard conditions.
On I-40 near Hudiburg Drive near Midwest City, up to 50 cars were involved in a huge multi-car wreck, according to the OHP. As darkness fell and drivers continued to have issues driving to their destinations, the 4Warn storm team advised those who were inside and warm to stay where they were and not try to travel anywhere. KFOR-TV photojournalist Marc Dillard, a 15-year storm chasing veteran in Oklahoma, became stranded in his 4WD vehicle and thankfully was taken in for the night by a viewer on the west side of the metro area.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was highly discouraging any travel throughout the state, as blizzard conditions were making travel extremely dangerous, and in many cases, life-threatening. The OHP suggested those tied up in their cars to NOT leave to try and get help. The blizzard conditions could overwhelm and incapacitate in a manner of minutes. Wind gusts from 10:00am Thursday morning to late afternoon never wavered from 45mph to 60mph.
Visibility is extremely limited throughout more than half the state, including Oklahoma City. The sleet, snow, and fierce blowing winds are expecting to leave the state by midnight on Christmas Eve, but have already left a complete path of destruction through much of Oklahoma as of Thursday afternoon.
Stay tuned to NewsChannel 4 for continuing coverage, and check www.4warn.com throughout the weekend for regular updates on the recovery from this massive storm. On Christmas Day, the snow will have ceased across the state, but strong winds will continue to blow all day and temperatures won't venture over 26 degrees. Travel will be very dangerous Christmas Day as well even though snow will no longer continue to fall.
