Cold weather advisory in effect for Oklahoma; weekend storm to bring temperature drop

A cold weather advisory is in effect for northern Oklahoma this morning, with wind chills as low as -5°F, while a weekend storm system is expected to bring gusty winds, a sharp temperature drop, and a chance for light precipitation. Meteorologist Alan Crone has the latest details.

Thursday, February 13th 2025, 6:14 am

By: News On 6


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Your News On 6 weather experts are monitoring the latest data to keep you safe and informed.

The deep freeze has settled over Oklahoma, and it’s not letting go anytime soon. Wind chills are near zero, temperatures are in the teens, and Tulsa is set for an extended stretch below freezing.

What to Expect in Tulsa

☀️ Thursday: Bright but Brutally Cold
  1. 🌡️ Highs struggle to reach freezing (30-32°F).
  2. 💨 Breezy winds keep wind chills in the single digits.
📅 Friday: Warmer… Slightly
  1. 🌤️ Morning sun, highs in the 40s.
  2. 🌧️ Drizzle possible by afternoon.
📅 Saturday: A Weather Rollercoaster
  1. 🌡️ Morning temps surge to near 60°F.
  2. 💨 Cold front drops temperatures sharply by afternoon.
  3. ❄️ Another arctic blast returns by Sunday.


A Blustery and Cold Morning Underway

A cold weather advisory is in effect for parts of northern Oklahoma for the next several hours. Wind chill values will range from 5 above to 5 below in the advisory area.

Thursday forecast

Surface temperatures have dropped into the upper single digits and lower teens as a ridge of high pressure builds from southern Kansas into parts of northern Oklahoma.

Afternoon highs will remain in the upper 20s across extreme northern Oklahoma and in the lower 30s along the I-44 corridor.

Thursday highs

Southeastern Oklahoma should see temperatures reach the lower to mid-30s today.

A few clouds may pass through the region early this morning with a few snow flurries. Locations along and south of some of the larger lakes in northern OK may also experience some minor lake effect snow flurries.

Otherwise, we’ll see mostly sunny skies today along with a light north breeze by this afternoon. 

Do We Have A Weekend Storm System?

Yes, we do. A fast-developing system will bring additional weather impacts to our region this weekend. Gusty south winds at 15 to 30 mph are likely on Friday, with morning lows starting in the lower 20s and daytime highs reaching the upper 40s in the north and lower 50s in the south.

Friday highs

Low-level moisture will quickly move into far southeastern Oklahoma late Friday evening into early Saturday morning.

A few showers or thunderstorms are possible along and east of Highway 69 and south of the I-40 corridor late Friday night. Most, if not all, of this activity will remain southeast of our immediate Tulsa area on Friday night. 

Friday night rain chances

On Saturday, a strong cold front will quickly develop and move across parts of northern Oklahoma by midday to early afternoon. Saturday morning through midday, temperatures will rise into the mid-50s before the front passes, bringing much colder weather on Saturday evening.

Saturday rain chances

This will result in falling temperatures by the afternoon. Depending on the exact location, most areas will experience temperatures in the mid-30s by late Saturday afternoon, dropping to the 20s by Saturday evening.

Saturday Precip Chances

Precipitation chances on Saturday will be limited but we’ll include a mention of some showers as the front approaches the area. This dynamic system may bring a dry slot across most of the area on Saturday midday, with colder air filtering in behind the departing system.

Any leftover moisture will change from rain to snow late Saturday night. Current data supports this probability across extreme southeastern Kansas and southern Missouri.

The probability of impactful winter weather should be very low for Saturday night. We will continue to keep low probabilities in the forecast for this scenario in case the trajectory changes.

Much colder weather returns Sunday with morning lows in the teens and highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

4-day rain chances

Next Week’s Storm System

Another strong storm system is likely to develop early next week, and the pattern will repeat itself. Gusty south winds and slightly warmer weather will return Monday before the upper trough and surface cold front moves across the area Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Another surge of arctic air is likely to arrive with this system, and precipitation will be possible, even likely based on a consensus of data.

This could be an impactful winter system for part of the region. Temperatures behind the departing system will be much colder for the middle of next week.

———

Winter Weather Preparation:

Where are the warming shelters available in Tulsa this year?

The city of Tulsa, local shelters, warming stations, and outreach teams are working to ensure access to safe, warm spaces during the cold temperatures.

>>> City of Tulsa prepares for extreme cold temperatures

>>> Warming Shelters Open Across Tulsa Amid Freezing Temperatures

Tulsa shelters and temporary warming locations are open to provide refuge. Major locations include:

  1. John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne — Open 24/7
  2. The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. — Open 24/7
  3. Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. — Open 24/7 (Pets allowed, limited capacity)

>>> Center Of Hope Expands Services During Freezing Temperatures

Temporary overflow shelters will also be open for the cold weather:

  1. The Merchant: 605 S. Peoria Ave., open Monday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–Noon; Tuesday-Friday, 9–11 a.m.
  2. Denver Avenue Station: 319 S. Denver Ave., open Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, 5:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
  3. The Station at Youth Services: 311 S. Madison Ave., open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  4. Iron Gate: 501 W. Archer St., open daily, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
  5. The Ministry Center: 312 S. 33rd W. Ave., open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

For a full list of warming station locations and hours, visit Housing Solutions’ Winter Weather Information Page.

>>> Warming Shelters, Safety Tips For Cold Temperatures This Winter In Oklahoma

>>> Tulsa Clinic Offers Health Care Services At Warming Shelters

Bring Pets Inside!

Winter temperatures can pose additional challenges for pets, particularly older animals or those with health conditions. Hartfield recommends:

  1. Wellness Checks: Ensure pets are up to date on vaccines and discuss arthritis or other cold-weather health concerns with a veterinarian.
  2. Outdoor Time: Monitor the duration of outdoor activities, especially for short-haired breeds or pets with conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
  3. Paw Care: After walks, inspect and clean paws to remove ice or de-icing chemicals that could harm your pet.

>>> Cold Weather Pet Tips: How To Keep Animals Safe During Winter Months

How Can I Protect Myself From Sickness Or The Flu This Winter?

The Tulsa Health Department is urging residents to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent respiratory illnesses as Oklahoma enters the coldest months of the year.

>>> What You Can Do For Your Kids To Prevent The Flu Amid Rise In Cases

  1. Health experts say the risk of respiratory illnesses is higher during the winter, as colder weather often leads to more indoor gatherings, increasing the likelihood of viruses spreading. 
  2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Oklahoma is one of 11 states with very high respiratory virus activity, and with flu vaccination rates lower than this time in 2024, more people have reported getting sick.

>>> How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Illness This Winter

>>> Districts Are Cautiously Optimistic As Attendance Rate Begin To Rise

>>> 3 Things Doctors Want You To Know About The Flu In Oklahoma

Emergency Info: Outages Across Oklahoma:

Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric cooperatives, many of which have overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.

>>> Tulsa HVAC, Plumbing Companies Flooded With Calls During Cold Weather

  1. PSO Outage Map
  2. OG&E Outage Map
  3. VVEC Outage Map
  4. Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
  5. Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map — (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0dCHRWMFjs4fEPKLqTLjvy

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/oklahoma-news-from-kotv-news-on-6-in-tulsa-oklahoma/id1499556141

Follow the News On 6 Meteorologists on Facebook!

  1. Meteorologist Travis Meyer
  2. Meteorologist Stacia Knight
  3. Meteorologist Alan Crone
  4. Meteorologist Stephen Nehrenz
  5. Meteorologist Aaron Reeves
  6. Meteorologist Megan Gold

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