Posted on 12/24/2009 8:47:46 PM PST by Star Traveler
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: December 24, 2009
Blizzard-like conditions and wrecks prompted state authorities to close all interstate highways in Oklahoma City along with the H.E. Bailey and Turner turnpikes.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed Oklahoma City interstates about 2:30 p.m. Troopers had previously closed eastbound Interstate 40 at U.S. 81 in El Reno.
The H.E. Bailey Turnpike, which is the portion of Interstate 44 extending southwest from Newcastle to the Texas state line, is closed because of the weather, the patrol reported.
The Turner Turnpike, which is the portion of I-44 extending northeast from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, is also closed because of the weather, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Jack Damrill said.
Military vehicles are being dispatched to H.E. Bailey Turnpike to pick up stranded motorists, Damrill said.
It's unknown how many motorists may be stranded on the turnpikes.
"We've got a couple troopers stranded," Damrill said.
Officials have not estimated when the roadways will reopen.
Troopers have reported numerous weather-related wrecks across the state because of today's storm.
December 25, 2009 -- Updated 0015 GMT (0815 HKT)
(CNN) -- Oklahoma's governor ordered every state highway, interstate and turnpike closed Thursday night, hours after declaring a statewide emergency because of a major winter storm battering the state and the rest of the central U.S.
"I am urging all Oklahomans to take winter storm precautions and stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary," Gov. Brad Henry said earlier in the day after declaring a state of emergency. "This is a very serious winter storm, and we want Oklahomans to stay safe."
Heavy snow and limited visibility has left treacherous road conditions in Oklahoma on Christmas Eve, snarling holiday travel, according to CNN affiliate KOCO-TV.
In Midwest City, Oklahoma, nearly 50 vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction accident, the station reported. The quickly accumulating snow also caused the roof collapse of a well-known, landmark furniture store in Oklahoma City, officials told KOCO-TV
Mom has 8” and can’t make it anywhere.
Oh, and Merry Christmas from California.
Here in Wisconsin we get 10 inches and we slow down to 55 on the freeway.
All I can say is wow, last time we had a road closure was a couple of weeks ago, had 3-5 feet of drifting snow on the highway just east of me.
All I can say is wow, last time we had a road closure was a couple of weeks ago, had 3-5 feet of drifting snow on the highway just east of me. Of course thats kinda normal here in Alaska.
Well, I’m hoping with all the roads closed, my brother has an uneventful shift at the hospital. He works third shift X-Ray tech.
We’re getting hammered here in KC.
wow.
Pray for everyone’s health and safety this Christmas.
Here in South Dakota we are stopped til the winds die down. Snow plows off the roads tonight til about 5 or so in the morning if the wind calms.
I do remember years ago when a cousin living in Oklahoma City worked for the city when they got a five incher and they were in a world of hurt because that is not common, and they do not have the equipment to deal with it.
I have been in South Dakota and I assume you live east of the Missouri. I can only imagine the blowing and drifting you get. Here we have hills and a ton of trees that block most of the high winds that come with most blizzards.
Here in Wisconsin we get 10 inches and we slow down to 55 on the freeway.
Well, one year I remember leaving out of Denver one early morning (picked up a passenger there and was heading back to Portland, Oregon). The snow started early in Denver and people were already sliding off the roads there.
It was a girl I was taking back to college and the mother said I should put on chains, but I was having none of that (at least not yet, but I had them ready to go if I needed them).
Two passes over the Rockies were already closed and I headed on up to Cheyenne and then over. By the time I got through Cheyenne, the Interstate had closed down a couple of time and then opened back up again, but I kept right on going. This was a monster storm and was shutting down everything in the Midwest.
I was determined to get out of Wyoming before state shut down the Interstate for good for a day or more, so there was no stopping for me... LOL...
But, the visibility was getting really bad and I couldn't see far enough ahead to see any lines in the road or even traffic up ahead. And to make sure I was still on the road, I opened the driver's door about a foot or so, and then positioned the car over the white line that divided the two lanes so I could see it right below the door opening. And so I kept going that way for a long ways, so I could stay on the road and not drive off it, because you couldn't see where the road was.
Then I saw a car coming up behind me and when he got along side of me, I saw it was a Volkswagen Bug, and when his plates passed by my door, I could see that he was from Alaska, so I thought I would to keep him in sight, by the very faint red glow you could see ahead. If the a car got more than a few car lengths ahead, though -- the red glow of the tail-lights would disappear and then you would have nothing again... :-)
Anyway, I made it out of Wyoming and right after I did, they shut down the roads there for about two days and everyone who was on them was stuck wherever they were.
At least I got out of there... LOL...
So, around here, even though the roads are closed down, it's nothing for me to drive around on them. I would have loads of fun... :-)
It’s gonna be a fun white Christmas... :-)
We’re getting hammered here in KC.
I can imagine you are. We're on the bottom end of this big storm and it's that bad as it is. You're in the middle of it... hoo-boy! :-)
With everyone off the roads, it should definitely cut down on the accidents...
Mom has 8” and can’t make it anywhere.
- - - - - - -
We only have about 4” but are expecting up to about 12” by tomorrow night.
On Blizzard WARNING until Saturday. All the churches here and in the surrounding towns canceled Christmas eve services.
Haven’t checked road closures but I am not planning on going anywhere for the next few days.
Merry Christmas to you!
This is the worst one day storm in OK in recorded history dating back to 1889. You are correct we don’t have the equipment. Usually if we get any snow it is a couple of inches that melts right away or we get an accumulation over several days but this state has never had a blizzard like this one.
Christmas at our house is being delayed by a day to Saturday. No sense in my kids trying to make it across town as Main Street in Norman is even in bad shape.
Norman Transcript just notified everyone that the paper is printed but delivery will be delayed until roads are cleared.
My drift on the sidewalk from blowing snow off the roof has grown by 6 inches in the last hour and snow has stopped as the storm is moving east and north out of the metro. The winds seem to by dying down some now.
To think about 10 days ago they said our chance of snow was zero for Christmas and the nutcases want us to rely on predictions of Global Warming. This storm changed from a winter storm warning to a blizzard in a matter of an hour as the winds whipped up and snow increased. People are stranded all over the place in Central Oklahoma. From the video cams on the local news I-35 looks like a parking lot in some places.
To think it was 62 degrees when I went out yesterday morning and it is 21 degrees now and we just had a blizzard.
I grew up in Wisconsin, but have been in Texas for many years now. It's very different here. When the temp drops, it is usually already raining, then it turns to snow, but underneath the dusting of snow is a sheet of ice like a skating rink. I don't care where you grew up. My friends and I used to think it was fun to do donuts on snowy roads. Not the same on this stuff!
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