Live OKC winter storm, school closures updates: Wednesday school closings announced

After a mostly quiet night weather wise, Oklahoma was expected to receive a second wave of ice and sleet starting around daybreak Tuesday morning.

Heavy sleet and freezing rain was spreading across south-central and southeastern Oklahoma early Tuesday morning. Meteorologists expect light freezing rain and sleet to arrive in the Oklahoma City metro again between 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and snow is possible along and north of I-40.

Between Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Oklahoma City and surrounding communities could see trace amounts and up to a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation from freezing rain, while southern Oklahoma could see up to three quarters of an inch of ice. Sleet totals could be up to a quarter of an inch in central Oklahoma and half an inch in the southern part of the state.

More:St. Paul's Cathedral opens doors to unsheltered as Oklahoma faces freezing temps

Temperatures in central Oklahoma will range from the mid-teens to the low twenties.

The severe winter storm ― which began spreading across the central United States late Sunday and is likely to persist through Thursday ― is being fueled by arctic air sweeping south mixing with a surge of moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico. 

The expected icy precipitation Tuesday follows a Monday morning of freezing rain that already rendered roads slick and hazardous, shut down schools and universities and caused flight cancelations. Numerous counties remain under winter storm warnings or weather advisories until Wednesday.

The Oklahoman will be providing live weather updates throughout the day. Check back to this article often for the latest developments.

OKCPS, metro schools announce closings ahead of Wednesday

With further winter conditions expected Wednesday, various schools in the metro area also announced they would shift online or cancel classes outright on Feb. 1.

The list includes, but is not limited to:

• Oklahoma City Public Schools. Officials announced Wednesday would be a snow day for students. No in-person classes will be held, and students will not be required to log in or complete work remotely from home that day. All activities Wednesday have been canceled.
• Mid-Del Public Schools. The school district is continuing classes remotely Wednesday. Daytime classes and activities at its technology center are canceled.
• Shawnee Public Schools. Officials announced classes Wednesday would continue through distance learning "for the safety of students and staff." Students will be expected to log in to their Seesaw or Canvas accounts and complete assignments.
• The University of Central Oklahoma. Officials said the Edmond university is canceling classes and activities completely on Wednesday.
• University of Oklahoma. OU announced it would continue Wednesday classes online for its Norman campus and its facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The university also told students and staff to be prepared for the possibility of remote work Thursday as well.

Multiple other schools in the metro area were considering whether or not to cancel classes Wednesday. Officials recommend parents contact individual schools for what plans were being made for Wednesday and Thursday.

- Jessie Christopher Smith

Thundersleet hits OKC, lull in precipitation expected early Tuesday afternoon

The cold snap will continue in the metro area through Tuesday, with a lull in precipitation in the early afternoon, forecasters said. 

“Most of the sleet we had earlier is pushing off to the east, with some light freezing drizzle across central Oklahoma in the next hour or so,” Forrest Mitchell, observations program leader at the National Weather Service in Norman, said. 

Mitchell said Oklahomans may see sunlight early Wednesday. 

However, clouds will move in, with freezing rain and sleet starting in the afternoon and continuing throughout the day. 

And yes, that was thundersleet many Oklahomans in the metro experienced early Monday, Mitchell said. 

Mitchell said the phenomenon is similar to thunderstorms, but when surface temperatures are freezing like on Monday, the precipitation turns to sleet. 

“What we experienced doesn’t happen all the time, but it has happened in the past,” Mitchell said. “It is possible for that to occur in this part of the country in the winter.”

- Josh Dulaney

Heavy sleet falls over central Oklahoma, OKC metro

A 10 a.m. radar update from the National Weather Service in Norman showed pockets of heavy sleet across central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City metro.

Meteorologists warned road conditions could change rapidly in small areas due to the scattered nature of precipitation.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation offers the following safety tips when driving in this winter weather:

The department gave drivers the following safety tips going into Monday evening:

• Use caution on elevated surfaces, drive slow and leave early to allow extra travel time
• Look out for "black ice"
• Stay 200 feet behind, and do not pass road clearing equipment
• Stay further behind other vehicles in case of braking

- Jana Hayes

How are the roads in OKC? Check Oklahoma road conditions

As wintry precipitation continues across south and central Oklahoma Tuesday morning, roads will be affected by Monday and Tuesday's weather.

For those preparing to drive, or for those trying to decide whether they should drive at all, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has an interactive map where Oklahomans can check road conditions.

- Jana Hayes

Oklahoma City school closings during winter weather

Worsening weather conditions in the metro area mean closures will continue Tuesday for several schools. Some will transition to virtual learning. Known closures include, but are not limited to:

• Putnam City Schools. Officials announced Tuesday will be a snow day. No school.
• Mustang Public Schools. Officials announced Tuesday will be a snow day. No school.
• Oklahoma City Public Schools. Officials announced students will learn from home Tuesday by logging into Canvas or by completing work sent home from school. 
• Moore Public Schools. Officials announced students will have a virtual learning day. Students will receive more information from their schools. 
• Edmond Public Schools. Officials said Tuesday is a remote learning day.
• University of Central Oklahoma. All offices will be closed and all classes are canceled.

The University of Oklahoma announced its Norman campus would transition to online and encourage remote work through Tuesday. 

OU officials told students and employees to prepare for the possibility of online classes and remote work Wednesday as well.

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City also announced online classes and remote work through Tuesday. OU officials told students and employees to prepare for the possibility of online classes and remote work Wednesday as well.

Many other schools and school districts might be closed, and parents are encouraged to check with their kids' individual schools for further details.

- Josh Dulaney