Meteorologists Double-Down on the Oklahoma Deep Freeze Forecast

If you're new to Oklahoma, you're about to get a crash course in arctic weather on the plains.

While January is traditionally cold in the Sooner State, the deep freeze doesn't usually hit us until February... and even then, only in the years February doesn't heat up to the mid-90s, but the cold is coming on quickly in 2024.

@maxvelocitywx Polar Vortex Will Unleash VERY COLD AIR To United States Soon? #fyp #cold #polarvortex #arcticblast #coldweather #weather #snow #winterstorm #snowstorm #storm ♬ original sound - Max Velocity

Will snow and ice come with it?

While the temperature forecast is apparently easier to establish this far out, the potential for winter weather isn't. As of now, there is a chance for snow and ice across most of the state, but that's bound to change and become more localized to fewer areas as the forecast grows closer.

Is snow and ice totally possible widespread? Absolutely.

The boundary between the cold Arctic air and moist Gulf air is going to fall across Oklahoma. Just as there is a chance of thunderstorms across the state today (Jan 8, 2024), there are even higher odds the skies could open up and dump any amount of liquids and solids on us starting this coming weekend.

How cold are we talking?

As of right now, it doesn't look like this is going to be the deepest trough of Arctic air we've seen in the past. Some parts of the state are going to get irritatingly cold, but others are on par to set new cold temperature records.

It all depends on where you live in the state.

From the National Weather Service:

Colder air will move into the area late this week. Lows will be in
the teens across northern and western Oklahoma as early as Friday
morning, with lows in the single digits and teens throughout
Oklahoma and north Texas on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Morning wind chill values between ten below and ten above will be
widespread on these mornings.

The panhandle and Northern/Northwest portions of the state are going to get it the worst. The I-44 corridor from OKC to Tulsa will get a fair share of cold. Southwest and Southern Oklahoma will have a day or two of really cold overnight lows, and the Southeast portion of the state looks like it'll get the lightest conditions like normal.

@wxwithpeyton Arctic Air comes south. Feels like -30, -20, -10 etc #weather #weatheraware #prepare #arcticair #arcticblast #polarvortex #cold #climatechange #texaspowergrid #coldtemp #coldtemperatures #belowaverage #belowfreezing #belowzero #windchill #feelslike #feelslikewinter #texasicestorm ♬ original sound - peyton⚡️

Do we need to grab milk and bread?

Aside from your normal grocery orders, probably not. We're talking cold, not brutal blizzards or ice storms. Just a chance at a little here today/gone tomorrow precipitation.

While the forecast will likely change a bit between now and then, it could swing either way. It might be worse, it might be better. Like everything weather-related in Oklahoma, you won't know until you can stick your head out the window and look for yourself.