City of OKC
Home MenuWinter Weather
Here's our interactive map of snow routes on Oklahoma City roads. Scroll down for a regional snow map with suburbs, and more winter weather tips from the Office of Emergency Management.
Regional Metro Snow Route Map (includes suburbs)
Winter weather that can affect Oklahoma City includes snow, blizzards, freezing rain and ice storms.
Make a Winter Storm Plan
Be prepared to shelter at home in case of severe weather.
Items for winter storms to add to your disaster kit include additional non-perishable food and water for one or two weeks, extra blankets, coats, gloves, winter hats, and water-resistant boots.
Put a disaster supply kit in your vehicle that includes blankets.
Keep your cellphone charged.
Open cabinet doors below sinks and let faucets drip if temperatures remain below freezing for a day or more. Call (405) 297-3334 if your pipes burst so City crews can shut off water to your home.
Make sure elderly family members, friends and neighbors are prepared for the storm, and check on them during and after the storm.
Get extra medication, oxygen or other medical supplies if it's possible you'll need a refill before the storm's effects are over.
Safely Use Alternative Heating Sources
Fires at home are common in the winter because of improper use of dangerous heating sources. Here are some tips from the Fire Department:
- Make sure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed in your home. Alarms should be installed inside each sleeping area, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test your smoke alarms monthly and install fresh batteries twice per year when the time changes.
- Space heaters need space. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn (furniture, bedding, curtains, etc.) Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Keep all combustible materials away from floor furnaces.
- Remove any combustibles from central heater closets.
- Use a metal grate to hold logs inside fireplaces. Use an approved metal or glass screen in front of fireplaces to prevent embers from flying out of the firebox and into the home.
- Ensure the fire in the fireplace is completely extinguished before going to bed.
- Have fireplaces inspected and/or cleaned annually by a qualified chimney sweep specialist.
- Do not place hot fireplace ashes into dumpsters. Place ashes into a sealed metal container and store well away from the home for several days before final disposal.
- Remember to open the damper before lighting the fireplace.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Use portable generators outside and well away from the home. Position so that fumes and deadly carbon monoxide will not enter the home through doors, windows, or vents.
Click here for more winter safety tips.
Animal Welfare
If it is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. Residents are required by City ordinance to protect their dogs when the temperature dips below 32 degrees. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
- A dog is still considered outside if it has access to an unheated doghouse or other unheated structure. If the structure has access to a heat source, the heat source can’t pose a danger to the pet. Vehicles are not considered adequate shelter.
- Towel dry your pet immediately after they come inside, paying attention to their paws and stomach.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
- Dog houses without insulation are not enough to protect dogs from hypothermia. Freezing drinking water also poses a risk to pets.
Winter Driving
If possible, avoid driving while streets are covered in ice and snow.
Have your vehicle winterized by a qualified mechanic.
Make sure your tires have adequate tread for the conditions.
Reduce speeds.
Fill up your gas tank.
Allow more time to slow down and stop.
Allow more space between you and the car in front of you.
Be sure to use your headlights so your car is visible during inclement weather.
Winter Weather Vehicle Emergency Preparedness Kit
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Jumper cables
- Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
- Compass and road maps
- Shovel
- Tire repair kit and pump
- Flares
- Extra clothing to keep dry and gloves
- Sack of sand or cat litter (for tire traction
- Tow rope
Regional Snow Routes
Sixteen cities, four counties and numerous state agencies in the OKC area cooperated to develop a comprehensive network of snow routes from Guthrie south to Lexington and Yukon east to Harrah. See OKC's regional snow routes on the map at the top of this page.
EMBARK'S Winter Weather Detours
Conditions can change quickly. If there is a significant accumulation of snow, ice or freezing rain, some buses will be put on detour and others may be canceled. It is possible that buses won't be able to serve parts of a route, if they become too dangerous to drive on. Before you leave, get the latest updates on delays and cancelations here: https://www.embarkok.com/bus/inclement-weather-riding-tips.
What are National Weather Service (NWS) terms to know for advisories about winter weather?
You can follow weather forecasts from the NWS, local television stations, radio, online news sources and smartphone apps (like the American Red Cross' all-inclusive Emergency App for Apple and Android) to keep track of the various advisories about winter weather.
A Winter Weather Advisory is issued when the forecast calls for a combination of winter weather like snow, freezing rain or sleet that will pose a hazard.
A Winter Storm Watch is usually issued at least 24 hours in advance when there's a potential for heavy snow or significant ice accumulations.
A Winter Storm Warning is issued when a storm is producing or forecast to produce heavy snow or significant ice accumulations.