For the second time in less than a week, a wintry blast moved across the state bringing a mixture of sleet, freezing rain, ice and snow to much of Oklahoma.
By early Monday morning, most roads in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties had become slick and hazardous, but passable.
This time the winter storm was part of an arctic cold front which sent temperatures plunging into the 20s for highs and wind chills in the teens and single digits.
The second wave began in the area midmorning Tuesday with lighter precipitation that was ending in the afternoon. However, another round was expected to move in Wednesday with the precipitation being over early Thursday, forecasters were predicting.
Cody McDonell, Deputy Director of Lincoln County Emergency Management, said, “Roads are slick but passable,” as of early Monday afternoon. He said there was no word on any power outages.
On Tuesday, he reported no change in the roads and said his office hasn’t heard of any power outages.
Lincoln County District 3 Commissioner Lee Doolen, who is chairman of the commission, said the courthouse in Chandler was closed on Tuesday.
Pottawatomie County Emergency Management Director Chad Larman said on Tuesday, “The side roads are slick and hazardous, SH 9 is slick in spots.” He noted U.S. 177 was 99 percent clear and I-40 was 99 percent clear as well.
“We have one power outage in Shawnee, not a big outage, multiple minor collisions, nothing major,” he added.
Pottawatomie County District 1 Commissioner Melissa Dennis, who is chairperson of the commission, said the courthouse closed on Monday around 1:30 and remain closed on Tuesday.
School wise, Meeker School Supt. Jeff Pruitt said the school was closed Monday and Tuesday.
Supt. Alicia Ebers at White Rock said the school took one of its built-in snow days on Monday.“Due to continuing forecasts of freezing precipitation and the potential for dangerous roads, we will be using a snow day. Everyone stay safe and warm,” she noted.
“We built in four days, so we have two left, then we will need to use Fridays to make up days. Hopefully, we won’t get to that point, but we have them if we need them,” Ebers said.
Later Monday, she announced the school would take another snow day on Tuesday.
Dale, North Rock Creek, Wellston and Agra were all open on Monday, but Tuesday brought a different story.
North Rock Creek School Supt. Blake Moody said the school was closed Tuesday.
Dale School Supt. Will Jones said Dale schools were closed on Tuesday as well.
Wellston School Supt. Mike Franz announced his district was closing Tuesday too.
Agra School Supt. Jeff Kelly said, “If kids get picked up and do their work that is sent home they will not be counted absent.” He stated the school would close on Tuesday taking a traditional snow day.
Chandler was open on Monday but School Supt. Scott Baade said students were released beginning at 1 p.m. Baade said for Tuesday, Chandler was virtual-remote.
Prague, Stroud and McLoud were all virtual on Monday and Tuesday school officials confirmed.
Carney, too, was open on Monday but closed at noon.
Carney School Supt. Brian Keith said that district canceled classes for Tuesday. He said Tuesday night’s basketball game against Agra was moved to Thursday.
A school official at Davenport said the classes were in session Monday morning, but let out at 12:30 p.m. and the school was closed on Tuesday.