Updated 6:30 a.m.
Most central Oklahoma schools have canceled classes Tuesday due to continuing icy conditions, including Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, El Reno and Deer Creek Public Schools.
Several area universities have also delayed their openings.
OU Alert: OU Norman campus opening at 10AM Tuesday, Feb. 24
— Univ. of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) February 23, 2015
Blue Alert:Due to inclement weather, the main campus and law school will now open at noon Feb. 24. Go to http://t.co/wGUBMaekSJ for updates.
— Oklahoma City Univ. (@OKCU) February 24, 2015
Non-essential state services have also been reduced Tuesday morning.
Due to inclement weather, state agencies may temporarily reduce non-essential services until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 http://t.co/h0srTd5ZVu
— OK.gov (@okgov) February 24, 2015
Updated 5:22 p.m.
Edmond Public Schools, El Reno Public Schools, and Deer Creek Public Schools have canceled Tuesday classes.
Updated 12:12 p.m.
Schools are closing across the region as more snow falls across Central and Northwest Oklahoma. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for much of the area.
Oklahoma City Public Schools announced Monday afternoon they would dismiss the high schools early, but elementary and middle schools would be dismissed as normal.
To ensure bus pick-ups for middle & elementary school students are on time, OKCPS high schools will dismiss 25 minutes early today at 2:00pm
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) February 23, 2015
The University of Oklahoma announced it would close the Norman campus this afternoon and thru the evening.
OU Alert: OU's Norman Campus will close today at 1:30 pm due to the continued deterioration of the weather. It will remained closed tonight.
— Univ. of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) February 23, 2015
Norman Public Schools says all student activities, practices and performances are cancelled this afternoon and evening.
Norman Forecast Office meteorologist Marc Austin says bands of sleet and snow will continue to fall in central and southern parts of the state through the day.
"Most of the precipitation that falls along and north of Interstate 40 will be snow," Austin says. "When you get south of I-40, down toward the Arbuckles, Pauls Valley, Ada, areas south of there, it's mostly going to be sleet and snow. The precipitation will probably slowly taper off through late Monday."
The Oklahoma City metro could see anywhere from a dusting to two inches of snow. Further south, along that line extending from Altus through Lawton, Ardmore and Ada up to three inches are possible. Austin says roads are slick and hazardous, especially on bridge, overpasses and non-treated surfaces.
"Things are already pretty bad between Pauls Valley and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex along I-35 and other major highways south and east of there," Austin says. "Conditions are not going to get any better, there are a lot of wrecks out there, so do not travel in these areas."
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is treating roads with salt and sand throughout the region, and crews in Oklahoma City are treating metro roads as necessary, but so far snow is mainly blowing across roadways.
To check the current road conditions in Oklahoma, the Department of Public Safety has set up a hotline at (888) 425-2385.
Out-of-state road conditions:
- Arkansas: (800) 245-1672
- Colorado: (303) 639-1111
- Kansas: (866) 511-5368
- Missouri: (888) 275-6636
- New Mexico: (800) 432-4269
- Texas: (800) 452-9292
Most schools in the Ada area are closed today. The Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until noon for Northwest Oklahoma. It expires at 6 p.m. for the metro.
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