Oklahoma and Arkansas Brace for Bitter Arctic Blast as Wind Chills Plunge Below Zero Sunday Morning
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — Residents across Oklahoma and Arkansas are waking up to a deep freeze this Sunday morning as a powerful Arctic air mass drives wind chills below zero in parts of both states. The system marks one of the coldest mornings of the season so far, with “feels-like” temperatures plunging as low as -5°F in Springfield, Missouri, and near 0°F in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Arctic Air Slams the Southern Plains
According to data from High Tower Accounting & Tax’s weather update, the “Sunday Arctic Blast” is spreading across the Southern Plains, delivering bone-chilling conditions and prompting residents to layer up before venturing outside.
By sunrise, wind chills across Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Fayetteville hovered near 2°F to 3°F, while parts of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle felt as low as 7°F to 16°F. Even Dallas was not spared, recording a frigid 23°F “feels-like” temperature early Sunday.
“This air mass feels like someone opened the refrigerator door on the entire region,” one forecaster quipped, underscoring how sharply the temperature dropped overnight.
Residents Urged to Take Precautions
The National Weather Service offices in Norman and Tulsa have issued advisories urging residents to limit time outdoors and protect vulnerable pipes, pets, and plants. Prolonged exposure to wind chills near zero can cause frostbite on exposed skin in under 30 minutes.
Forecasters are also advising homeowners to drip faucets overnight, wrap outdoor pipes, and bring pets indoors until conditions moderate. “These are the kind of mornings where even a quick trip outside can catch you off guard,” meteorologists warned.
Travel Impacts and Cold Safety Concerns
Although skies remain mostly clear, the cold has caused slick patches on untreated roads and bridges. Drivers are urged to use caution, especially on rural and shaded routes that may have invisible ice.
The Arctic front responsible for the plunge originated in Canada and swept southward through the Central Plains, bringing single-digit and subzero wind chills to several states including Kansas, Missouri, and northern Texas.
Oklahoma and Arkansas are expected to remain under the influence of the cold air mass through Monday morning before temperatures begin to rebound.
Brief Relief Ahead
Meteorologists say the Arctic blast will be short-lived, with warmer temperatures returning by midweek. Highs are expected to climb back into the 40s and 50s across most of the region by Wednesday, ending the frigid spell that gripped the weekend.
Still, residents are advised not to underestimate the severity of Sunday’s cold, as wind chills remain dangerously low through midday.
Bundle up, limit time outdoors, and check on neighbors and elderly residents as Oklahoma and Arkansas endure a biting reminder that winter has truly arrived.
For continued weather coverage and local updates, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
