Oklahoma is dealing with a major winter storm this weekend. Heavy snow has already fallen in many areas of the state.

Greatest snow accumulations (8" or higher) is expected across northern and central Oklahoma with lower amounts possible across areas to the south. These snow amounts include sleet accumulations of 2" or more across portions of south central and southern Oklahoma and western north Texas. The heaviest ice is expected from western north Texas into southern Oklahoma with totals up to 1/10 of an inch.

Much colder air along with breezy winds could lead to dangerously cold wind chills through the weekend and into early next week. Some locations could also go at least 48 hours without the actual air temperature climbing above freezing, especially across northern Oklahoma. The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.

The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma National Guard, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and others.

The Governor has authorized the deployment of Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams, to include Oklahoma National Guard members and equipment. Seven teams, operating under the direction of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, consist of eight Guardsmen each, utilizing Humvees, wreckers, and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles.

These teams are based in Ardmore, Durant, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Vinita, Weatherford, and Woodward. The teams are collaborating with local first responders as well as Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to aid stranded motorists and assist residents in the hardest hit areas. Oklahoma Highway Patrol are removing stranded vehicles from along highway shoulders to ensure the roadway is open and clear during the storm.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation crews continue to plow snow and treat slick and hazardous conditions across much of the state, including the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas.

Crews in the Northern and Eastern portions of the state continue to address snow packed highways mostly north of I-40 with icier conditions reported south of I-40. Highways should be considered slick and hazardous mainly statewide with slick spots and slick elevated surfaces being reported in the Panhandle and far Southwestern counties.

I-35 is slick and hazardous from the Texas state line to the Kansas state line, with ice reported in Southern counties and more snow-packed from the Oklahoma City metro to the north. I-40 is slick and snow packed from the Texas state line to the Arkansas state line.

Travel statewide is strongly discouraged. Staying off the interstates and highways will allow crews to better clear snow and treat icy conditions.

If travel is absolutely necessary, stay informed, slow down and allow extra following distance. Drivers should keep at least 200 feet behind road clearing trucks - think four school buses or two basketball court lengths. Trucks can engage clearing equipment at any time. Don't pass the plows.

Transportation crews will continue winter weather operations until roads are clear, even after the storm has stopped. See images from ODOT snow plows at OKSnowplows.org.

Stranded motorists can request help by calling 911. Personnel from Oklahoma National Guard and Oklahoma Highway Patrol will arrive to help. They will transport the stranded motorist to a nearby warming center where American Red Cross staff and volunteers will be on site to assist.

City of Tulsa street crews have been plowing and applying salt to Tulsa's main roads all night and will continue throughout the duration of the upcoming snow event. Crews are now working to plow Tulsa's main roads in groups to clear more lanes and intersections. Salt trucks are following behind the plows to allow for additional snow melt.

Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City has canceled all flights as a result of the storm. Arrivals and departures are scheduled to start back on Sunday.

Most flights at Tulsa International Airport have also been canceled.

OG&E says restoration personnel and materials were staged Friday in preparation for extreme weather. Crews are ready to respond, and should outages occur, they will restore power to customers as quickly and safely as possible.  OG&E has mobilized approximately 1,000 personnel for this event, with 400 of those in southern Oklahoma.

PSO has approximately 1,100 line workers, forestry personnel and support staff strategically placed and ready to respond should outages occur. The utility company says they have secured more than 250 line workers to complement the readiness of their existing team members and have requested an additional 550 line workers through our mutual assistance network

The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army have been supporting shelter operations and feeding in locations across the state, in coordination with local emergency management agencies. More than 100 shelters and warming stations are open or on standby across the state.