Snow leads to school cancellations and slippery roads | News

Muskogee Public Schools will be closed Friday due to severe winter weather, a Facebook message said.

The Fort Gibson, Bragggs and Oktaha school districts will have virtual classes on Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning is in effect for the area until noon Friday.

About 3 to 6 inches of snow is expected Thursday evening, according to the AccuWeather website. Untreated surfaces are slippery. AccuWeather said Friday could reach above freezing with some snow accumulation.

Muskogee police responded to four weather-related accidents as of 3 p.m. Thursday, said Lynn Hamlin, police public information officer. She said that doesn’t count vehicles that were pulled out of the ditch or left the road.

Tyler Evans, emergency management director for the city of Muskogee, said the city got the sand and spreaders about a week and a half ago, “before the last snow scare.”

“Public Works has their brine ready, they’re going to treat the streets with it so it doesn’t stick as much,” Evans said. “They have plenty of sand on hand, as well as plows and spreaders.”

Muskogee County Emergency Management Director Jeff Smith said roads would become slippery and muddy, especially on elevated areas.

“It’s going to freeze overnight and we’re going to get more slippery spots in the morning,” Smith said.

“Depending on how much snow we get will determine how long it stays. The more traffic we have, the more snow-covered roads we will have, which will become slippery pretty quickly.”

Kingdom Living Church, on the southeast corner of 24th Street and West Broadway, will provide food and shelter through Saturday, Pastor Wilma Newton said. She said she welcomes anyone willing to provide meals or other items.

An information session about Tuesday’s public safety elections is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, said Laurel Havens, executive director of Muskogee County Emergency Management.

The Muskogee County Board of Elections will be open for early voting Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Board of Elections Secretary Kelly Beach.

The unveiling of the Bass Reeves statue is still scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Three Rivers Museum.