A winter storm sweeping across much of the United States over the weekend brought snow, sleet and bitter cold to McIntosh County, covering the community in a rare winter blanket and keeping crews busy as residents slowed their pace and stayed close to home.
Five to seven inches of snow, sleet and mixed precipitation fell across McIntosh County. The combination of snow, ice and prolonged below-freezing temperatures created slick roads and challenging travel conditions, particularly during the early hours of the storm.
City crews moved quickly as icing began, salting and clearing streets throughout the weekend to keep roadways as safe as possible.
“I think we were fortunate that it happened over the weekend, when many people were able to stay home and not travel to work,” Eufaula City Manager Jacob Foos said. Foos said the city is already looking ahead to future winter weather.
“The proposed budget for the upcoming year will look at additional solutions for snow clearing,” Foos said. “We purchased the current snowplow and sand/salt spreader in 2021, and want to continue improving our ability to respond to severe weather events like this.”
County crews were also out throughout the weekend, plowing, salting and sanding county roads, hills and major intersections as conditions allowed.
Officials reminded residents to use caution on roadways during the cold temperatures, encouraged checking on neighbors and as always reminded everyone to bring pets indoors during extreme cold.
Temperatures remained well below freezing for much of the weekend, with daytime highs struggling to climb and overnight lows dropping into the single digits. The extended cold allowed ice to linger on roads and shaded areas even after snowfall slowed.
Despite the cold, the timing of the storm helped limit disruptions. With schools and many workplaces already closed for the weekend. Children bundled up to play in the snow, while some families stayed warm indoors, taking in a winter scene that doesn’t come around often in eastern Oklahoma.
