The Oklahoma City metro area saw the whitest Christmas on record thanks to a Blizzard on Christmas Eve 2009.
Over a foot of snow was recorded at the airport, with a peak
wind gust of 62 mph during the event. The storm set a record for the most snow in a 24-hr. period, as well
as from a single storm. Sleet began falling in OKC by the beginning of rush hour,
and changed to snow by late morning. By early afternoon, heavy snow was falling with visibilities at
the airport of 0.06 mi. during most of the afternoon. The heaviest band dropped an incredible 4" of snow
in only an hour! All interstates in the state were shut down
around 2:30 pm CST, and remained closed until late Christmas morning. Hundreds, if not thousands, of holiday travelers
were stranded on the highways.
The National Guard was activated to rescue the stranded and take them to shelters. It was an absolutely
unreal scene for this part of the country.
I took Dylan out to play around 2:00 pm CST as blizzard conditions were underway in Midwest City. After
a brief time, we went inside to warm up and Kellie made us snow ice-cream. I have to admit I was antsy with
such a rare storm underway. I mounted the video camera on the dashboard and took off just before 3:00 pm. I made
a loop around MWC until the tape ran out an hour later. I saw cars stuck on every road I drove on. A car was
even abandoned after it ran into my yard that evening. The car was retrieved before I woke up on
Christmas morning, so I never saw who the driver was. On Christmas afternoon, we finally made the rounds to my in-laws.
Hundreds of abandoned cars still littered the road. At sunset, we let Dylan sled at Grammy's house.
Links and pictures from the blizzard and aftermath are posted below.
South view across my street as 4"/hr band moves through. 2:37pm CST.
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My front yard from the street. 2:51pm.
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East view of a stop sign, which is 3 houses down on my street. 2:51pm.
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The playground at MWC Regional Park. 3:40pm.
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Tinker AFB water towers at I-40. 3:58pm.
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East view down SE 29th and I-40 at Tinker AFB. 4:06pm.
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SW view of Tinker AFB plane display at I-40 and Air Depot Blvd. 4:06pm.
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Fully extended US Flag at Air Depot and I-40. 4:08pm.
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Vehicle stuck just north of NE 10th and Air Depot. 4:20pm.
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Dylan and I on our back porch. 4:53pm.
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Dylan was excited for the chance to make a snow angel. 4:53pm.
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Dylan's swing set. 4:54pm.
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Dylan helps with the snow ice-cream. 4:59pm.
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My front door view at 5:29pm.
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Cardinals and other birds on the fence vines Christmas morning.
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My chase vehicle and drifts at 12:32pm Christmas Day.
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We dug out the chase vehicle and headed to relatives Christmas afternoon.
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Winds were so strong they blew snow into my door.
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Front yard view of my house Christmas afternoon.
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Abandoned vehicles still litter the intersection at Reno and Sooner Rd.
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The Canadian (or Oklahoma) River at I-35 bridge.
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Grandma's frozen goldfish pond.
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Grammy's fish pond, half covered by a drift (behind the tree).
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Me, standing in a drift at Grammy's.
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