As Sapulpa prepares for its occasional “snowmeggedon” storm due to hit the region this evening, all the usual events are in the works: grocery stores are getting bare, people are stocking up on generators, snow shovels and ice melt, and digging out their chili and soup recipes as we prepare for a storm that will last through the weekend and the effects of which we’ll feel at least well into next week, if not longer.
What To Expect
A winter storm timeline released by the National Weather Service on Friday morning gives a good indication of what to expect: they say the precipitation will arrive this afternoon, ramp up in intensity this evening, and we should wake up to snowfall and still falling.
Most meteorologists agree that the lull we’ll experience on Saturday afternoon will essentially be a second system that should run through Saturday night and into Sunday. Expect churches to cancel services.
By some reports, we could see as much as a foot of snow. South of Sapulpa will also see an accumulation of sleet and frozen rain, but so far, the majority of Creek County will avoid the bulk of that; we should see some sleet, but not as much as other parts of the state.
Expect the Cold to Stick Around
The extreme cold advisory that’s already in place is expected to last through the weekend and into the first part of next week, as temperatures won’t reach above 41 and will usually stay in the 30s to upper-20s.
Warming Station Available
Shoulder 2 Shoulder is offering a warming station at their location at 1133 E James Avenue in Sapulpa. They’ll be open from 7 PM on January 23rd to 7 AM on January 26th. They are asking for donations and volunteers to help accommodate the need during this storm. Get more details and learn how to help on their Facebook Page.
Animal Shelter Providing Crates, Shelters
Sapulpa Animal Shelter was providing cat shelters, dog crates and straw to help pet owners weather the storm. As of this writing, they’ve run out of the cat shelters, but still have other options available.
“No salt, please”
The City of Sapulpa is asking business owners in the downtown district not to salt their sidewalks, especially the portions that are part of the new Dewey Streetscape. As Lucy explained this morning, concrete takes a long time to cure, and though the street is open to all traffic, the process has not ended. They are asking that business owners instead use sand, kitty litter, and ice melt, to help pretreat or melt the snow without the sodium flouride that will break down concrete and brick over time. See the full explanation in today’s Timeloop show.
The City of Sapulpa says that snow plows are standing by and will work 12-hour shifts to keep the main streets plowed throughout this storm. See more City Updates here.
Trash May Get Delayed Saturday
Waste Management has updated the public with the news that they started their Friday trash routes early, so those who have their trash dropped on Friday should not see a delay, but on Saturday they’ll be switching to prioritize commercial trash, which means some residential neighborhoods could see a delay in getting their trash picked up on Saturday, or that it may not happen at all.
Eagle Point Out at Noon, Sapulpa Yet to Decide
Eagle Point Christian Academy announced yesterday that it would be letting its students out at noon on Friday. Sapulpa Public Schools has issued a statement saying they are “closely monitoring the situation.” They instructed students to bundle up for Friday, and will make further announcements over the weekend about classes next week.
