Preliminary Information for the
December 2007 Ice Storm

A devastating ice storm cut off power to over one million people, and brought widespread damage and auto accidents to a large part of Oklahoma and surrounding states on December 8-11, 2007. Freezing rain accumulated on trees and power lines, bringing the lines down and leaving around 600,000 homes and businesses without electricity. Officials say it will several days to restore power to everyone. Hundreds of auto accidents were reported on ice slick roadways. The ice storm was the result of persistent widespread rain that fell into a shallow layer of below freezing air. This allowed the rain to freeze upon contact with exposed objects.

Some facts...
• Forecasters at WFO Norman had been monitoring the possibility of a significant winter storm for more than a week. NWS Norman provided daily heads-up information to emergency management officials and other decision makers beginning on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.
• NWS Norman conducted telephone and internet-based weather briefings for emergency management and public safety agencies on Thursday, December 6, and Friday, December 7, 2007 to help them prepare to deal with the impending storm.
• NWS Norman issued the first Winter Storm Watch at 11:21 AM CST, Friday, December 7th, more than 40 hours before the ice storm began.
• Throughout the event, forecasters used WFO Norman's Enhanced Web Page to provide a continuous flow of critical weather information, including forecasts of precipitation types and critical temperatures, forecast ice accumulations and safety guidelines.