Winter Storm Oaklee path tracker LIVE – Warnings as weather radar forecasts snow & ice from West to Northeast this week

Three killed during Winter Storm Kenan

At least three people died while Winter Storm Kenan slammed the east coast in January.

The Weather Channel reported that an elderly man died after falling into a swimming pool while shoveling snow.

An elderly woman was found dead in her car in the parking lot of a Marriott hotel, according to Nassau County police.

And, as previously reported, SUNY college student Tyler Lopresti-Castro was found dead near the Silas Lane Bus Garage in New York by two city employees, according to the Oneonta Police Department.

Why joint pains can signal rain

Damp weather does seem to make joint pain and osteoarthritis worse. 

While there is no conclusive evidence to explain this, it may be due to pressure receptors (baroreceptors) in the joint sensing the drop in atmospheric pressure when the weather changes from dry to rainy. 

The level of fluid in the joint then fluctuates in response to these changes, which might trigger pain in the nerves.

High winds can reportedly trigger migraines

When it’s blowing a gale outside, the body can react as if it is under attack and produce so-called fight or flight reflexes, such as raised heart rate and heightened emotions.

And high winds can also trigger a migraine.

One reason is the effect on the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that monitors the body’s functions; it can lead to constriction or swelling of the blood vessels in the head which can cause the pain associated with migraine. 

Scientists at the University of Calgary in Canada looked at the links between migraine sufferers having an attack and the occurrence of Canadian ‘Chinook’ winds – warm westerly winds specific to Alberta, Canada, which have a definite onset time and are an indicator of profound weather change. 

Of 75 patients studied, 32 were more likely to have migraines during Chinook weather conditions than on days without them.

What happens during a cyclone?

It occurs when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars — A millibar measures atmospheric pressure — over 24 hours.

This can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.

An example is when chilly air moves over warm ocean waters.

The formation of this rapidly strengthening weather system is a process called bombogenesis, which creates what is known as a bomb cyclone.

How to prepare for a winter storm

Per Ready.gov, the best way to prepare for a winter storm is by doing the following:

• Make an emergency supply kit. Cleaning tools, two masks per person to avoid the spread of COVID-19, and non-perishable meals that can last many days or weeks in case you have to stay at home should all be included in your box.
• Make a communication strategy for your family.
• Assist parents with sprinkling sidewalks and pathways with rock salt, sand, or kitty litter. This aids in making them less slick.
• Make sure you’re dressed warmly and have enough of blankets on hand.
• Bring your dogs inside with you. They can also be harmed by the cold.

People make jokes about Oaklee

Users have taken to Twitter to talk about Winter Storm Oaklee.

One person wrote: “Winter storm Oaklee?! What millennial mom named this storm?!”

Someone else wrote: “Winter storm Oaklee kicking my a** rn.”

Midwest and Northeast affected

Winter Storm Oaklee is bringing snow to the Midwest and Northeast of the US through Friday, according to meteorologist Mike Bettes.

How winter storms cause deaths

Most who die from winter storms are not killed by the weather itself.

A majority of the deaths are traffic accidents on icy roads.

Some also die from heart attacks while shoveling snow, and hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold weather.

Winter storm names

These are the names the Weather Channel chose for winter storms during the 2021 to 2022 season:

• Atticus
• Bankston
• Carrie
• Delphine
• Elmer
• Frida
• Garrett
• Hatcher
• Izzy
• Jasper
• Kenan
• Landon
• Miles
• Nancy
• Oaklee
• Phyllis
• Quinlan
• Rachel
• Silas
• Tad
• Usher
• Vega
• Willow
• Xandy
• Yeager
• Zion

Biggest snowstorms of all time: ranked

According to How Stuff Works, the 10 biggest snowstorms of all time are:

• The Blizzard of 1888: Northeastern United States
• The Storm of the Century, 1993: Eastern United States
• New York City Blizzard of 2006
• Lhunze County, Tibet in 2008
• Mount Shasta, California in 1959
• The Eastern Canadian Blizzard of 1971: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
• The Iran Blizzard of 1972: Iran and Azerbaijan
• The Great Snow of 1717: New England
• The Buffalo Blizzard of 1977
• Snowmageddon of 2014: Atlanta

Biggest snowstorms of all time

The NESIS takes into account the fact that some of the deadliest storms feature little snowfalls that are blown out of sight by hurricane-force winds.

Some storms are more severe than others because they hit big cities or are so broad that they hit many cities.

Freezing rain in Arkansas and River Valley

Snow, sleet, and freezing rain are falling in Northwest Arkansas, while rain and freezing rain are falling in the River Valley.

Late Wednesday or early Thursday, there will be a little respite from the rain.

On Thursday morning, another round of precipitation will arrive, this time in the form of predominantly freezing showers and rain. It will linger until Thursday evening, with the system ending with pure rain.

Friday morning will be substantially cooler, with consequences for most routes, particularly untreated roads.

More flights canceled in Texas

On Wednesday, Southwest Airlines canceled 85 flights out of Love Field.

On Thursday, though, 19 departures have been canceled so far.

Southwest completely shut down operations at the airport during the early February storms, which resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations.

Hundreds of flights canceled in Texas

American Airlines has canceled over 500 flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) in Texas as winter storm Oaklee moves across the country.

An American Airlines spokesperson told the Dallas Morning News: “This week’s winter storm is expected to have a significant impact on our operation, especially in Dallas-Fort Worth.

“The vast majority of impacted flights have been canceled in advance so we could proactively notify and accommodate our customers and avoid last-minute disruptions at the airport.”

NWS Alert in Hanford

According to their post on Twitter on Tuesday, there were likely travel delays on Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass Wednesday morning.

How much ice should you expect?

Ice will accumulate in slicken driving in areas stretching from central and northern Texas to the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic states, per the Weather Channel.

Precipitation may shift to rain before finishing in certain sections of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic, reducing the risk of ice accumulation.

From far north-central Texas through eastern and southeastern Oklahoma, into northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, ice accumulations may affect electricity.

In the areas indicated in the “medium threat” on the map, from north Texas across the Ohio Valley to Pennsylvania, at least some tree damage and scattered power outages are expected.

How much snow should you expect?

According to the Weather Channel, Oaklee will produce at least a foot of snow over parts of the central and southern Rockies.

Oaklee will bring light to moderate snowfall accumulations to areas from central Oklahoma to southern and central Missouri, the northern Ohio Valley, and the southern Great Lakes.

From northern Pennsylvania through New York state and New England, heavier totals of at least 6 inches are expected.

It’s possible that a foot of snow may fall in some of these places, per the Weather Channel.

Oaklee on Friday

On Friday, according to the Weather Channel, the Northeast will be free of ice.

For the time being, the heaviest snowfall is forecast in far northern Pennsylvania, much of New York state, and eastern New England.

On the southern edge of the wintry mix, sleet or freezing rain will fall.

In the immediate New York City metro area, Friday’s precipitation is expected to be entirely rain. Parts of coastal southern New England may also get a wintry mix or showers.

Oaklee on Thursday, continued

On Thursday night, New York City might witness a period of heavy snow, followed by a changeover to sleet and ice, then rain.

Snow is expected to fall largely in the north and west of New England and upstate New York, with heavy snowfall possible at times.

All of these places are predicted to have hazardous travel conditions, per the Weather Channel.

Where is Oaklee headed on Thursday?

On Thursday, further freezing rain or sleet will move into the Ozarks and Ohio Valley from northern and central Texas.

From the middle Plains to the Great Lakes, snow is predicted to accumulate.

The storm of snow and ice will begin to creep into the Northeast by late Thursday or Thursday night.

Cold temperatures in Oklahoma, continued

Forecasters also are predicting frigid and heavy winds, with a wind chill as cold as 0ºF or below. 

The Oklahoma City metro area is not expected to see highs above freezing Wednesday through Friday. 

Cold temperatures in Oklahoma

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning was when the worst of the winter storm was predicted to hit.

Forecasters are still unsure how the cold front will affect travel conditions, but freezing precipitation is expected.

Oaklee on Wednesday, part three

Through the midnight hours, icy or snowy travel will affect areas from northern and central Texas through Oklahoma, northern and central Arkansas, central and southern Missouri, and the lower Ohio valley.

Oaklee on Wednesday, continued

Snow is forecast in sections of northern Arizona, Utah, and Colorado’s mountains, per the Weather Channel.

Lower elevations from California to southern Arizona will be dampened by rain showers.

Some of the rains may be accompanied by lightning and tiny hail or graupel, which might cause some regions to flood.

On Wednesday, the storm will move towards the central United States.

Oaklee on Wednesday

On Wednesday, Oaklee will bring snow to California’s higher altitudes as well as the southern and central Rockies.

This is Southern California’s coldest storm of the year, with snowfall possible at elevations as low as 1,500 feet.

This could cause considerable traffic congestion in the high country of Southern California, including the Grapevine, Interstate 15 north of the Inland Empire, and Interstate 8 through the San Diego County mountains, according to the Weather Channel.