Below Freezing Weather Proves Dangerous for Some

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  • Above: Flipped over car awaiting assistance from tow truck on road between Watonga and Kingfisher.
    Above: Flipped over car awaiting assistance from tow truck on road between Watonga and Kingfisher.
  • Right: Car flipped over in ditch after accident due to icy roads. (Photo provided by Reanna Goodnight)
    Right: Car flipped over in ditch after accident due to icy roads. (Photo provided by Reanna Goodnight)
  • Below Freezing Weather Proves Dangerous for Some
    Below Freezing Weather Proves Dangerous for Some
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With below-freezing temperatures across the state on Monday morning, the rest of the week continues to bring with it low temperatures for residents of Blaine County.

While temperatures at the start of the week reached below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, residents can expect more of the same through early next week, with temperatures reaching only in the teens during the day and approaching 0 overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Besides freezing temperatures, the chance of snow is in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service, with greatest chance of snow over the weekend.

On Monday, a freezing drizzle was present throughout parts of the states causing road conditions to be icy throughout. Cars across the state could be seen driving slower than usual as they attempted to reach their destinations.

Icy road conditions lead to accidents in Blaine County Monday, including one outside of Watonga that local resident Reanna Goodnight stumbled upon on her way to Kingfisher.

“We had to wait for a little bit. It didn’t look like anybody was hurt. There were no police, or ambulance, or anybody on the scene, it was just the tow truck,” Goodnight said. “It was so scary because the truck was flipped completely over, and it just shows how easily you can lose control when the weather conditions are unpredictable in Oklahoma.”

Many officials such as the Watonga Police Department and Geary Fire Department have warned residents of the dangers posed by these freezing weather conditions especially while traveling.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Monday reported 250 non-injury crashes, 130, injury crashes, 2 fatal crashes, and 115 motorist assists, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has suggested checking okroads.gov to find out the road conditions before traveling.