Wintry weather arrives early in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahomans are grabbing their overcoats and mittens after a cold blast of wintry weather pushed temperatures below freezing across much of the state.

Forecasters say temperatures were mostly in the 20s and 30s Tuesday morning. In Oklahoma City, where Monday’s high temperature was 80 degrees, the low Tuesday morning was 30 degrees – a 50-degree drop.

Meteorologist Vivek Mahale (muh-HOLLY’) with the National Weather Service in Norman says temperatures will be below average for the remainder of the week. Highs will only reach the 30s on Wednesday and Thursday and there is a chance of snow beginning Saturday night.

Oklahoma City Deputy Fire Chief Mark Woodard says wind gusts of almost 50 mph hampered firefighters as they battled a residential blaze early Tuesday morning. No one was injured.