UPDATES
Sunday, Jan. 25
5 p.m
All other City facilities, including City Hall, Bartlesville Public Library and Bartlesville Area History Museum, will be open as normally scheduled.
9 a.m., 1 p.m.
City Public Works crews have been out overnight and continue to plow main arterial streets and clear bridges and intersections. They are beginning to apply sand to secondary streets and are plowing downtown streets for businesses as well. City crews will work around the clock for as long as necessary.
Bartlesville received an estimated six to seven inches of snow over the weekend. While the snow is moving out of the area, dangerously low temperatures will remain through at least Tuesday.
Saturday, Jan. 24
12:30 p.m.
Public Works Department crews continue working to clear streets.
“The main, primary streets are in pretty good shape,” said Streets Supervisor Jeff Beck. “We are still plowing and spreading sand where needed. We will begin working on secondary streets soon.”
The second wave of the storm is expected to hit the area later today, bringing several more inches of snow. Street crews will remain on the job throughout the weekend.
9 a.m.
Bartlesville Police Department is reporting at least one traffic accident as a result of road conditions. (No injuries were reported.) BPD has implemented Operation Slick Streets until further notice. https://www.cityofbartlesville.org/departments/police-department/file-report-traffic-accident/
8 a.m.
The first round of winter storms expected across northeast Oklahoma over the weekend has brought about two inches of snow to Bartlesville, reports indicate.
Public Works Department crews have been out plowing streets and clearing bridges and intersections since around 10 p.m. on Friday.
“Road conditions are stable at this time, though anyone driving should certainly use caution,” Streets Supervisor Jeff Beck said around 8 a.m. this morning. “We are working on main roads with light plowing as well as sanding bridges and clearing intersections. We will continue to work around the clock for as long as necessary.”
The following City facilities are closed today:
- Bartlesville Public Library
- Bartlesville Area History Museum
- Boots Hollow Golf Club (Will also be closed on Sunday, Jan. 25)
Friday, Jan. 23, noon
Trash trucks are running regular routes as normally scheduled today.
Heavy snow and dangerously cold temperatures are expected to hit the area beginning today into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service-Tulsa.
Two waves of storms are expected to bring 6-12 inches of snow north of I-40, though some reports indicate up to 20 inches is possible. Travel will be hazardous, and conditions are not expected to improve until early next week.
City of Bartlesville Public Works crews will begin clearing bridges and intersections as soon as conditions warrant, and crews will work around the clock in 12-hour shifts for as long as needed.
City Closures
The following facilities will close at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, and will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 24.
- Bartlesville Public Library
- Bartlesville Area History Museum
- Boots Hollow Golf Club (Will also be closed on Sunday, Jan. 25)
- City Hall (City Hall normally closes at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.)
Snow & ice removal
During snow and/or ice events, the Public Works Department applies a sand and salt mixture to city streets where needed, in accordance with the City’s Snow Removal Policy.
Priority is given to streets in the following order:
- Major arterial streets
- Collector streets
- Residential streets
The Public Works Department currently has seven trucks capable of snow plowing and sanding. These trucks are prepped by City staff well in advance — typically in November — for the upcoming season to ensure they are serviced and all equipment is in working order.
Some equipment, such as spreader boxes and snowplows, are detachable; therefore, these pieces of equipment remain detached so the trucks can be used for other work when the additional equipment is not needed.
The number of trucks and the equipment used during an event depends on the amount of accumulation. When minor accumulation is forecast, the trucks are equipped with sand boxes but not snow plows, as the plows can be dangerous to have on the truck if not needed, and only take about 10 minutes to attach if they are needed.
A minimum of two trucks are equipped and used during no or light accumulation. During major events, when significant accumulation is forecast, all seven trucks are utilized.
One staff member is on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week. During snow and/or ice events, the on-call staff member will determine how much additional assistance will be needed based on the severity of the event and call out other staff accordingly. During major events, crews will work 12-hour shifts for as long as needed.
See full Snow and Ice Removal Policy.
More information
For updates on City operations, follow City of Bartlesville GOV, Bartlesville Police Department, and City of Bartlesville.
For weather and additional updates, see Washington County Emergency Management and NWS-Tulsa.
B the Light warming shelter is open through Monday. Contact B the Light for more information.
For more information on the City’s snow and ice removal procedures and policies, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.