It’s normal for the temperatures to drop a lot in October in the Northern Hemisphere. The month often starts out sunny and leaves a frosty trail by the end. But, some Octobers hit just a little different. A recent (and very steep) drop in temperatures combined with a storm of snow and rain in Oklahoma recently made for a spectacular and harsh display of Mother Nature’s power.
Beginning on October 26th a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures covered parts of Oklahoma in ice. One result of this sudden storm was that flowers and plants that were comfortably thriving only a day before were suddenly encased in glistening, crystal-like sheets of ice.
With the colorful plants trapped underneath the ice, the effect was like something out of a Tim Burton film: both beautiful and eerie at the same time.
Mother Nature is a beautiful artist sometimes.
Posted by Meteorologist Damon Lane on Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The phenomenon was captured by all kinds of amateur photographers who posted their incredible photos to social media. If you’ve ever lived through a very early and very sudden ice storm then you may have seen these trapped-under-ice plants yourself.
Leaf ice. That’s a new one. 📷 courtesy Julie Thomas
Posted by Meteorologist Michael Armstrong on Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The weight of the snow and ice on tree branches, while pretty, was also the cause of widespread power loss and fires caused by downed power lines and damaged transformers. More than 300,000 people were left without power. A statement issued by the Public Service Company of Oklahoma said that, “Additional weight on tree limbs caused by ice accumulating on leaves has resulted in severe tree damage and limbs coming into contact with energized lines.”
Oklahoma Governor, Kevin Stitt, issued a declaration of emergency for 47 counties on the first day of the storm. Since then the ice has been melting and crews have restored power to the majority of their customers. It’s a reminder of just how quickly winter storms can change everything.
Texas and Kansas were also affected by the storm, though Oklahoma bore the brunt of the freezing rain.
You can see dramatic clips of the power line and tree damage in Oklahoma in the video below.