City of Tulsa Prepared for Winter Weather Ahead of 2025-2026 Winter Season

11/12/2025

With the 2025-2026 winter season upon us, the City of Tulsa has geared up preparations in case Tulsa receives some early winter weather. The Public Works Department is watching weather forecasts and conditions to be ready for whenever the first winter storm comes, and for other storms that may occur this season. 

Snow & Ice Response
The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway (except for the Turnpike section), L.L. Tisdale Expressway and all arterial (main) streets. Other highway segments in Tulsa are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

After a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible. These resources are available to attain this goal:

• 66 trucks mounted with salt spreaders
• Of the 66 trucks with spreaders, 63 have mounted snowplows.
• Trucks, mounted with plows that have Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application when appropriate
• 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows
• Motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 9,000 tons of salt and still receiving material
• Salt brine mixing systems with 54,200 gallons of salt brine
• Tanks with 3,000 gallons of 32% Calcium Chloride to use with brine

Crews are assigned to 36 specific routes totaling approximately 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts. Once the main streets are cleared and conditions permit, selected residential streets may be treated based on traffic and steepness.

During winter weather response, the first focus is to clear city arterial streets for emergency responders. After arterial streets are clear, the second focus then moves to residential or collector streets near hospitals, schools and areas with steep hills. The following link includes every map and route the City uses for arterial streets, collector streets, schools and steep hills: www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness.

Winter Weather Shelter
The City of Tulsa is gearing up for the launch of the Tulsa’s first Inclement Weather Shelter opening next week on November 17 in partnership with BeHeard Movement and CREOKs Behavioral Health Services. The shelter, which will be open for adults, will stay open through March.

Within the facility, CREOKS and BeHeard will utilize the back portion of the building for congregant sleeping rooms, meals, and meeting spaces. The shelter will begin with 50-60 beds and expand to serve 125 people, with capacity increasing to 250 during extreme weather emergencies.

The shelter will offer case management, behavioral health therapy, peer support, housing and employment navigation, pharmacy delivery and medical services. It will operate in coordination with Tulsa's existing shelter network, providing additional beds and capacity to ensure individuals have a safe place to stay during severe weather.

For more information about the citywide effort to end street homelessness, visit cityoftulsa.org/SafeMove.