TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The Oklahoma City region received its first significant snowfall of the year during the overnight hours of Jan. 5-6. Due to hazardous road conditions the base authorized delayed reporting for employees and liberal leave for non-essential personnel.
“Working with the Tinker Severe Weather Working Group, I directed late reporting procedures be implemented to ensure people could make it here safely, as that’s one of my top priorities,” said Col. Stephanie Wilson, 72nd Air Base Wing commander. “I’m proud of our team as we worked through the event and kept the airfield open and operating. Importantly, this allowed maintenance operations for our Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex partners to continue, as required.
“Basic and emergency functions for the base also continued without fail,” Colonel Wilson stressed. “Security Forces and fire/rescue were fully manned and ready to respond, as required.”
Robert Kroupa, 72nd Operations Support Squadron weather flight forecaster, said the base was not caught off guard. “We began briefing the potential for a snow event at the beginning of the week,” he said. “We stayed in direct contact with Colonel Wilson and the 552nd Air Control Wing leadership to ensure they had the information they needed to ensure the base was prepared.” The 552nd ACW is an Air Combat Command unit which flies the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and has worldwide commitments to support combatant commanders.
“We focused our efforts to our primary runway following snow removal priorities with the airfield remaining open throughout the long weekend,” said David Jones, 72nd OSS assistant airfield manager. Tinker’s strategic location in the middle of the United States and 11,000-foot main runway means it’s important to keep the base operational in case of an in-flight emergency. Remaining open gives the aircrew landing options where crash/fire/rescue assets are immediately available.
“Our focus is always on the mission,” Mr. Jones said. “We strive to have as little impact as possible on our home stationed aircraft. This is achieved successfully with the support of the 72nd Civil Engineer Squadron during snow removal, and good communication with flying units and leadership.”
Total snowfall amounts from this storm reached 3 inches with a peak snowfall of 1 inch per hour, Mr. Kroupa explained. “Thursday night at 11 p.m. we issued a heavy snow warning for 2 inches or greater for the base,” he said. “Light snow began at that time and we had received 2 inches by 3 a.m. Review of historical weather trends indicate this event was about average for this time of year.”
The lowest temperature recorded during the snow event was 12 degrees.
Dramatic shifts in weather continue to affect the region. High temperatures this week were in the 60s and 70s before cooling again as another mass of arctic air settled over the area with high potential for damaging ice. The 72nd OSS weather flight is watching and adjusting their forecasts.
Weather information and base operating status can be found on the Tinker AFB website at www.tinker.af.mil and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TinkerAirForceBase/