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As winter weather ices elevated portions of Oklahoma City roadways and dumps snow in northern Oklahoma, emergency crews throughout the state are rushing from wreck to wreck and salt crews are working to keep roads from glazing over with ice, officials said.

Significant accumulations of ice and snow are not forecast for central Oklahoma, including the metro area, but bridges and overpasses will likely have ice in patches, according to the National Weather Service. Accumulations of up to two inches are possible in northern Oklahoma, and perhaps higher in spots.

Motorists are urged to use caution. For updated road conditions in the state, motorists can call the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at 425-2385 or 888-425-2385 outside the Oklahoma City-area.

“Just slow down,” weather service meteorologist Andrew Taylor said. “It may not necessarily look bad. It may look fine and you may not see ice the ice, but there could still be patches.”

OKC crews responding to wrecks in ‘disaster mode’

For part of this afternoon, the sheer number of emergency winter weather calls forced EMSA personnel in Oklahoma City to operate in “disaster mode” — where first responders respond to a scene, treat and transport those needing medical attention, then head directly to the next call. Paramedics responded to 85 calls between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said.

By the afternoon, Oklahoma City fire officials issued a warning to area residents that roads in the northern metro were becoming slick and dangerous. Salt crews began driving Oklahoma City’s streets about 2:30 p.m. to help combat the slick conditions.

But as temperatures continue to fall, Taylor said, even roadways that aren’t elevated are something to watch out for.

Possible tornado reported near Tulsa, blowing snow reported in northwestern Oklahoma

In northeastern Oklahoma a possible small tornado was reported and several homes and businesses were damaged in Tulsa and Wagoner counties. No injuries were reported.

Moderate to heavy blowing snow was reported in Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper and Ellis counties. The snow fell from the southern reaches of a snow storm traversing Kansas.

“There may be one to two inches of accumulation in the northwest ... with an outside chance for little flurries and light snow in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and as far south as Hobart,” weather service forecaster Daryl Williams said. “The farther south you get, the chance for accumulation drops off.”

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported numerous wrecks when vehicles skidded off icy roadways in north and northwestern Oklahoma today.

Strong winds brought down power lines in the region earlier today, leaving about 1,000 Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers without power, including Liberty Elementary School in Broken Arrow, which canceled classes for the day.

Another cold front was expected to move into Oklahoma by Sunday.

Oklahoma City-area forecast

- Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Northerly winds 20 to 25 mph, decreasing to 10 to 20 mph after midnight. Twenty percent chance of snow.

- Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Northerly winds about 10 mph.

- Wednesday night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid-20s. Light and variable winds.