The winter storms of the past two consecutive weeks will seem like almost nothing compared to what is ahead. We are expecting near-blizzard to blizzard conditions across most of the central and western part of the state. We will, again, let you know what you can expect by outlining this winter storm by region.
PANHANDLE/NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
Expect blizzard conditions to begin tonight and last all the way through about 6 AM Tuesday morning. BLIZZARD WARNINGS are in effect through early Tuesday morning. Snow will begin to fall starting Sunday evening and continue through Monday overnight. The snow may be heavy at times. We are expecting snow accumulations to be between 10 and 12 inches, with locally higher amounts of 16+ inches possible for the entire period. If this is not bad enough, the winds are what will make this storm system especially dangerous and make travel treacherous if not impossible. Expect sustained wind speeds tonight to be from the north at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. This will not even be the worst of it. On Monday, sustained wind speeds will increase to 30 to 40 mph from the north, with gusts as high as 55 mph! On Monday night, the wind will calm down slightly: that is, sustained speeds from the north at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. But even these wind speeds will be dangerous. Not only will the strong wind speeds account for widespread blowing snow, they will also create dangerously cold wind chills. Low temperatures Sunday night into Monday morning will be in the mid-20s. However, expect wind chill values between 10 and 20 degrees. On Monday, high temperatures will reach the low-30s across the region, but wind chill values will be between 5 and 15 degrees. For Monday night, expect low temperatures to drop dramatically in the panhandle to the single digits! In the northwest, they will be somewhat "warmer" in the mid-teens. However, as the strong wind chills persist, expect negative wind chill values across the panhandle and parts of the far northwest. If you live in this region, you will be getting the worst from this system. Avoid travel if at all possible. This could be a life-threatening situation!
SOUTHWEST/SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Farther towards the southwest, expect a chance of rain showers before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow showers after midnight, with some thunder possible throughout the night. No accumulations are expected yet. In south central Oklahoma, expect mainly showers and thunderstorms tonight with no snow, but beware: some of the storms could be severe with large hail the size of quarters and wind gusts to 60 mph. BLIZZARD WARNINGS are in effect for the far southwest. WINTER STORM WARNINGS are in effect further northward. Winds across the southwest and south central part of the state tonight will be from the north-northeast at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Lows will be in the low-to-mid-40s. On Monday, the winter weather begins to ramp up. Temperatures will be in the mid-40s across the region early in the morning, dropping to the mid-30s by afternoon. Winds will be strong, from the east-northeast, blowing at 30 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. In far southwest Oklahoma, there will be periods of snow with widespread blowing snow beginning Monday morning and lasting through Monday overnight. The snow may be heavy at times. Expect snowfall accumulations to be anywhere between 8 to 10 inches more towards the north, and between 5 to 8 inches further south. In south central Oklahoma, expect rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming all snow after noon. Accumulations will be less, at 1 to 3 inches. For Monday night, the chance for snow in the southwest will begin to taper off as the system moves towards the east. In south central Oklahoma, snow will continue before midnight Tuesday. Widespread blowing snow will persist everywhere as winds are from the north-northwest at 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Lows will be in the mid-to-upper-20s. Additional snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
For tonight, expect a chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm. A little further west, some snow may mix in with the rain after midnight. Low temperatures will be in the upper-30s to low-40s, with winds from the northeast at 15 to 25 mph, gusting as high as 35 mph. On Monday, the winter weather arrives in the afternoon. Rain showers before noon will become all snow after noon, with periods of heavy snow at times. Some thunder may even be possible. High temperatures will start off in the upper-30s to low-40s and fall throughout the day to the mid-30s. Expect daytime snowfall accumulations to be anywhere between 1 and 3 inches. Winds will be from the north at 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. On Monday night, the snow will continue, and continued high winds will create patchy areas of blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Lows will be in the mid-20s. Winds will blow from the north-northwest at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are possible across the region, especially as temperatures drop below freezing. For Tuesday morning, expect the snow to continue through about mid-morning. Skies will then remain cloudy for the remainder of the day. Winds will continue to be strong, however, blowing from the north-northwest at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. WINTER STORM WARNINGS are in effect across the region through early Tuesday morning. Please take caution, and prepare now.
NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
Across the region, the snow will not come until Monday night into Tuesday morning. However, we’re still expecting wet conditions to begin after midnight tonight. Expect a chance of showers after midnight, then a chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm on Monday. Further towards the north central part of the state, rain and snow showers may develop Monday afternoon, but accumulations will be minimal. Low temperatures across the region will be in the mid-30s to low-40s tonight. Winds will be from the east-southeast at 5 to 15 mph, perhaps gusting to 20 mph. On Monday, high temperatures will be in the upper-30s to low-40s, with northeasterly winds at 20 to 25 mph, gusting as high as 35 mph. For Monday night, expect rain and snow showers early in the evening, becoming all snow after midnight. Lows will be in the low-30s. Winds will be from the north at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Snow accumulations may reach 2 to 4 inches. On Tuesday, the snow continues, mainly before noon. Highs will be in the upper-30s, and winds will continue to be strong, blowing from the north-northwest at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
Expect a chance of thunderstorms across the region tonight, with lows in the low-to-mid-40s. Winds will blow from the east-northeast at around 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. On Monday, expect rain showers before noon, then a chance of rain and snow mixed in the late evening. High temperatures will be in the low-50s. Little to no snow accumulation is expected. However, rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches are possible. Winds will blow from the east at 15 to 20 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph. For Monday night, rain and snow will continue, with some thunder possible. Lows will be in the low-to-mid-30s. Winds will blow from the west at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. No new snow accumulation is expected. All precipitation will end by Tuesday morning.
So again, we urge you to prepare now for this potentially life-threatening situation. Please check back at owl.ou.edu for the latest forecasts. Please refer here for up-to-date graphics provided by the National Weather Service office in Norman, OK.
Sources: NWS, HOOT
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