Wet Weather This Weekend

The state has been dry for quite a while, but that is all about to change come tonight. A low pressure system will move across the state beginning tonight and lasting through the weekend, mainly on Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms, followed by much cooler temperatures on Sunday due to the cold front behind the low, will result from this weather system. We are even watching out for some strong to severe thunderstorms in western Oklahoma tonight.

For tonight, rain chances will be best in central and western Oklahoma. Storms that fire up later may be severe in western Oklahoma, producing large hail up to half-dollar size and winds that gust over 60 mph. Currently, the Storm Prediction Center has a slight risk for severe thunderstorms encompassing extreme western Oklahoma and parts of northwest Texas and the Texas panhandle. Therefore, if you live in this area, we encourage you to be alert. Elsewhere across the state, expect mainly showers, with some thunderstorms possible, especially after midnight. Again, the best chance for any rain will be in central and western Oklahoma; rain chances decrease further towards the east. Temperatures tonight will be unseasonably “warm” due to the increased cloud cover. In western Oklahoma, expect lows to not drop below the mid-to-upper-50s. The low-to-mid-50s will be in store for central and eastern Oklahoma. In far eastern Oklahoma, and in the far western part of the panhandle, some 40s may invade.

For Saturday, the rain moves east, and our best chances for precipitation will be in central and eastern Oklahoma, although the west may see a few lingering showers, mainly in the morning. You can expect showers with a possible thunderstorm in central and eastern Oklahoma before noon, followed by showers and thunderstorms which will continue through the afternoon and before midnight. No severe weather is expected in Oklahoma on Saturday, although we do have a slight risk for severe thunderstorms issued by the Storm Prediction Center across central and northern Texas. Saturday’s temperatures across Oklahoma will vary. Expect the mid-to-upper-50s in the panhandle. In central Oklahoma, expect the low-to-mid-60s. In eastern and western Oklahoma, highs may reach the mid-to-upper-60s. Some low-70s are even possible in the extreme southwestern part of the state.

On Saturday night, central Oklahoma will have the best rain chances before midnight. Eastern Oklahoma will see showers and thunderstorms throughout the night. The wintry side of this system, which will bring abundant snow to the Rockies, may intrude the northern part of Oklahoma. Therefore, a few rain and snow showers may develop in extreme northern Oklahoma (but mainly further west) on Saturday night. Temperatures will either be above freezing or right at freezing, so do not expect accumulations of any kind or any major winter weather episode. Across the rest of the state, temperatures Saturday night will, again, vary quite considerably. A noticeable temperature gradient will be in place in central Oklahoma, with warm lows in the 50s to the east of the gradient and cold lows in the 30s to the west of the gradient. Central Oklahoma will then see the 40s as lows on Saturday night.

Finally, for Sunday, the rain exits most of the state, but the southeast will see showers and thunderstorms continue throughout most of the day while the rest of the east will see lingering showers and thunderstorms mainly in the morning. The main story for Sunday: a dramatic temperature drop as the cold front moves through. High temperatures for many will likely occur at midnight or in the early morning hours. During the afternoon, expect temperatures across the state that will not break out of the 40s. A thin line of 50s may stretch across extreme southern Oklahoma, but the highs here will not be warmer than the low-50s.

Though we have not talked about them yet, beware that winds will be strong during the passage of the low pressure system and associated cold front. Southerly winds will shift to northerly winds, ushering in the cold air. Strongest sustained speeds will be at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sources: NWS, SPC, HOOT, bikesafety.caa.ca (photo)