As the weekend approaches one can't help but notice the changes in the fall foliage across the state. Today's clearing skies have brought in another reinforcing shot of cool temperatures, but don't be fooled. Slight rain chances have crept into the forecast for the next few days as another weather system begins making its way across the Sooner State.
As for tonight, skies will remain mostly clear for most as temperatures begin to drop off around dusk. Grab a jacket and head outside to catch a glimpse of a few our planetary neighbors in the sky. For one more night, "[v]enus blazes away in the southwest at dusk, and the moon pairs up with the dazzling planet Jupiter." Although Jupiter will appear as a brighter-than average star, those with a simple telescope will be able to catch of glimpse of the gas giant and her moons.
For most across Oklahoma, dry conditions have dominated the region, however the ongoing drought has begun to back off. From the latest outlook from the U.S. Drought Monitor portions of eastern and central Oklahoma have begun to escape the abnormally dry conditions.
The major exception is in the extreme southwestern parts of the state where over 4% of the state is still in the grips of extremely dry conditions. Looking back 12 months ago this week, over two-thirds of Oklahoma were under the same extreme drought conditions, so one can see how beneficial this year's rains have been. For the unlucky counties in the southwest that are still suffering are in luck this weekend as moisture in the atmosphere is on the rise.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Norman are pinning the best rain chances overnight for these dry areas.
As a storm system skirts northeastward on Saturday, those across much of the state will also be in the running for some rain, especially those in the south/southeast Oklahoma. For football fans trying to catch the OU-Tech game tomorrow, it might be a good idea to keep the umbrella or raincoat nearby. Although heavy rain is not expected, forecasters believe around a 0.5" of rain could fall for some.
Saturday daytime temperatures will hover in the the mid 60s for nearly all parts of the state as the mostly cloudy skies linger overhead. Toward sunset and overnight as the clouds and rain depart the region, temperatures will quickly fall off as a result. Residents in the western panhandle can expect to see the mercury drop into the frigid 30s while those in around Mt. Herman in southeast OK will see low temps on Saturday night in the mid 50s. When Sunday gets here so will the sunshine. Clearing skies and southerly winds will allow temperatures statewide to rebound nicely throughout the day, making for a wonderful end to your weekend weather. Get out there and enjoy it!
As Monday rolls around, so do the clouds once again. Early next week, some areas are once again going to be targeted for some rain and thunderstorms. Tulsa, for example, has a 70% chance of rain on Monday night.
Rain chances drop off for areas west and southwest of Tulsa on Monday and Monday night and, depending upon the the sky cover, Oklahoma residents living in these areas will be in for a special treat all thanks to the International Space Station.
Orbiting 230 miles above the Earth's surface the ISS is a wonder in itself, and it's not every day that it flies directly overhead. To give you an idea of how large the station is, NASA provided a graphic to put it into perspective.
Traveling at a mind-blowing 17,150mph, the station criss-crosses the globe every 90 minutes, but it's only when it passes overhead in the hour or so after sundown that it's visible to people on earth. As the massive array of solar panels reflect the sun's light the ISS beams brightly in the night sky, and is easily visible for anyone. Whether you live in the light-polluted city or out in the country, viewers on Monday night will enjoy catch a rare glimpse man's creation when it's scheduled to fly by.
Beginning around 7:35pm, the space station will begin rising above the northwestern horizon, and for nearly 7 minutes it will move directly above (or 80 degrees above) central Oklahoma before eventually fading away near the the southeastern horizon.
Using a simple camera on a tripod, it's easy to snap a time-lapse shot of the International Space Station as it flies over. From the photo below, you can see just how much brighter it appears than its surroundings.
Of course, the show will not happen if clouds present, and for that, lets hope that Monday night's sky proves to be clear. If so, grab your family and friends and head out to any parking lot or empty field to witness the fly-by.
For updated times for particular locations go to NASA's website. It provides an easy way to anyone to see when and where the International Space Station will be in their back yard.
http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/#.Umr36iihBSU
Let's just keep our fingers crossed that the forecast hold true and the clouds hold off!
MS
Sources
US Drought Monitor
www.earthsky.org
www.nasa.gov
www.weather.gov
Oklahoma Mesonet
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