Thunderstorm Chances Continue for Oklahoma

Over the past few days, much-needed rainfall has fallen over portions of the state, especially drought-stricken western Oklahoma, as the result of a very slow-moving low pressure system.  As this system continues to drag eastward, thunderstorm chances will continue throughout the week, albeit the chance for thunderstorms will diminish by mid-week.  The best chance for rain will be on Monday and Tuesday, where heavy rainfall is possible with some storms, especially on Monday night.

The highest chances for rain on Monday will be in southwestern Oklahoma at 60 to 80 percent, while the lowest chances will be in the panhandle and far southeastern Oklahoma at 20 to 30 percent.  The rest of the state will see a 40 to 60 percent chance for thunderstorms on Memorial Day.  Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day.  For Monday night, a 60 to 80 percent chance for thunderstorms exists across all of central and southern Oklahoma, with lesser chances across northern Oklahoma.  Some of the storms across Monday night will have the potential to produce widespread heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding.  Please continue to exercise your flood safety tips if you plan to travel Monday night.  Do not travel through flooded roadways!  While we are sure you would like to see fireworks lighting up the nighttime sky Monday, please note that lightning from storms may also be lighting up the sky.  Remember your lightning safety tips as well and seek shelter indoors if you see lightning or hear thunder.

For Tuesday, thunderstorm chances begin to diminish across western Oklahoma.  The panhandle will see no rain chances, with skies remaining mostly sunny throughout the day.  Southwestern and northwestern Oklahoma will see a 30 to 40 percent chance for thunderstorms, mainly during the morning hours.  Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy.  Across central and eastern Oklahoma, rain chances remain as high as 60 to 80 percent under mostly cloudy skies.  For Tuesday night, rain chances across central and north central Oklahoma will diminish to between 20 and 30 percent, while rain chances across south central and eastern Oklahoma remain as high as 60 percent as thunderstorms are expected to continue through the overnight hours.

On Wednesday and Thursday, western Oklahoma and the panhandle will remain rain-free under mostly sunny skies, while in central Oklahoma a 20 to 30 percent chance for thunderstorms exists with partly cloudy skies during the day.  For eastern Oklahoma, a 40 to 50 percent for thunderstorms on Wednesday will give way to a 30 to 40 percent chance for thunderstorms Wednesday night and Thursday.  Chances may be slightly higher across extreme southeastern Oklahoma.

For Friday, slight chances for thunderstorms are possible across the entire state, at no greater than 30 percent.  Skies will otherwise remain partly to mostly sunny for the day.

To again sum up our rain percentages by region: western Oklahoma will see its best chance for rain on Monday, with chances diminishing on Tuesday and becoming nonexistent by Wednesday.  Central Oklahoma's best chance for rain is Monday through Tuesday (and Tuesday night for south central Oklahoma).  Eastern Oklahoma's best rain chances will be Tuesday through Wednesday.

Rainfall totals still look promising across the state and will be highest over central and southern Oklahoma this week.  The map shows the expected 5-day rainfall totals (that is, from this evening through Friday evening).  Some areas of far south central and southeastern Oklahoma may receive over 4 inches of rain.

AC

Sources: NWS, WPC, Mesonet