UPDATE: Severe Weather Continues Through Thursday

Storms were slow to fire today but finally have across western and eastern Oklahoma.  These storms are slowly pushing eastward and contain large hail with damaging winds.  As the storms move eastward, they will slowly begin to weaken and eventually die out.  However, the storms are still packing a punch at this hour.  Even the threat for some small hail and damaging winds will remain with the weaker storms.

Track the Storms

Tuesday's Highs
For some, Tuesday marked the warmest day of the year so far.

Wednesday
Skies will be partly to mostly sunny throughout the day, with highs reaching the mid-to-upper-80s across western Oklahoma and the panhandle, the low-to-mid-80s across central Oklahoma, and the mid-to-upper-70s across eastern Oklahoma.  Sufficient moisture will remain in the lower levels, and with the warm temperatures and a dryline set up across western Oklahoma, the environment will again be favorable for severe thunderstorm development.  The Storm Prediction Center has outlined a SLIGHT RISK for severe thunderstorms in northwest Oklahoma and a MARGINAL RISK across all but southeastern Oklahoma and the panhandle.  Late-afternoon and evening will again be the time at which storms first fire, and they will do so in western Oklahoma, especially the northwest where the slight risk is.  The risks will be large hail to half dollar size and 60 to 70 mph wind gusts.  Storms will push eastward into central and eastern Oklahoma and begin to weaken, especially after sunset.

Thursday
Eastern Oklahoma, from just east and south of the Oklahoma City metro area, is under the gun for a heightened risk of severe thunderstorms on Thursday.  A SLIGHT RISK for severe thunderstorms is in effect for much of eastern Oklahoma, with a MARGINAL RISK surrounding this.  Thunderstorm development on Thursday will be the result of an approaching cold front.  Storms will fire ahead of the front, again in the late-afternoon and evening hours, and last through the overnight hours.  Large hail up to the size of golf balls and wind gusts at 60 to 70 mph can be expected with the strongest storms.



Friday
Lingering thunderstorms may remain in eastern Oklahoma through Friday morning.  Otherwise, expect partly to mostly sunny skies with much cooler highs.  While highs will generally be in the 60s across the state on Friday and Saturday, parts of the panhandle and northeast Oklahoma may not make it out of the 50s on Friday.

AC

Sources: NWS, SPC, Mesonet