Turning Colder, With More Rain

UPDATE 4/1/13: Severe weather is possible across southwest Oklahoma this evening. The Storm Prediction Center has initiated a slight risk for severe thunderstorms. To see the latest convective outlooks from the SPC, CLICK HERE. A severe thunderstorm watch has already been issued for northwest Texas and the southern part of the Texas panhandle. The watch also includes a sliver of southwest Oklahoma and may be adjusted appropriately based on the track of the severe weather.

Monday

The cold front begins to advance across the panhandle and northwest Oklahoma Monday afternoon. There is a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms across this area, as well as the rest of northern Oklahoma after noon on Monday. For the rest of the state, skies will remain partly cloudy. Temperatures will be divided between north and south, and a sharp temperature gradient will be in place. We’ll have highs top out only in the upper-40s to low-50s in the panhandle and the low-to-mid-50s in the far north. Working our way south, we’ll see highs top out in the 60s to low-70s across the middle of Oklahoma and then the mid-to-upper-70s in the far south. Wind speeds will be relatively calm in southern Oklahoma ahead of the cold front. Behind the front to the north, strong northerly winds will prevail, with sustained speeds increasing to 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday Night

On Monday night, a substantial chance for rain exists across the entire state, with chances of 50% or more. A few rumbles of thunder may mix in with the showers. Temperatures will be as high as the upper-40s in the far southwest but much colder in the 30s across the north and panhandle. Winds behind the front will be strong, blowing from the north-northeast at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.















Tuesday
For Tuesday, expect showers across the entire state of Oklahoma. In the southwest, there may be some thunderstorms as well. High temperatures will not be much different from the lows. In fact, in some areas in the south, the actual high temperature achieved for the day may be at midnight or in the early morning. So, the bottom line: be prepared for a cold, dreary day on Tuesday. Afternoon temperatures will be in the 30s across northern Oklahoma and in the 40s across central and southern Oklahoma. Strong north-northeasterly winds prevail, blowing at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.











Tuesday Night

For Tuesday night, chances for precipitation continue across all of Oklahoma. Rain will be the precipitation type in most areas. However, in the panhandle and northwest, guess what? Wintry weather returns! Rain and snow showers are likely, with the wintry mix occurring mainly past midnight Wednesday morning. But, with such warm temperatures occurring prior to this wintry weather, expect minimal to no accumulations. Low temperatures will be in the low-to-upper-30s in the north, central, and west and the low-to-mid-40s in the south central and southeast. Winds stay strong, blowing from the northeast at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.










Wednesday

On Wednesday, we’ve got much of the same story: rain and cold. Rain and snow showers will persist in the panhandle and northwest, mainly before noon, before transitioning back to rain only as temperatures warm up– sort of. We’ll have high temperatures in the 40s across all of Oklahoma. So temperatures will not be that “warm” but at least warmer than the 30s in the morning. Showers continue through Wednesday night in all of the state, with lingering rain and snow showers in the northwest.













Thursday and Friday
Following the unseasonably cold temperatures, we’ll have noticeably warmer conditions on Thursday and Friday. Highs should reach the mid-60s in the panhandle and the mid-to-upper-50s elsewhere on Thursday. For Friday, expect highs in the mid-70s in the panhandle and the upper-60s to low-70s elsewhere. Lingering showers may remain in the east on Thursday; otherwise, skies will become partly cloudy on Thursday and sunny on Friday for the state. The weekend also looks to be pleasant and warm at this time.

Sources: NWS, HOOT