WINTER HOLDS ON!

Spring may have arrived last week, but the wrath of winter will hang on for the next few days as a strong low pressure system and cold front advance across the state. High and low temperatures running some 10 to 20 degrees below average will stay in place over all of Oklahoma through the early work week. Some snow is even expected in the northernmost part of the state. So for any spring breakers who are returning today or tomorrow, be sure to pack your winter gear because you are going to need it!

For this afternoon, expect a slight chance for rain and snow showers in northwest Oklahoma, including the panhandle. Rain will transition over to all snow by the evening hours. However, with temperatures running above freezing, expect little to no snow accumulation during the day. For the rest of the state, expect a chance of showers to persist throughout the day, with the greatest chances being in eastern Oklahoma and north central Oklahoma. Scattered thunderstorms may occur in southern Oklahoma. High temperatures will be chilly, with the 40s invading the north and central part of the state and the 50s in the south. Strong winds will occur in northwest Oklahoma, blowing from the north at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Elsewhere across the state, sustained wind speeds should not exceed 15 mph this afternoon.

Tonight may be a different story for northern Oklahoma. Snow is likely, mainly before midnight in the northwest and mainly after midnight in the northeast. Temperatures will drop to freezing or below the freezing mark. Expect low temperatures in the panhandle to be in the upper-teens. In the northwest, lows will drop into the upper-20s. In north central and northeast Oklahoma, you can expect the low-30s. These cold temperatures will support snow accumulations. However, total accumulations will not exceed 1 inch, and the highest amounts will occur in the panhandle. Another factor to be concerned about in northern Oklahoma, primarily the northwest, is strong winds, which may create areas of blowing snow, thus reducing visibility. Northerly winds will blow between 25 and 35 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph! These strong winds will impact not only northwest Oklahoma but also all of western Oklahoma and parts of central Oklahoma. For this reason, WIND ADVISORIES are in effect through early Sunday morning.

As we continue to talk about tonight’s weather, let us move further south. A chance of rain and snow showers extends all the way down into central Oklahoma, just slightly south of Oklahoma City. Rain will occur before midnight, transitioning over to all snow after midnight. Temperatures will be right at freezing or a little below freezing, but accumulations will be minimal to nonexistent. Winds will be strong, with sustained speeds increasing to 25 to 30 mph after midnight, with gusts as high as 40 mph. In southern Oklahoma, expect slight chances of lingering showers and thunderstorms before midnight. No snow is expected here. Lows will be in the low-to-upper-30s. Winds will be strongest in the southwest, with sustained speeds from the north-northwest at 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. In south central and southeast Oklahoma, sustained wind speeds will be between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

On Sunday, the wintry precipitation moves out of the state. Perhaps a lingering snow shower or two will occur in northeast Oklahoma, but this will end by noon. Skies will then slowly begin to clear from west to east and be partly cloudy by mid-afternoon. High temperatures will remain cold, though. In the panhandle, do not expect highs to break the 30s. Elsewhere across the state, you can expect the 40s. In far southern Oklahoma, high temperatures may reach the 50s but only the low-50s at best. Strong, gusty northerly winds will persist, blowing at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

We will have more details on the upcoming week in a future blog post, but for now, we will quickly preview the weather. Expect a slow but sure warm-up as we approach Friday. By the end of the week, temperatures across the state return to the 60s. Skies will be mostly clear through Wednesday until rain chances increase again for Thursday and Friday.

Sources: NWS, HOOT, Mesonet