Following Monday's Storms, More Possible Ahead

A large complex of strong to severe thunderstorms developed in southern Kansas yesterday evening and pushed southeastward into the state of Oklahoma, bringing tremendous amounts of rainfall to parts of northern and central Oklahoma.  For this afternoon, we may see more developing showers and thunderstorms ahead of a surface cold front pushing towards the southeast, though chances are not as great as yesterday.  Although the severe potential is lower overall, some storms may still turn severe with strong wind gusts to 60 mph and quarter-size hail.  After today, slight chances for showers and thunderstorms remain for at least the next seven days across various parts of the state, with hot and humid conditions across the entire state.  Heat indices may be well into the 100s as early as tomorrow afternoon.  Please remember your heat safety tips!

As we can see from the 24-hour rainfall totals, through 7 AM CDT this morning, most of the rain fell across northwest and north central Oklahoma with the line of storms moving in from that area.  But overnight, even parts of central and eastern Oklahoma heard rumbles and thunder and saw some rain fall as the storms pushed towards the south and east.  By the morning, the storms weakened, leading to considerably less to no rainfall totals across southern Oklahoma.  Fortunately, some of the areas that had not seen a lot of rain with our past systems this month were able to receive quite a bit this time around.

For this afternoon, the cold front will stretch from southwest to northeast Oklahoma, passing right through downtown Oklahoma City for reference.  Any developing storms will fire up ahead of the front, so areas that saw the rainfall yesterday will not see any later today or tonight - this means northwest and north central Oklahoma.  These regions are also seeing slightly cooler temperatures behind the front, and for the rest of the afternoon do not expect temperatures to rise above the mid-to-upper-80s.  The storms ahead of the front have the possibility of becoming strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts to 60 mph, hail to the size of quarters, and locally heavy rainfall of up to 2 inches.  A continuing moist and unstable atmosphere with daytime heating will be the driving factors for severe storm development.  Across areas ahead of the front, expect a warm and humid afternoon with temperatures in the mid-90s and upper-90s farther south. 

For tonight, lingering showers and thunderstorms may remain possible across areas ahead of the cold front - this means south central and southeast Oklahoma.  Otherwise, skies will be partly to mostly cloudy.  On Wednesday, hot and humid conditions will persist.  Morning lows will start in the low-to-mid-70s across the state.  In the afternoon, skies will be mostly sunny, with some late-day thunderstorms possible in far western Oklahoma and south central and southeastern Oklahoma.  Highs will vary considerably across the state.  They will soar to the low-100s across southwest Oklahoma.  Across south central Oklahoma, expect the upper-90s for highs.  Central and northwest Oklahoma will see the mid-90s for highs.  The low-90s will be in place across southeast Oklahoma.  Finally, expect the coolest highs in northeast Oklahoma in the upper-80s.  Despite varying highs, all of the state will experience high humidity levels.  Heat indices will be at least five degrees higher than the daytime high temperature, meaning that they will reach dangerous levels across southwest and central Oklahoma in  the low-to-mid-100s.

For the remainder of the week, the hot and humid conditions will continue, with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms developing across various parts of the state.  Please keep your eye out for dangerous heat and severe thunderstorms.

Sources: NWS, AHPC, isciencetimes.com (photo)