Upper-Level Low Brings Rain, Cool Temperatures

For most Oklahomans, today does not feel like a typical mid-July day.  An usually strong, westward-moving upper-level low situated over far southwest Missouri is bringing beneficial rainfall and significantly cooler temperatures for central and western Oklahoma, as well as parts of Texas and Kansas.  So far in Oklahoma, the rain has been concentrated mainly in the center of the state, beginning early this morning.  Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport has already picked up over 1.5 inches of rain and is expected to receive more today.  The heaviest of the rainfall will continue to push westward with the low, so drought-stricken areas in western Oklahoma should receive the much-needed rainfall beginning later this afternoon and evening.  Rainfall totals for Oklahoma from this system are expected to be highest in the central and southwest parts of the state.  Overall, most of the rain will fall in north central Texas, west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  As a significant contrast, eastern Oklahoma has a more slim chance of seeing rainfall from this system; in fact, skies in the far east are mainly sunny.  Temperatures in the east are also on the warm side, currently in the mid-to-upper-80s.  Redeveloping showers and storms are still possible in the east over the coming days, so stay alert.

Track the Rain

The Forecast
For the rest of the afternoon, widespread, locally heavy rainfall will be concentrated mainly in southwest Oklahoma, with chances of around 80%.  A few strong storms may develop, with small hail, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall.  Please be aware of this, as flash flooding will become a threat.  For central and northwest Oklahoma, we will have widespread rain early, with showers and thunderstorms becoming more scattered by late-afternoon.  In eastern Oklahoma, there is a chance for scattered rain, with chances no greater than 40%.  Afternoon temperatures will be based on the rainfall.  Currently, temperatures in central Oklahoma for areas seeing rainfall are in the mid-60s to low-70s.  When the rain stops, these temperatures may warm slightly to the mid-to-upper-70s.  Across western Oklahoma, temperatures have pretty much topped out now in the upper-70s to low-80s.  When the rain arrives, expect a temperature drop.  Finally, eastern Oklahoma will actually see temperatures right around normal for mid-July, with highs in the mid-to-upper-80s.

For tonight, we will see widespread rain in southwest Oklahoma, mainly before midnight, with scattered showers likely after midnight.  In the overnight hours, showers and thunderstorms may redevelop across central and south central Oklahoma.  The panhandle, northwest, north central, and eastern Oklahoma have a lesser chance of seeing rainfall tonight but nevertheless could still see a few showers develop.  The chance for rain in these regions is around 30%.  Overnight lows will be coolest in the panhandle, dropping to the upper-50s.  Unlike our last round of cooler weather, lows will not be as cold for the rest of the state due to the cloud cover.  Therefore, expect overnight lows in the 60s for western, central, and eastern Oklahoma Sunday night through Monday morning.

 

On Monday, the best chance for rain will be in southwest and central Oklahoma, with chances between 50 and 60%.  Showers are likely, with a few rumbles of thunder possible throughout the day.  Skies will be cloudy.  The panhandle, northwest, and eastern Oklahoma are slated to see a 20 - 40% chance of rain throughout the day on Monday.  Skies may be partly cloudy in eastern Oklahoma before any rain showers develop.  Afternoon temperatures on Monday will only be in the upper-70s to low-80s across the west.  The temperatures will reach the mid-80s across central and northwest Oklahoma and the upper-80s to low-90s across eastern Oklahoma.

Monday night again brings the greatest chance for rain to southwest Oklahoma, with chances of around 60%.  The rest of the state will see a 20 - 30% chance of rain.  For Tuesday, rain chances will be between 40 and 60% in western Oklahoma, around 40% across central Oklahoma, and 20 - 30% across eastern Oklahoma and the panhandle.  Monday night/Tuesday morning lows will be in the 60s across the state.  Tuesday's highs will be mainly in the mid-to-upper-80s and low-90s.  The warmest highs will again occur in eastern Oklahoma, with the coolest highs occurring in western, mostly southwest, Oklahoma.

For Tuesday night and Wednesday, lingering showers and thunderstorms are possible, especially across southwest Oklahoma.  Chances are around 50%.  For the rest of the state, a 20% chance of rain is possible through Wednesday.  Otherwise, skies will begin to clear, and temperatures will begin to slowly warm back up to the appropriate summertime levels - that is, the upper-80s to low-90s.

Sources: NWS, HOOT, fotocommunity.com (photo)