ALERT: Severe Storms, Flash Flooding Possible Tonight

A slow-moving to stationary frontal boundary is expected to bring flooding rains to northern and central Oklahoma from tonight through Tuesday afternoon and evening as it tracks southward.  We already have rain in eastern Oklahoma that is slowly pushing eastward out of the state, but more storms are expected to develop later this afternoon.  The FLASH FLOOD WATCH has been expanded to include new counties in central and northwest Oklahoma, including Oklahoma County.  This is in effect until late Tuesday night.  The original watch remains in effect for numerous counties in northeast, north central, and parts of southeast Oklahoma through Tuesday evening.  Heavy rain is a strong likelihood with the storms but so is severe weather, including damaging wind gusts and large hail.  Please be alert for the next couple of days, especially if you have outdoor plans.  Flooding is very dangerous.  Remember: Turn Around, Don't Drown!


Track the Storms

Current Watches, Warnings, Advisories

The Forecast
Our focus will start later this afternoon, with strong to severe storms possible across central , northern, and parts of southern Oklahoma from 4 pm this afternoon through 10 pm tonight.  Downtown Oklahoma City and the entire metro area are included in the highlighted risk.  Storms are expected to be widely scattered, but even at the present time, it remains unclear how severe they may get.  Main threats in the strongest storms will be hail up to the size of golf balls, locally strong downbursts leading to damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, and locally heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding.  After 10 pm, the threat transitions mainly to a flooding threat only, although some strong sustained winds and gusts around 50 to 60 mph are still possible in the strongest storms.

From Tuesday through Wednesday, thunderstorm chances will continue across Oklahoma, ranging from 50% to 60%.  Monday night's thunderstorms may be ongoing through Tuesday morning in central and northern Oklahoma, with re-development during the afternoon.  In southern Oklahoma, thunderstorms have the greatest possibility of occurring beginning Tuesday night and lasting through Wednesday.  Heavy rain is still the possibility with some storms, especially in northeast Oklahoma on Tuesday.

On Thursday and Friday, lingering showers and thunderstorms remain a possibility across central and southern Oklahoma, with chances of 20% to 30%.  Northeast Oklahoma will begin to dry out at this time.  For the weekend, everyone should enjoy drier conditions, especially on Sunday.

Along with the rain will be significantly cooler temperatures with the passage of a relatively strong summer cold front.  If not occurring already, high temperatures will only be in the 80s across the state beginning Wednesday and remain in the 80s through Friday at the earliest.  Southern Oklahoma will begin to heat back up to the low-90s by Saturday, with central and northern Oklahoma remaining in the 80s through next week.  Concerning low temperatures, a noticeable drop will occur Thursday night and Friday night, with temperatures dropping down to the 60s, even upper-50s in northeast Oklahoma.  These autumn-like temperatures should provide a nice change from the excessive heat endured last week.

Sources: NWS, SPC, Mesonet