Beneficial Rainfall Coming to Oklahoma

As a slow-moving low pressure system arrives from the west, signs are pointing to a good chance for all of Oklahoma and the surrounding southern Plains states to receive a good deal of rainfall over the next several days.  The highest rainfall totals are expected in areas which need the rain most, namely western Oklahoma and adjacent north Texas.  While all of this rain will certainly not be enough to completely wipe away the worsening drought conditions in these areas, it will certainly help alleviate the drought for the time being.  This will be welcoming news as more than one-third of the state is now in the exceptional drought category.

From Friday through Saturday night, our highest rain chances will be over western Oklahoma and the panhandle.  A 50 to 70 percent chance for thunderstorms exists through this time period.  A word of caution that some of the thunderstorms in the panhandle could be severe on Saturday, as the Storm Prediction Center has outlined a SLIGHT RISK for the area.  Large hail and damaging winds would be the main threats from any severe thunderstorms.  Since it is a holiday weekend, please be cautious if you have outdoor plans, and have a plan if severe weather strikes.

Central Oklahoma will see lesser rain chances until Memorial Day, although thunderstorms may still occur from Friday through Saturday night.  From Monday through Tuesday, central Oklahoma will see a 50 to 60 percent chance for thunderstorms, with the best chance for rain occurring farther north.

Northeastern Oklahoma has a 50 percent chance for seeing thunderstorms Friday and Friday night.  Chances diminish to 30 percent on Saturday and 20 percent on Saturday night before returning to 40 percent on Sunday and Sunday night and 50 percent on Monday.  Rain chances are between 70 and 80 percent for northeastern Oklahoma Monday night into Tuesday and Tuesday night, then diminish to 50 percent on Wednesday.

Southeastern Oklahoma will see no rain chances until Sunday, at 20 percent.  Sunday night and Monday bring a 40 percent chance for rain, with Monday night through Tuesday night bringing a 70 to 80 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms.

Cloud cover will be on the increase starting in western Oklahoma on Friday and for the rest of the state by Saturday.  Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies throughout the day and nighttime hours.  Temperatures will not be too big of a story, as they will remain in the 80s throughout the weekend into next week.  However, mid-to-upper-80s in spots will cool slightly to the low-to-mid-80s by Memorial Day.

Now on to the rainfall amounts.  The graphic to the right shows the expected amounts over the next 7 days, from this evening through next Thursday evening.  Beneficial rainfall will fall over the entire region, with the highest amounts expected in north Texas and southwest Oklahoma.  Rain will definitely be falling in the correct places, as areas expected to receive the most rain are in the worst drought according to the latest drought monitor, which is shown below.

 

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Sources: NWS, SPC, WPC, U.S. Drought Monitor, Google Images (photo)