UPDATE: Severe Weather Continues Through Thursday

Storms were slow to fire today but finally have across western and eastern Oklahoma.  These storms are slowly pushing eastward and contain large hail with damaging winds.  As the storms move eastward, they will slowly begin to weaken and eventually die out.  However, the storms are still packing a punch at this hour.  Even the threat for some small hail and damaging winds will remain with the weaker storms.

Risk of Severe Storms Tuesday Through Thursday

Following last week's severe weather, we do not get much of a break before facing another chance for severe thunderstorms tomorrow through Thursday.  The main focus for thunderstorm development and the risk for severe storms shifts each day, with southwestern Oklahoma being the primary focus zone on Tuesday, western/north central Oklahoma on Wednesday, and central/eastern Oklahoma on Thursday.  Please be prepared. 

Enhanced Risk of Severe Storms Wednesday

It's springtime in Oklahoma!  Following a few strong storms in eastern Oklahoma today as the result of a weak cold front, a much stronger cold front resulting from an upper-level trough will move through the state Wednesday.  With a capping inversion weakening throughout the day and sufficient surface heating, moisture, and low-level shear, the atmosphere ahead of the cold front will be unstable and favorable for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms.  As this will be our first widespread occurrence of severe weather this year, we encourage you to take necessary precautions.

Pattern Change Ahead!

We hope you survived what is the last round of wintry precipitation for at least the next couple of weeks and what is likely the last round of widespread wintry precipitation until next season.  Of course, anyone who travelled into the state today may question if Oklahoma received any snow at all as most if not all the snow that fell Wednesday has already melted due to sunny skies and temperatures that were well-above freezing this afternoon.  Even if some spots on the ground still have snow on them after today, you won't have to wait too long in the future until all the snow is completely gone and winter becomes a distant memory.  A pattern shift will occur in the coming days that brings an upper-level high from the Pacific and allows it to set up over the western and central United States.  This will lead to precipitation-free, above-average temperatures beginning next week. 

Winter's Last Stand!

 

With moisture still in place and much colder air arriving as the result of a cold front, another round for wintry weather is expected beginning later this evening and lasting through Wednesday.  This will (hopefully) be winter's last stand.  Long-range models are showing normal to above-normal temperatures and normal to below-normal precipitation for at least the next couple of weeks beginning this weekend.  We can do this!  Together, we can survive winter's final battle!

Meteorological Winter: The Results are in!

With a lull in precipitation, we thought we'd take the time to give you the results of the 2014-2015 winter season.  Alright yes, the spring equinox is not for another three weeks, and with snow still on the ground how could we even be thinking about spring?  But we meteorologists like to be different and define winter from December 1 through February 28 (or 29 during a leap year).  So now that we're officially into March, we will share some results about this past winter.  Some of them may even shock you.  All data comes from the National Weather Service.

Winter Weather Update

UPDATED 5:55 PM CST
Greetings from a snow-covered state!  After a couple of rounds of winter weather that occurred Friday and today, all of Oklahoma is currently covered with some form of wintry precipitation.  The heaviest of precipitation is beginning to wind down, but this does not mean the end of the precipitation.  Here we have an update on what you can expect in the coming days.

Winter's Desperate Catch-up

Alright winter, we get it.  You were, for whatever reason, not present during most of December and January, so you're trying to make up for lost time and bring a February chill.  Anyone else thinking this?  After above-average temperature finishes for both December and January across the state, February is coming to a close, and based on the upcoming forecast, we are set to finish with an average temperature that is at least two degrees below normal.  The forecast for the foreseeable... Wait, what?  Excuse me just one minute.  Oh, winter is doing it to us again!  The forecast through Monday calls for below-average temperatures.  Then on Tuesday, we'll have above-average temperatures likely in the 60s across most of the state.  But by Wednesday, temperatures will yet again fall below average.  Toss in plenty of moisture, and we've got a tricky forecast for the next few days.  Thanks winter!

Winter's Firm Grip!

Pattern changes are fun, aren't they?  What seemed like the "winter that wasn't" is now anything but.  The arrival of much colder air and moisture will allow for decent chances for snow and sleet across the state Sunday and Monday, and yet again by the end of the week.  And by cold air, we mean cold air.  Across the panhandle and northwestern Oklahoma, afternoon temperatures today will be in the upper-teens to low-20s, with highs on Monday across all of the state no higher than the 20s.  This blog will detail the early winter storm through the end of the weekend and early into the work week, also hinting at what may be on the way by the latter part of the week.

Here Comes Winter!

It may be warm now, but later this evening a strong cold front will surge through the state, and temperatures will take a 40 to 50 degree nosedive behind the arctic front.  That's right.  Highs in the 70s and 80s across the state today will be replaced by highs in the 30s tomorrow.  A chance for wintry precipitation is also possible Sunday night into Monday morning and Monday night into Tuesday morning.  Models are generally showing the presence of moisture and the best chances for wintry precipitation in eastern and south central Oklahoma.  However, parts of central Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City metro area, may pick up on some wintry precipitation as well.

Following Cold Front, Spring Fever Comes to End

The passage of a cold front through the state beginning Wednesday morning will bring temperatures back to near-normal levels for this time of year, effectively signaling an end to the second round of spring fever we were treated to over the past four days.  While tomorrow's afternoon high temperatures are expected to hover right around normal or be just a few degrees below normal, Thursday will be much cooler, with highs across most of the state forecast to run between 10 and 15 degrees below average.  The exception will be the panhandle, which will see highs back in the 60s.  Friday will be significantly warmer, with highs in the 50s and 60s across the state.  However, another front on Saturday will drop temperatures yet again to the 40s and 50s.  The cooler weather will remain through the weekend into next week, with another blast of arctic air possible by early next week.

January 2015: A Tale of Two Seasons

One can use the phrase "A Tale of Two Seasons" to describe nearly any month in Oklahoma.  This phrase can especially be applicable during the winter months, and ironically, we wrote a post last year about January 2014 being "A Tale of Two Seasons."  But January 2015 was special in its own way.  For the first fourteen days of the month, perhaps you thought that this winter would be brutally cold and that spring could not get here quick enough.  After all, those fourteen days reported average temperatures which were generally well below average.  But then a pattern change occurred, and suddenly the average temperatures were above normal.  This lasted through the end of the month, including a stretch of three record-setting high temperature days at Oklahoma City during the last week in January.  This blog post will explain the temperature anomalies in January and why they occurred.

There's a Front Coming!

Ah yes.  As the strong upper-level ridge breaks down, we are approaching the time of year where we typically see cold fronts once every week.  Our first "significant" front of the approaching fall season is now arriving.  The front is working its way into the panhandle and will progress across the entire state over the next couple of days.  With it will be an increased chance for rain as well as much cooler temperatures.

Back to School: A Hot, Dry Week Ahead

While "summer" in the sense of being free from school and classwork may be coming to a close, the season of "summer" is not.  We're expecting a typical summerlike week for back to school, with mainly sunny skies and high temperatures reaching the middle to upper 90s and even the lower 100s across the state.  With higher humidity levels, heat indices may reach the lower to middle 100s.  Make sure to take it easy this week if heading outdoors.

Déjà Vu? Heavy Rain, Cooler Temperatures Ahead

Similar to what occurred a couple of weeks ago, we will be seeing another dramatic pattern shift as a strong cold front ushers in cooler temperatures and a decent chance for rain across the state.  The best timing for rain will be later tonight, through Wednesday and Wednesday night, and into Thursday morning.  Rain will then taper off from west to east, and skies will clear up by Friday and remain generally clear through the weekend.

Blast of Extreme Summer Heat This Week

Below-average, record-breaking cool temperatures from the past week may seem like nothing now as they have quickly turned into a blast of extreme summer heat this last full week in July as a strong ridge of high pressure sets up over the central United States.  Sure, highs in the 90s and even 100s are not uncommon in Oklahoma in late-July.  But what about heat indices between 105 and 110 degrees?  When heat advisories have been issued for much of the state, you know it is going to be hot!

Summer Heat Returns This Week

Unseasonably cool temperatures as a result of a strong surface cold front due to an upper-level trough had Oklahomans thinking fall may have arrived early this year.  After a cool work week, a typical summerlike pattern will resume this upcoming week with a strong ridge of high pressure in place aloft.  This will allow temperatures to return to their typical levels for mid-to-late July.

Heavy Rain, Unseasonably Cool Temperatures Ahead

The cold front has passed, and temperatures have cooled behind it.  However, the front is expected to stall out near the region, increasing rain chances through the end of the work week.  Additionally, high and low temperatures will be well below normal for what we would expect in the middle of July.  After this week, a summerlike pattern returns with lots of sunshine and highs back into the middle-90s.

The Week Ahead: Rain, Cooler Temperatures

Extreme summer heat will be coming to an end as early as tomorrow for most of the state as a strong cold front associated with a trough pushes southward into Oklahoma.  Today was nothing short of a scorcher as highs in the 100s stretched across parts of southwest and central Oklahoma. Oklahoma City, however, did not reach the century mark today.  The official high at the airport was 99 degrees, meaning that the city still has not reached 100 degrees so far this year.  The average first day for Oklahoma City to reach 100 degrees is July 9.  Despite Oklahoma City not reaching 100, surrounding cities in the central Oklahoma area did.  According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, Kingfisher reached a high of 100 degrees, with Norman, Shawnee, and Guthrie reaching a high of 101 degrees.  More triple digit heat will not be expected in at least the next week across these regions due to the approaching cold front.  Temperatures will be anywhere between 10 to 20 degrees below average!

Strong Cold Front to Usher in Cooler Air Next Week

News has quickly been spreading about an upper-level trough that will bring unusually cool air to the Plains and Midwest next week.  What you're hearing is true.  A strong cold front as a result of the trough will bring a major temperature swing from this weekend into the middle of next week as very warm summer-like temperatures turn into those reminiscent of early fall across Oklahoma and range 10 to 20 degrees below normal.  Some areas could even flirt with some record lows on a couple mornings.  It's a good thing this cold front is happening during the summer; a similar pattern setup during the winter would likely bring a winter storm and a prolonged period of below-freezing temperatures to much of the state.  Luckily, we're still a few months away from something like this happening.