RECAP: Upper-Level Low Brings Rain, Cool Temperatures

At the early part of the week, an upper-level low retrograded from the Northeast United States/Ohio Valley region towards the Central and Southwest United States.  The result was beneficial rainfall and significantly cooler temperatures for parts of the Southern Plains, including central and western Oklahoma.  While an upper low retrograding - that is, moving from east to west, which is opposite of the typical west-east movement of weather in North America - is not unheard of, it usually only happens a few times a year and moreover, typically not during summer.  Our normal summer pattern in the Southern Plains is a dominating dome of high pressure, leading to rain-free days and nights, high temperatures well into the 90s and 100s, and sometimes high humidity levels leading to heat indices in the upper-100s.  But while the upper-level low moved westward across the country this week, a typical summer pattern was far from the case in the Southern Plains.  On the contrary, an upper-level high "replaced" the upper-level low in the Northeast and Midwest United States, leading to a tremendous heat wave this week for those parts of the nation.

Slim Rain Chances Today, Warming Up

Following a couple of days with a large swath of rainfall across central and western Oklahoma and a couple more days with scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across the state, we still have slight chances for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.  However, chances are very slight - at no more than 20% - and will be confined primarily to southwest, south central, and southeast Oklahoma only.  The rest of the state will see mainly sunny skies.  A warming trend is also in store for this afternoon and the coming days, with high temperatures back in the 90s.  As an expanding dome of high pressure, responsible for bringing a tremendous heat wave to a great deal of the Eastern and Midwestern United States, creeps into Oklahoma, we will be dealing with humid conditions again today in central and eastern Oklahoma.  The humid conditions will result in high heat indices.  Please remember your heat safety and try to limit or avoid outdoor activity.

Scattered Showers, Storms Continue Today

An upper-level low that moved from the Ohio Valley to the central Plains on Sunday and Monday is now situated over New Mexico.  The low will move towards the south-southwest into Mexico by Thursday.  The result will be continued scattered showers and thunderstorms across parts of the state, mainly the central and west, today.  However, rain chances are not as high as yesterday.  By Friday, all of the state should remain relatively dry.  Come the weekend, we will see the return of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across the state.  Temperatures will be on a steady rise through the weekend and finally be back to normal or near normal by Friday.

Rain Pushes West With Low

As the upper-level low pushes off to the west, so does the rain.  Central and eastern Oklahoma may see a chance for light rain or a lingering thunderstorm through this afternoon, but otherwise skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy in these regions.  Temperatures will also begin to warm up, especially if the sun is able to come out.  In western Oklahoma and the panhandle, a solid chance for rain continues through the afternoon and evening hours with skies remaining generally cloudy.

Another Day of Rain, Cool Temperatures

As the upper-level low continues its southwesterly track, rain showers and thunderstorms will continue to rotate in a counterclockwise direction around it.  Most of the rain from this system has fallen in central Oklahoma, but western Oklahoma has picked up some rain as well.  Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport has picked up over 3 inches of rain so far and is still expected to see more.  Below we have a list of 48-hour rainfall totals across select Oklahoma cities.  Off and on rain will continue through Wednesday before the low finally pushes out of the area.  Below-average temperatures will also continue until this time, mainly for central and western Oklahoma.

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.

Change is Coming!

Tired of the heat?  Desperate for rain?  Have we got some news for you!  Beginning tomorrow, an unusually powerful upper-level low will retrograde - that is, move from east to west - towards the Southwest part of the nation from the Northeast.  We know that weather patterns tend to move from west to east in the Northern Hemisphere, so while one that moves from east to west is not unheard of, it is certainly not common, especially this time of year.  This low is expected to track right through the middle of the state, bringing central Oklahoma the most drastic changes.  High temperature drops of near 20 degrees and a healthy amount of rainfall can be expected starting Sunday and lasting through mid-week, especially for central and western Oklahoma.  But, of course, today we must deal with our last day of heat.