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.