Winter Storm System Tracks Across Southern Oklahoma

Cold weather will stick around for the next few days before a significant warm-up occurs this weekend into next week.  But we’re tracking a winter system that may bring some wintry weather impacts across the southern portions of the state beginning today and continuing Thursday into early Friday across mostly the southern sections of the state. 

A winter storm watch is posted for locations along the I-35 corridor into the Arbuckle’s westward, with a short-term winter weather advisory underway for part of south central Oklahoma into north Texas. 

A travel advisory is in effect through 6 p.m. for areas south of Tulsa. As of 1 p.m., freezing rain is falling in the Muskogee and McAlester areas. Slick spots are likely on elevated surfaces. 

The metro will more than likely not be included in winter weather advisories. The locations most likely to be impacted by wintry precip in our immediate area of concern would be south or along the I-40 corridor region and mostly across far southeastern Oklahoma.   The metro appears to be on the northern edge of this system. 

We still may see some light rain Thursday evening into Friday morning, yet the chance continues to lower and may continue to lower in subsequent forecast updates.

The main upper level storm system seems to be trending more southward in the data which would limit the northward extent of precipitation.  This means some locations across northeastern Oklahoma, including the Tulsa metro, could remain dry or at least on the very northern edge of precipitation, while locations along and south of I-40 would have the better shot of rain changing to some wintry precipitation. 

Spotty showers are populating north Texas this morning and will extend into far southern Oklahoma, where temps are below freezing west of I-35 and slightly above freezing along the Red River counties of far southern Oklahoma. 

Pittsburg to Latimer and LeFlore counties will be below freezing early this morning and could see a few areas of light freezing precip before temps move above freezing by midday. 

It’s this same area later tonight into early Thursday that may also see some light freezing rain for a short period.  But the better locations will be around south-central Oklahoma into northern Texas where winter weather advisories will remain.

As the main upper level storm system moves across north Texas Thursday afternoon and evening, rain will develop across southeastern Oklahoma with some freezing rain or sleet possibilities around the Arbuckle formation.  Some snow will be likely across far southwestern Oklahoma into the northwestern areas of North Texas. 

Unless the track of the upper level low shifts northward, almost all of this precip will stay across the southern third of the state.   Only a few hints remain for some precip to approach the Tulsa metro pre-dawn Friday.  But, at this point, we’ll need to keep a mention still in the forecast, just in case the low shifts northward.  Our probability will be trending lower compared to previous numbers. 

The good news, for most folks, will be a warming trend following the exit of this upper level system.  Clouds are expected to gradually clear with partly sunny sky and highs in the upper 40s or even low 50s by Friday afternoon. 

The pattern this weekend will support a return of south winds and highs moving into the upper 50s to lower 60s this weekend before our next system quickly brushes eastern Oklahoma Monday with a slight chance of showers.  The pattern will continue to support above normal temps next week.

Thanks for reading the Wednesday morning weather discussion and blog.