Big Coat Weather

We're expecting a mostly sunny but cold day with highs in the mid to upper 30s for most of the area.  Wind chill values will be in the single digits to near 12 this morning.  Warmer air is expected this weekend.  A few clouds will be likely across far NE OK. 

The cold front is well southeast of our area and the light snow is also gone but not before depositing some light accumulations across northern Ok and southern Kansas late last night.  No major travel issues are expected this morning but it doesn't take much to create a few slick spots.  Drivers should exercise some caution for a few hours this morning across extreme NE Ok and SE Kansas.   

The big issues revolve around our very cold wind chill values this morning.  The northwest winds will blow in the 20 mph range with some higher gusts for the next few hours.  Surface temperatures in the upper teens and lower 20s will yield wind chill values in the single digits to near 12 for the next few hours.  The winds should begin diminishing somewhat later this afternoon but the colder air will remain through Friday before moderating this weekend. 

I have noticed a band of low and mid level clouds rotating around the trough across eastern Kansas.  A few of these clouds may attempt to slide across NE Ok around the noon hour, but otherwise, we'll expect mostly sunny conditions for the day.  

The fire danger is high today across those areas that did not receive any light snowfall last night.  This includes most of the region south of a line from Southern Okmulgee county to south of Tahlequah.  Residents across southern OK should remain aware of the potential for rapid fire spread today. 

The weekend will feature highs in the 50s Saturday and near 60 Sunday before the next system drives a front into the region Monday with a chance of some showers or storms, but mainly across Eastern OK and Western Arkansas.  

The GFS is a little more robust with precip but the EURO continues to suggest just a few shower or storms possible to our east where the better moisture will be pooling.  We'll keep only a slight chance of showers or storms for Monday night with a modest cool down for Tuesday.