Rain is Moving Out.

Notice the 24 hour rainfall map courtesy of the OK Mesonet on the right. Quite a rainfall gradient across the state with the SE counties picking up too much rain and having some drainage issues and the locations that really needed the rains the most receiving the least. Unfortunately, that looks to be our last decent chance at some statewide moisture through the rest of this forecast cycle and quite likely well beyond that.

The lingering rains for the more SE counties will be ending tonight with only some drizzle or a few light showers to start the day on Thursday along with temperatures near 40. Our skies should be quickly clearing during the day so that despite a north wind we expect daytime highs to be well into the 50s. Friday morning will start off near freezing but a south wind and lots of sunshine will push temperatures back into the 50s to near 60.

A stronger cold front is still on schedule to arrive early Friday night with a brisk north wind and much cooler conditions for Saturday. There remain some hints that a brief flurry of snow may occur for the more NE counties that night but it will not amount to much. After the cool-down for Saturday and to start the day on Sunday, we can expect another warming trend to start Sunday afternoon continuing into at least the early part of next week.

Also, the longer range guidance continues to show more of the same with occasional cool fronts pushing across the state to provide a brief cool-down followed by a quick return to above normal temperatures. Not only that, but the prospects for another round of widespread, soaking rains appears rather dim as well. We continue to be on the fringe of the deeper, better quality moisture which keeps getting pushed further east of us. Thus, there will be chances of showers and storms over the next few weeks but with the sharp W-E moisture gradient, the locations that need it the most will probably miss out. This also means that our prospects for a significant winter storm remain in the slim to none category for at least the next week or two.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot