Dick Faurot's Weather Blog: Windy Wednesday, Cooler Than Normal Thanksgiving Day

After a cool day today, another cool front will arrive Wednesday morning to keep temperatures somewhat below normal right on through Thanksgiving Day itself. However, this will be a dry system as it is moisture starved with only a few clouds and quite frankly a greater concern will be the fire danger potential tomorrow. Notice the max/min temperature map for today, courtesy of the OK Mesonet, and keep in mind that our normal diurnal temperature range at this time of year is 56/36.

Today's light winds will be more southerly at 5-10 mph for tonight, then shifting to the NW as the cool front blows through with winds gusting to 20 mph or more for much of the day. Although temperatures will drop off quickly tonight, they will level off due to the southerly winds and we should start the day in the low-mid 30s. Low-mid 50s are expected that afternoon, but with relative humidity levels dropping into the low 30% range, gusty NW winds, and dormant vegetation; that does create some fire weather concerns.

Lots of sunshine for Wednesday right on through the coming weekend will make for some nice travel conditions with no active weather anywhere nearby. Notice for example the 7 day QPF map which pretty much has us high and dry through the weekend.

After the gusty NW winds tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day will start off with very light winds becoming SE at 5-10 mph by that afternoon. That should keep temperatures a bit below normal with morning lows likely to be in the upper 20s to near 30 and afternoon temperatures likely to be in the low-mid 50s. Anyway you look at it though, Thanksgiving Day looks to be very pleasant if a bit on the cool side.

Black Friday will then have a return to gusty S/SW winds which will continue through Saturday and into the day Sunday before the next cold front arrives later that day. Together with all the sunshine, that will produce a big warm-up with daytime highs well into the 60s if not near 70 for Fri-Sun. Our nights will be milder as well. Gusty southerly winds will also create fire danger concerns again.

The front late Sunday also looks to be pretty much dry as mentioned above, but it will be followed by another short-lived cool down for Monday. Notice the 6-10 day outlook maps which continue to keep us with a quiet pattern along with above normal temperatures. I reference the 6-10 day outlook primarily because it is suggesting a strong signal of above normal precipitation for drought stricken California and another strong precipitation signal east of us. Unfortunately, our drought stricken neighbors in W OK look to miss out of that particular system. Hopefully, that will change.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot