More Sunshine

Good morning.   Another chilly start is expected today with temperatures into the upper 20s and lower 30s.   A few areas of patchy fog will be possible.  Daytime highs will move into the mid-50s along with light wind and abundant sunshine.   A minor warming trend is likely Friday and Saturday with highs I the upper 50s nearing 60 before another storm system moves across the state Sunday bringing a slight chance of showers along with cloudy and cooler air.   Another minor warm-up is likely early next week before another pattern change brings colder air into the state late next week.

A surface ridge of high pressure near the area this morning will quickly move east and southeast by midday to afternoon.   A light south surface wind will develop with the clockwise flow around the high.   Temperatures should warm into the mid-50s for most of northern OK with another mostly sunny day anticipated for the area.   My temperatures for Friday and Saturday may end up one or two degrees too warm but I’ll stick with high near 60 for the weekend.  Gusty south wind should develop Friday afternoon and more likely Saturday in advance of the next system.

A long wave trough is located across the pacific west this morning and will continue to slide slowly eastward.  An area of low pressure will develop at the base of the trough during the next day and will move across the desert southwest U.S. Friday.   This weekend the tail end of the trough will move across the state late Saturday night into Sunday bringing some cooler air aloft and a low chance for spotty showers for part, but not all, of eastern OK Sunday.   The low level moisture is expected to remain sparse but the strong lift associated with the system may produce some showers across the area but any amounts will be very light.  Data output this morning is extremely low with any measurable precipitation.   I’ll only keep a 20% mention in the forecast for Sunday.

The system exits the area late Sunday night with improving conditions early next week.   Temperatures are expected to move back into the mid-50s Monday and into the lower 60s for the middle of next week.

Another pattern change is likely late next week bringing more cold air back to the nation and into portions of the central and southern plains states.

Thanks for reading the Thursday morning weather discussion and blog.

Alan Crone

KOTV