Cooler Temperatures Are On The Way

After hitting highs in the upper 80s yesterday, cooler weather is expected today. The cold front will move across the metro between now 9 a.m. bringing a reduction in temperature along with winds shifting out of the west and northwest at 20 to 30 MPH. Temperatures along and ahead of the boundary are currently in the 60s and 70s. Readings behind the boundary this morning have dropped into the 40s and 50s.  A few brief sprinkles or spotty showers may be possible but no measurable precip will be expected due to the layer of warm air aloft suppressing any significant upward development. 

 As the front passes the metro, temps should drop into the upper 40s and lower 50s with slightly lower readings to the northwest of the I-44 corridor region. The temp drop across east-central and southeastern OK won’t be as robust this morning but should drop into the lower 50s upon frontal passage. Later today, locations near and north of the metro will rebound with highs in the upper 50s with lower to mid-60s likely across southeastern and east=central OK. Significantly drier air in the lower levels of the atmosphere will necessitate another mention of high fire danger issue today along with the gusty northwest winds. There will be some sunshine along with a few clouds. 

Later this evening, the temps will drop quickly into the 40s for outdoor activities and bottom-out into the mid-30s Friday morning across most of northern OK and into the lower 40s across the southeastern quadrant of the state. Some light patchy frost is possible, but some morning clouds may reduce this low chance. Friday afternoon highs are expected to reach the upper 50s and lower 60s along with sunshine and north winds near 10 mph. Friday will be a very pleasant day yet cooler compared to the upper 80s we experienced earlier in the week.

This weekend a strong southern stream storm system will develop and move across Texas while cool air remains in place across most of Oklahoma. Moisture will begin streaming northward into the state Saturday morning with showers developing across the Red River Valley through the morning hours.  By midday to early afternoon, some of this rain will begin reaching the central and northeastern OK region along with daytime highs in the upper 40s or lower 50s. Northeast surface winds are expected to increase slightly and should result in a rather wet and chilly afternoon and evening. Due to the positioning of the main system, severe weather will not occur across NE OK, but some locally moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall may be possible resulting totals of 1 to 2 inches of rain. A few strong to near severe storms may be possible across extreme southeastern OK Saturday evening with a higher threat of surface-based thunderstorms across part of NE Texas.

As the system begins to exit the state late Saturday evening into Sunday morning, the air will be cold enough for some snow across mostly northwestern OK. As the data stands now, the air should not be cold enough for any wintry precipitation across NE OK. This system will eject out of the area by early Sunday morning with improving weather by afternoon along with highs Sunday afternoon reaching the mid to upper 60s. Our next stronger system will approach the area by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thanks for reading the Thursday morning weather discussion and blog.