Dick Faurot's Weather Blog: Near Record Lows Tonight

The clouds, some lingering showers and a NE wind has helped keep temperatures under control again today - quite a contrast to what we usually have in August. Notice the max/min temperature map for today, courtesy of the OK Mesonet, and keep in mind that the normal temperature range at this time of year is 92/70 here in Tulsa. With clearing skies tonight, light winds and the drier air brought in by the NE winds; that combination will result in near-record low temperatures to start the day Tuesday.

Tuesday morning lows in the 50s will make for a very cool start for August and Wednesday morning will also be cool with lower 60s expected. Lots of sunshine during the day will also result in a quick warm-up as we should be in the upper 70s by noon and the mid-80s for Tuesday afternoon and back to near 90 on Wednesday. Winds will remain very light, generally from an easterly component for Tuesday and a light SE wind for Wednesday - all in all, mighty nice for late August.

A weak system aloft will bring more clouds our way for the Thu/Fri time frame and could produce a few showers, but moisture will be very limited, so the chances are minimal the way things look at this time. However, the clouds should keep us below 90 during the day although our nights will be warmer. Southerly winds through the weekend and into early next week will maintain very warm conditions with temperatures near normal to end the month of August.

As mentioned, our chances of any precipitation during this forecast period are very slim as you can see on the 7-day QPF map, which keeps our side of the state pretty much high and dry.

So, thought a look back at this last system which produced some very significant rains would be in order.

As is often the case, there were some winners and some losers. Notice the 4-day rainfall map, courtesy of the OK Mesonet, and the 5” or so at Stillwater really stands out. But the locations that needed the rain the most received the least with little or no rain for SC OK and SE OK.

Compare that map with the one showing the last 30 days of rainfall and you can see that SC OK and SE OK are really getting dry and could use some good rains. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, those prospects are in the slim to none category for this forecast cycle.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot