Severe Threat Wanes, But Rain Remains

It's been another multi-day stretch of rain and storms across Green Country. Beneficial rain has fallen with a smattering of severe weather reports as well. Instead of a single, stubborn upper-level low pressure system bringing us the rain like over Memorial Day weekend, a series of fast-moving waves in the jet stream have put us along a highway of storms with a stalled frontal boundary in the area acting as a focus for their development. Wave after wave of storms have put that boundary far enough south that Eastern Oklahoma is finally in a cooler, more stable air mass. The result? Less thunder, lighter rain, and a break from more typical late spring weather.

The past four days have put a nice dent in our drought. Rain totals have exceeded 4" in places as you can see in the first attached map. We might be able to add another inch to these totals with the final wave of potentially heavy rain on Monday. This will swing a cold front past our area and start the change to drier, warmer weather.

Tuesday will be a transition day as the wrap-around effects of a low pressure brings additional showers. It may be warmer and there may be a little sunshine, but we'll still remain a good 10° below normal with our high temperatures.

Wednesday will be a return to seasonable conditions – warm, muggy and breezy. That may be the day to get that mowing done as another round of storms likely returns to the picture Thursday. The week may finish out with hot, humid conditions with a slight chance of another storm over the weekend.

Overall, the drought isn't busted, but this is a nice dent in one of the driest first halves of any year here in Tulsa. Another 7" of rain and we'll eliminate that rainfall deficit in Tulsa altogether! Enjoy the rain and the overall lack of severe weather – we know not take that for granted in our state, especially on this 40th anniversary of one of Tulsa's largest tornadoes. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, @GroganontheGO and on my Facebook page!