Icy Threat Turns to Snow Potential Monday

Nearly each day in the past week has featured some type of winter weather hazard, and that can be said as we head into the new week. Freezing fog and drizzle have created a glaze of ice on many roads around Green Country. One more winter hazard lies ahead, and that is the snow potential for Monday.

A fast-moving jet stream will bring a few upper-level disturbances, which will amount to several bands of snow pushing into Oklahoma starting late Sunday and lasting until early Tuesday morning. The computer models haven't been entirely clear on how organized the snow bands will be or how heavy they become. However, they have been consistently placing snow over wide swaths of the state, indicating the likelihood we'll see some accumulating snowfall.

Whether we see an inch or 5 inches of snow, travel impacts are likely. After a brief rise above freezing Sunday afternoon (marking an end to a 100+ hour stretch of sub-freezing temperatures), the temperatures will settle back into the low to mid-20s. This is cold enough for any road to become covered in snow, especially if not treated. Snow showers may begin late Sunday night, but the daytime period on Monday is the most likely time for substantial snowfall. (See the first map for the timeline of the snow potential) The snow will come to an end from west to east by Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

The corridor of heaviest snow is still not nailed down, but it appears that northeast and east-central Oklahoma has the best chance for seeing 2"-3" of snow. Locally more snow is possible as well. (See second map) The latest computer model runs downplay heavier accumulation at this point, but, in this situation, it's best to take the middle ground.

The impacts on travel may last into midweek as temperatures remain below freezing until midday Wednesday. Be sure to plan ahead for the difficult travel conditions Monday into Tuesday. Heavier snow may spare us until after the Monday morning commute, but any burst of snow during the day could quickly make roads treacherous. Temperatures dipping into the mid-teens by Tuesday morning as the snow ends won't help matters either.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though! A warming trend is expected for the latter half of the week with generally quiet weather. We could be well into the 50s as early as Thursday and there are some indications 60s may return next weekend! We'll finally get a chance to thaw out from this winter onslaught. Until then, have the snow boots and the patience on the roadways handy!

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