Tuesday Morning Update

We're tracking a strong winter storm moving across the state of Oklahoma this morning with significant winter impacts across northern OK and southern Kansas.  Winter storm warnings and advisories are posted for portions of northern and eastern OK.  Please see the current warning and advisory status at the top of this page.    

Freezing drizzle is underway across part of eastern OK this morning but the main system is currently moving across western and central OK with developing snow.  These bands of moderate to heavy snow will arrive this morning across the I-44 corridor and locations northwest through the midday time period.  Locations along and near the I-40 corridor may see a mix of precipitation including some freezing rain or winter mix for a few hours this morning.  Snow totals will be highest along the highway 412 corridor northward and northwest of the I-44 areas.  Accumulation from 4 to 6 inches may be possible across Payne, Pawnee, Osage, and Washington counties.  Higher amounts may be possible from Kay County northward into central Kansas.   

The Tulsa metro could receive 2 to 4 inches of snow this morning with moderate to heavy snowfall rates through late morning.   Travel is expected to become hazardous later this morning as snow expands northeast.  

Locations south and southeast of Tulsa may see mixed precipitation with some minor snow accumulations.  Some travel impacts are still possible in these areas.  

The progressive nature of the upper level system will bring a rapid end to the precipitation by early afternoon.  Dry air will move into the system from the southwest creating an expanding dry slot.  This dry slot will move northeast by 1m to 3pm ending precipitation from the southwest to the northeast.    

Later this afternoon and early evening a strong arctic front will sweep across the region bringing gusty north winds and very cold air back to the state.  Temps by Wednesday morning will be in the lower teens and will stay in the upper teens or lower 20s.  Wind chill values Wednesday morning will be in the zero to -10 ranges.  Thursday morning lows may reach into the single digits from northeastern OK with wind chill values again from zero to -10.  Thursday afternoon highs are expected to remain in the upper teens or lower 20s.  

Most model data supports another upper level wave nearing the state Thursday midday to afternoon.  This wave continues to offer some accumulating snow potential across the state including a slight chance in northeastern OK. The wave does not appear to be as strong in the data this morning compared to the previous days.  

Data also supports another wave Friday night into Saturday morning or possibly Saturday night into Sunday morning.  This wave would also have the potential for some winter weather impacts.  The GFS however is now about a day late (Sunday morning) with most precip on the eastern state line area.  The EURO is around the Saturday period but has most precip to the north.  We'll continue to keep a chance of snow in the forecast for the weekend at this point in the forecast process. 

Residents across the northern third of the state into Kansas should remain aware of the weather this morning as conditions are expected to deteriorate through the morning hours.   

The official high in Tulsa yesterday was 39 from 3:13pm.

The normal daily average high is 50 and the low is 29.

Our daily records include a high of 81 from 2008 and a low of -11 from 1996. 

You'll find me on Facebook and Twitter. 

I'll have a few updates this morning on numerous Radio Oklahoma News Network affiliates across the state through the noon hour. 

Thank you for reading the Tuesday morning weather discussion and blog. 

Have a super great day!

Alan Crone

KOTV