Thursday Morning Update

We're dealing with a marginal freezing drizzle/light snow/ winter weather advisory event near Tulsa for the next few hours. Some minor impacts will be possible in a few areas near the metro with some additional travel impacts across east central OK into northwestern Arkansas.  Temps are running near freezing in across most of the state including northeastern OK.  Winter weather advisory will remain for our immediate areas for the next few hours.  Please check the "red banner" at the top of the main page for watch, warning, and advisory status for your area.   

The light drizzle and light wintry mix is moving eastward as a weak upper level impulse moves away from our area.  We'll be in a short holding pattern for the remainder of the day before another wave currently near the four corners region approaches the state later tonight.  We'll experience mostly cloudy conditions and highs nearing 40 this afternoon along with southeast winds in the 10 mph range.  Later tonight rain with a few rumbles of thunder will develop southwest of the area and quickly move into south-central OK Friday morning and into northern OK soon thereafter.  Model soundings appear to warm to support wintry precip for the area with morning lows in the mid-30s and afternoon highs expected in the upper 40s or even lower 50s.  South winds will be common in the 10 to 22 mph range during the day.  Model data also supports rainfall amounts from .50 to near 1 inch across central and eastern OK.  The system should leave eastern OK into western Arkansas by late Friday evening. 

The weekend appears in great shape despite another boundary nearing the state Sunday night into Monday.  Saturday the morning low will be in the lower 30s followed by afternoon highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s.  Wind should be from the south in the 10 to 15 mph range.  Sunday the temps will be warmer with morning lows back into the lower 30s but daytime highs moving to near 60 to 65 in Tulsa and warmer to the west.   

The upper air pattern will support a ridge of high pressure across the western half of the nation with a trough in the east early next week.  This will create a northwest flow aloft over the state allowing for several boundaries to approach the area.  One front will arrive Monday, another Wednesday, and probably another about next Friday.  Current indications point toward a dry forecast for the week with only minor temperature changes.   

The official high in Tulsa yesterday was 39 recorded at 11;36am.

The normal daily average high is 47 and the low is 27.

The daily records include a high of 72 from 2002 and a low of 0 from 1977. 

You'll find me on Facebook and Twitter. 

I'll be discussing the statewide and regional forecast on numerous Radio Oklahoma News Network affiliates across the state through the morning hours.  

Thank you for reading the Thursday Morning weather discussion and blog.  

Have a great day! 

Alan Crone

KOTV