Cold and Wet for Tuesday.

Notice the QPF map on the right which is valid through this coming Saturday morning. If this verifies, much of northern OK stands to receive some badly needed rainfall. Actually, this would be due to two separate events over that time frame. The first is a cold front that will be arriving early Tuesday morning and the other is some energy aloft that will be passing over the state on Friday. Between the two systems, some of our more northern neighbors could receive as much as two inches of rain.

The cold front that is on schedule to arrive during the early morning hours of Tuesday may be preceded by a few severe storms overnight tonight. Wind/hail would appear to be the main threats at this time as the moisture in advance of the cold front is much more limited than what we were dealing with last week. The lack of deep, quality moisture tends to reduce the available instability thus reducing the strength of the storms. However, the wind fields at the surface and aloft will still be strong enough that a line of storms capable of producing damaging winds and hail will be a concern for the overnight hours.

That will be followed by much cooler conditions for Tuesday with morning temperatures being the warmest part of the day and falling temperatures for the afternoon hours. In fact, temperatures dropping into the lower 40s and possibly even the upper 30s by late afternoon will make for a very cold, raw day. Gusty NW winds, cloudy skies, and periods of light rain or showers will also add to the discomfort level on Tuesday.

Temperatures Wednesday morning are a tough call. Our skies will be clearing Tuesday night so we should have clear skies by early morning. However, it does not now appear that the winds will be completely calm and that will keep temperatures from totally bottoming out. At any rate, look for morning lows to be in the lower 30s and locations that are protected from the wind will likely be at or below freezing. In other words, if you have some tender plants out, it would be a good idea to provide some protection. Sunny skies and a NW breeze will make for a pleasant, but very cool Wednesday with afternoon highs only in the 50s to near 60.

Thursday morning will also start off on the cold side with temperatures in the 30s followed by daytime highs back into the 60s along with lots of sunshine.

The upper level system on Friday will keep us overcast so temperatures only in the 60s are expected again after a much milder start that morning. Widespread rain with some embedded thunder will occur and a few severe storms cannot be ruled out, primarily for a wind/hail threat.

After that, we should be warming up going into the weekend and early next week with daytime highs in the upper 70s by Sunday and Monday. After that, our prospects for any more really chilly air coming this way look minimal as the flow aloft will not be nearly as amplified and will become more zonal in nature.

So, hang in there, Spring is on its way.

Dick Faurot