Warmer, Chance of Rain Next Few Days.

If the last week or so seemed unusually cool to you, your perception was correct as the average temperature for the period from Mar 20-26 was the third coolest on record for those dates. The only previous years that were cooler were 1965 and 1974. Perhaps more significantly, the average temperature for that same time frame last year was 20 degrees warmer so we have experienced quite a change from this time last year to now. Of course, March of 2012 was the warmest March on record and helped set the stage for what turned out to be the warmest year on record. So far this year, January was warmer than normal, February was cooler than normal, and March will end up much cooler than normal despite some relatively mild conditions to end the month.

In fact, temperatures will actually be warmer than normal right on through Easter Sunday before another shot of cooler air arrives to start the month of April. Our normal diurnal temperature range at this time of year is 66/44 for the high/low respectively. We started the day today close to normal for a change and should end the day pretty close to normal as well. However, mostly cloudy skies will also be the general rule for the next several days along with increasing chances of showers/storms.

The mostly cloudy skies together with southerly winds will keep our nights much milder with morning lows expected to be in the low-mid 50s right on into Easter Sunday morning. Our daytime highs will be impacted by the clouds and scattered showers/storms but should still reach the upper 60s to around 70 through Easter as well.

Our rain chances will also be on the increase and in fact the QPF map on the right suggests the potential for some decent rainfall by the time it is all said and done. We can certainly use the moisture since the month of March so far has been a dry one and we are more than 2 inches below normal through the day today.

Scattered showers and some thunder may occur tonight into early Friday morning, particularly for the more northern counties where a weak frontal boundary is nearly stationary just north of the OK/KS state line. Another chance of scattered showers/storms will occur during the afternoon/evening/night of Friday and our best chance of showers/storms will likely be Saturday night into Sunday morning. Right now, Easter Sunday itself looks promising with most of any lingering showers/storms confined to the more southern counties that morning

After that, a stronger cool front will push through the state Monday morning followed by much cooler conditions to start next week. There will also be another chance of showers/storms on Monday but cooler/drier conditions will prevail after that before things start warming back up again later in the week.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot