Mild Saturday, Cooler Sunday.

Notice the map on the right, courtesy of the OK Mesonet, which shows the high temperatures across the state today. A number of records have either been tied or set with this early taste of Spring, but don't get too used to these warm temperatures. Cooler air will be spreading back across the state first thing Saturday morning as a cool front will be pushing across the state during the day. It will be rather slow to push into the more SE counties and will likely stall out for a time by late in the day just north of I-40. It will then get a stronger push on Sunday into Monday as the cool front finally exits the state.

The impact on temperatures will be such that by late in the day Saturday the more northern counties will be near the 60 degree mark while the more southern counties will be closer to 80. Brisk N to NE winds and cloudy skies will also prevail behind the front with at least some sunshine for the more southern counties that are still ahead of the boundary. Any threat of rain will hold off till that night and primarily for the more northern counties as some energy aloft moves overhead. That will provide more energy at the surface as well and push the surface front on through the state Sunday. That will also provide more in the way of scattered showers and even some thunder for Sunday into Sunday night or early Monday for the more eastern counties. Don't get your hopes up too high though as it looks like the rains will be generally on the light side.

Much of next week will then be at or below normal with respect to our daytime high temperatures, and it could turn out to be downright chilly by late in the week and the coming weekend. In fact, it is looking like a more unsettled pattern is trying to set up towards the latter part of the week as well. There is still a good bit of uncertainty regarding that time period due to inconsistencies in the longer range guidance. For now, will go with the cooler, wetter solutions beginning Wednesday and possibly extending into the weekend.

In the meantime, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot