Quiet Pattern Returns After Stormy Weekend

We made it through our first "High Risk" severe weather day of the season, and it certainly verified in portions of Oklahoma. Several supercells trekked across the northwestern section of the state, dropping tornadoes left and right. After dodging twister after twister earlier in the day (and week for that matter), Woodward bore the brunt of a preliminarily-rated EF-3 tornado just after midnight. The attached map shows that Oklahoma wasn't alone in this tornado outbreak. 126 reports of tornadoes came in Saturday alone… about a dozen in Oklahoma through Sunday. Although eastern Oklahoma was spared the worst, we didn't escape without some damage. A tornado briefly touched down in Skiatook early Sunday morning. A few hours later, another tornado tore up the landscape of eastern Cherokee County. Only minor structural damage was reported for the most part, but it certainly was a blow to the families who have to clean up. We mustn't forget the storms overnight on Friday as well, which caused the destruction of two barns outside of Sand Springs.

After the entire central Plains endured quite the lashing from Mother Nature, things are finally beginning to settle down. In fact, a very quiet pattern will set up for the first part of the week with a gradual return to zonal flow in the jet stream. That will keep any major storm systems from developing and allow for rather seasonable temperatures. Our next chance of storms arrives late on Thursday in the form of a cold front diving south. As is usually the case this time of year, severe thunderstorms are possible, but it doesn't look anything like the episode over the weekend.

I must say, that is music to our ears in the Weather Center. Once the job of keeping Green Country residents safe is done, we thoroughly enjoy some rest! We'll gladly take the clear, rather calm weather while it lasts. There are already signs more potent storms systems could come our way before the end of the month. It will keep all of us Oklahomans on our toes. Be sure to follow me on Twitter: @GroganontheGO and "like" me on Facebook!