Wednesday Update

The main upper level low is still west of the region this morning and will bring one more chance for showers or storms to the region before exiting later tonight to the northeast.  The coverage of showers or storms will be low and mainly confined to the northern third of the state.  The air aloft is very cold and this will act to destabilize the atmosphere this afternoon as the colder air spreads over the region.  The environment could produce a few storms with some small hail and gusty winds, but the overall true severe threat will remain low.  Despite the low threat, a few cold air funnels may be possible this afternoon across part of the area.  If these do form, they will be very weak and shouldn't touch the ground.  You may recall about 2 weeks ago we had a few cold air funnels reported.  

The temperatures this afternoon will be in the lower 70s from Tulsa to the east with some upper 60s to the east.  Partly cloudy conditions will be likely along with southwest surface winds.  The winds will change from the northwest later tonight and tomorrow allowing for morning lows Thursday in the lower 50s with highs nearing the upper 60s.    

Friday should be the best day of the week with morning lows near 50 and highs in the lower 70s.  

A weak front will slide into the state Friday evening into Saturday and could provide a few showers or storms for northern OK.  This boundary may stall or remain very close to the state this weekend into early next week allowing for a few additional showers or storms Eastern Sunday into Monday.   

The extended data supports highs early next week into the 60s with morning lows in the lower to mid-40s.  If this verifies, the afternoon highs may stay below the seasonal average early next week.

North Texas Tornadoes:

The number and strength of the north Texas tornadoes was interesting.  The shear aloft was not extreme but the lower level of the atmosphere supported a true warm front draped across part of the North Texas area.  This boundary allowed for some convergence along the advancing pacific front and enhanced the low level spin the atmosphere for a few hours in North Texas.  The primary reports from the Storm Prediction Center supports at least 18 tornadoes from yesterday's activity, but damage assessment teams will be in the field today and this number may change.

Earthquake:

So far, as of this hour, no additional earthquakes have been detected by the USGS across the state.