Active Pattern.

The way this weather pattern is shaping up, it looks like periodic episodes of active weather every 3 or 4 days for the next couple of weeks. For example, there was the potential for storms on Friday as a cold front moved through, we will have another chance of storms on Tuesday as another cold front will be coming through, and it looks like yet another chance along about Saturday associated with another cold front. This pattern looks to persist going into the following week as well and each of these events will have the potential for severe storms.

In between, we have northerly winds and briefly cooler conditions such as we are having today. Gusty northerly winds and morning clouds will be followed by clearing skies this afternoon along with diminishing winds. Clear skies and light winds are then expected for tonight which will result in a widespread freeze to start the day Sunday; then, its back to southerly winds and a warming trend for Sunday afternoon into the day Tuesday.

Those southerly winds will become rather gusty by Sunday afternoon and will be quite strong and gusty for Monday and much of the day Tuesday. This will also result in an enhanced fire danger situation for the next several days due to the strength of the winds and the above normal temperatures.

Moisture levels will also be on the increase as those south winds start to tap into the Gulf of Mexico so look for mostly cloudy skies for Monday and Tuesday. The timing of the next cold front is still somewhat uncertain, but right now it appears that late in the day Tuesday will be a good first approximation. This system should not be moisture starved as was the case with the cold front on Friday, so showers and storms look to be a good bet and some of those will be severe.

Then the cycle repeats itself for Wed-Fri until the next cold front approaches along about Saturday or so. Pretty typical for March in Oklahoma.

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

Dick Faurot