The Big Chill

Update:

10:10 AM

A new record low for Tulsa:

0912 AM CST THU FEB 10 2011

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT TULSA OKLAHOMA...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -12 DEGREES WAS SET AT TULSA OKLAHOMA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF -3 SET IN 1929.

 This is the 5th coldest morning in Tulsa's weather history.

We've seen very cold morning temperatures across a large portion of northern OK.  Records have been set in some locations.  Bartlesville reported -28, and many other locations easily dropped from -7 to -20.  The Bartlesville temperature of -28 is now the state's all-time record low. At least for now....

Here's a few statements from our friends at the National Weather Service:

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
755 AM CDT THU FEB 10 2011

...ALL TIME RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT BARTLESVILLE OKLAHOMA...
...ALL TIME RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA...

AN ALL TIME RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES BELOW ZERO WAS SET
AT BARTLESVILLE OKLAHOMA THIS MORNING AT 7:19 AM. THE PREVIOUS ALL
TIME RECORD LOW WAS 25 BELOW ZERO JANUARY 22ND 1930. THIS SMASHES
THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR THIS DATE OF 13 BELOW ZERO SET IN 1929.

THIS ALSO SETS THE ALL TIME RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR THE STATE OF
OKLAHOMA. THE PREVIOUS RECORD LOW WAS 27 DEGREES BELOW ZERO SET AT
VINITA, OK IN 1905 AND AT WATTS, OK IN 1930.

THIS INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND WILL BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.

Also...take note of the last sentence:

The temperature " trace " will be investigated,  just to make sure the data was correct.

From McAlester:

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0912 AM CST THU FEB 10 2011


...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT MCALESTER OKLAHOMA...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -4 DEGREES WAS SET AT MCALESTER OKLAHOMA
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 10 SET IN 1981.

I'll try to post more information later regarding these extreme temperatures.

We expect mostly sunny conditions today with a few clouds and highs in the mid 20s.  A wind chill advisory will remain for the morning hours. 

You may have noticed some fog on occasion across the area this morning.  Small bodies of water may be frozen, but some larger lakes, streams, and rivers will have water with temperatures much warmer than the surrounding air.  Some fog will form for the next few hours.  It's not impossible to see a few snow flurries near the very large bodies of water.  We had some reports this morning from Grand Lake and also Keystone Lake of a few snow flurries.

Speaking of snow.

What a mess.  The historic snowfall yesterday was of epic proportions across extreme northern and eastern OK.  A narrow band of heavy snow produced 15 to 25 inch snowfall accumulations.  North and south of this narrow band, snowfall reports drastically reduced to near 10 inches, and 10 miles south of this area snowfall accumulations reduced to near 5 inches.  This band of heavy snow was 10 miles wide and almost 140 miles long.  What a mess.

 The upper air pattern is undergoing a big change.  A trough - ridge displacement cycle will be underway with a mid level ridge building across the desert southwest.  The polar jet will move northward and warmer air will begin circulating across the southern plains this weekend and more so next week.  The initial air Sunday will move into the mid 50s but we should see some 60 degree weather by the middle of next week.

 Euro data supports another weak boundary crossing the area Monday, and there remains a possibility of another upper level system approaching by the end of next week, but temperatures will be mild.

 A special note of thanks to all our viewers submitting snowfall totals and other information yesterday as we compiled information about the historic snow event.

Alan