Winds Should Settle Down As Warmup Begins

Fierce north winds should settle down across Oklahoma on Thursday. <br/><br/>The National Weather Service said the cold front that brought wind gusts of 45 mph or greater to the state on Wednesday quickly

Thursday, November 15th 2007, 6:41 am

By: News On 6

Fierce north winds should settle down across Oklahoma on Thursday.

The National Weather Service said the cold front that brought wind gusts of 45 mph or greater to the state on Wednesday quickly moved south and east of the area. The cold air will hover over the state through Thursday, but conditions should quickly warm again.

On Wednesday, skies were partly cloudy and temperatures ranged from 55 degrees in Guymon and Stillwater to 70 degrees in McAlester.

The mercury peaked at 65 degrees in Oklahoma City and reached 66 degrees in Altus, Bartlesville and Tulsa, according to the weather service.

A freeze warning will be in effect until early Thursday for an area north of a line from Quanah, Texas, to Lawton, El Reno and Perry, forecasters said. A freeze watch is in effect for much of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas for Thursday night into Friday morning, when a hard freeze is possible east of a line from Bartlesville to Muskogee to Antlers.

Skies should be sunny Thursday and Friday, with temperatures reaching the 50s and 60s on Thursday before tumbling into the 30s overnight. Highs on Friday should climb into the 60s and 70s, forecasters said.

Partly cloudy skies are expected on Saturday, along with a slight chance of showers in eastern Oklahoma, forecasters said. Highs should again reach the 60s and 70s and lows in the 30s and 40s are forecast.

Mostly cloudy skies are expected Sunday and Monday, with a slight chance of rain lingering in the east on Sunday. Highs both days should reach the 60s and 70s, while lows ranging from the 30s to the lower 50s are expected on Sunday. Low temperatures Monday night should hit the 40s and 50s, the weather service said.