Storms To Taper Off, Allow For Dry Weekend

After a stormy start, the weather across Oklahoma will improve on Friday. <br/><br/>The National Weather Service said several weather features will converge over the state late Thursday into Friday, providing

Friday, July 13th 2007, 11:02 am

By: News On 6

After a stormy start, the weather across Oklahoma will improve on Friday.

The National Weather Service said several weather features will converge over the state late Thursday into Friday, providing a good chance for thunderstorms and some severe weather.

During the first round, storms rolled off the high Plains Thursday evening and surged south into warm, moist air. Upper-level disturbances were expected to track out of the same area Friday morning for another possible round. Meanwhile, a large complex of storms were expected to form along a stationary cold front, according to the weather service.

The best chance of severe weather was south of the stalled front, which was expected to move northward through the evening, forecasters said.

The rain was expected to exacerbate the flooding situation.

On Thursday, skies were partly to mostly cloudy. Temperatures ranged from 79 degrees in Muskogee to 93 degrees in Frederick. The mercury peaked at 82 degrees in McAlester, Stillwater and Tulsa and hit 84 degrees in Oklahoma City.

The weekend will be mainly dry as drier air moves into the state. It is possible another slow-moving upper low pressure system will form over Texas next week and move northward toward Oklahoma. Rain chances will expand, particularly for eastern Oklahoma, forecasters said.

Storms are likely statewide before noon on Friday, with a slight chance in the Panhandle. Highs should reach the 80s and 90s and lows should dip into the 60s and 70s.

Skies should be partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of storms in eastern Oklahoma on Saturday and mainly in southeastern Oklahoma on Sunday, forecasters said.

Highs should reach the 80s and 90s and lows in the 60s and 70s are expected.

Slight chances will linger into Monday and Tuesday, with highs reaching the 80s and 90s both days. Lows should fall into the 60s and 70s through the period, according to the weather service.