Severe Storms, Cold Fronts, Snow, Frost and Freeze

It’s that time of year when the weather across Oklahoma can come with some wild swings. There will be a couple of opportunities for severe storms, then two cold fronts, a frost, possible snow, and a freeze.

For those that planted early, hopefully you protected your delicates over the weekend as the state saw a widespread freeze. We’ll talk about the next one in a moment.

At first glance, the Jetstream doesn’t have a lot going for it until the weekend when two upper lows will combine across Oklahoma on Sunday. There will be a weak disturbance on Tuesday and a broad SW flow aloft for the rest of the week. Assuming the weekend storm systems collide as the European suggests, this would produce enough lift with cold air in place for a little snow late Sunday and Monday.

But before we get to that possibility, we will have a return to strong gusty winds out of the south and southwest this week. This typically means an enhanced fire danger across W/NW OK and the possibility of storms near the dryline as well. Odds are very low in the dataset of today for severe storms Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon due to the lack of deep-quality moisture. That could increase however as our hi-resolution models get a better grasp on things. As it looks now there is a chance for severe storms both days in the areas where there is significant CAPE in WC OK Tuesday and along the I-35 corridor and points east late Wednesday. Other than that as a cold front sweeps the state Thursday afternoon, a few storms in far SE OK during that time.

Despite the slim chances for storms, there may not be much rain this week. If you’ve been planting outside like I have, you know it’s too early for those delicate flowers. Be prepared to cover them up. We’ll likely see a light frost Saturday morning, a freeze for several Monday morning, and a harder widespread freeze Tuesday morning into the following week.

Temperatures here in OKC are fairly decent until the weekend. We need to switch this pattern, let it be cooler midweek and nice and warm on Saturday and Sunday. You listening Mother Nature? -AT