Everyone knows that it’s getting colder when December rolls around, so to start the month with a forecast that feature descending temperatures is insult to injury. It’s made worse by forecasts being warmer than what ultimately verified, as was the case in Tulsa at the beginning of the month. A cold front that was unencumbered with moisture brought brisk winds and chilly temperatures progressively through our forecast period. It started colder than expected and stayed that way. Accuweather had the best line on the chilly weather, not that it was a great forecast. Actuals: December 2nd, High 59, Low 44 December 3rd, High 43, Low 29
Today’s forecast takes us to another part of the country that is known for strong spring time weather, after Decatur earlier this week. Will Tulsa see cool and calm like Decatur did, or will we see something different?
At 953AM, Tulsa was reporting a brisk 42 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and wind gusting over 20mph. The jet was quite strong, which is not unusual for the time of year, and ridging through the center of the country. High pressure centered over the Ohio Valley was generating the brisk wind on it’s back side, with return flow bringing some of the cloud and chances for rain in the southern Plains. Over the Rockies, this same strong jet is producing a trough, which hasn’t fully materialized into a surface low yet, thanks to the local terrain. Expect a deep area of low pressure to emerge over South Dakota tomorrow morning, enhancing the windy conditions over Tulsa. Flow will be from the southwest, with high pressure still nosing into the northern Gulf, and this will staunch moisture flow into Oklahoma. The associated cold front will arrive late Friday with similarly gusty winds, and a significant Saturday cool down. Tomorrow – Passing clouds, breezy, High 67, Low 48 Saturday – Partly cloudy, colder but less windy, High 49, Low 32
TWC: Tomorrow – Overcast. High 65, Low 46 Saturday – Partly cloudy skies. High 49, Low 33
AW: Tomorrow – Mostly cloudy, windy and warmer High 64, Low 47 Saturday – Mostly cloudy and cooler High 48, Low 30
NWS: Tomorrow – Mostly cloudy, High 66, Low 46 Saturday – Mostly sunny, High 51, Low 35
WB: Tomorrow – Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Breezy, High 65, Low 47 Saturday – Mostly sunny, High 50, Low 37
WN: Tomorrow – Partly cloudy, High 65, Low 47 Saturday – Partly cloudy, High 46, Low 36
FIO: Tomorrow – Windy in the morning and afternoon. High 64, Low 44 Saturday – Windy overnight. High 53, Low 33
The high on Saturday will probably come at midnight. The WeatherNation hourly forecast doesn’t extend that far out, but they shouldn’t be too far off. Check out the satellite, showing clouds wrapping around high pressure in Texas and Oklahoma.
Tonight we head to the Southern Plains to see how Tulsa is setting up for the rest of the workweek. Will the Golden Hurricanes of the namesake university see a peaceful couple of days? Or is there a tempest brewing?
At 1053pm CST, the temperature at Tulsa, OK was 63 degrees under partly cloudy skies. An area of low pressure is working through the Midwest, trailing a cold front through the Southern Plains that will bring rain showers and a few scattered thunderstorms during the day. However, temperatures will be falling throughout the day as cooler air works in from the morning as high pressure works down into the Northern Plains. As the boundary continues to push south Thursday into Friday morning, a few lingering rain showers are anticipated over the region, though the heaviest activity looks to be off to the east. Conditions should dry up as the day goes on, but even cooler temps will work their way into the state as high pressure pushes further south over the Central Plains.
Thursday: Chances of showers and thunderstorms. High 62, Low 42.
Friday: Widespread showers. High 41, Low 34.
TWC: Thursday: Rain. High 65, Low 44.
Friday: Showers. High 44, Low 34.
AW: Thursday: A shower in the morning. High 65, Low 45.
Friday: Occasional morning rain. High 44, Low 35.
NWS: Thursday: Chance of showers then thunderstorms. High 63, Low 45.
Friday: Showers then chance of thunderstorms. High 45, Low 36.
WB: Thursday: Rain showers expected. High 63, Low 45.
Friday: Morning rain showers. High 45, Low 35.
WN: Thursday: Mostly cloudy with isolated storms. High 63, Low 45.
Friday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. High 44, Low 37.
FIO: Thursday: Light rain starting later tonight. High 66, Low 44.
Friday: Possible light rain until afternoon. High 45, Low 36.
Some decent rain showers are found east of the city and pushing towards Joplin. Another couple rounds of precip are in the cards for the rest of the workweek however.
