Rain moves out early, Spring-like weekend weather
A Wet Start for Thursday
Take the rain gear if you’re out early this morning, as rain is expected near and east of the Tulsa Metro.
This system should quickly move from west to east out of the area by mid-morning, and by this afternoon, we will see decreasing clouds and temperatures rebounding into the upper 50s east and lower 60s west.
Any threat of heavy rainfall?
The heavier rains have now shifted mostly east of our immediate area, but some heavy rainfall will continue across extreme southeastern Oklahoma over the next several hours where a flood watch remains until 3 p.m. today.
The main upper-level system has yet to clear the area and will not do so until early tomorrow morning.
This strong upper-level system could spread a few wrap-around showers across southeastern Kansas and far northern Oklahoma tomorrow morning through midday. Most of this will stay north of the immediate Tulsa metro, which is why our probability remains on the low side for a short-term Friday morning to midday.
Colder air aloft could always filter down through the surface and cause a snowflake or two, but the data has not been very bullish on this scenario for locations along the southeastern Kansas region.
How About Friday?
Friday morning’s temperatures will start in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Daytime highs will stay in the mid to upper 50s, but gusty northwest winds at 15 to 25 mph will create some minor wind chills. Take the coat tomorrow.
Is the Spring Preview Still in the forecast for Saturday?
Yep! This weekend features a small preview of spring-like weather.
Saturday morning will be chilly with morning lows in the lower 30s, but daytime highs will reach the mid to upper 60s in northern Oklahoma and upper 60s near 70 on Sunday.
Gusty south winds at 15 to 25 mph will be the only inconvenience on Saturday, with lighter breezes from the south on Sunday. The weekend will be dry and mostly sunny.
What About Next Week’s Weather Pattern?
Next week’s weather pattern will eventually focus on the potential for another strong cold front moving across the Southern Plains. The data is highly inconsistent and will remain so for the next few days.
We anticipate several changes will likely occur in the latter half of the extended forecast. For example, temperatures Monday through Wednesday could undergo some radical changes.
Our forecast continues to stay on the warmer side of guidance. This means we think the strong cold front will more than likely not move through until the middle or even the end of next week.
If, for example, the front does arrive earlier than anticipated, some changes to the Tuesday and Wednesday forecast would be likely. In other words, temperatures would get colder.
There’s also potential for a storm system nearing the middle to the end of next week that could spread some precipitation nearby.
All of this to say, remain aware of your weather as we move into the middle to the end of next week.
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Where are the warming shelters available in Tulsa this year?
The city of Tulsa, local shelters, warming stations, and outreach teams are working to ensure access to safe, warm spaces during the cold temperatures.
>>> City of Tulsa prepares for extreme cold temperatures
>>> Warming Shelters Open Across Tulsa Amid Freezing Temperatures
Tulsa shelters and temporary warming locations are open to provide refuge. Major locations include:
- John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne — Open 24/7
- The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. — Open 24/7
- Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. — Open 24/7 (Pets allowed, limited capacity)
- Youth Services of Tulsa, 311 S. Madison Ave.
Temporary overflow shelters will also be open for the cold weather:
- The Merchant: 605 S. Peoria Ave., open Monday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–Noon; Tuesday-Friday, 9–11 a.m.
- Denver Avenue Station: 319 S. Denver Ave., open Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, 5:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
- The Station at Youth Services: 311 S. Madison Ave., open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Iron Gate: 501 W. Archer St., open daily, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
- The Ministry Center: 312 S. 33rd W. Ave., open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
For a full list of warming station locations and hours, visit Housing Solutions’ Winter Weather Information Page.
>>> Warming Shelters, Safety Tips For Cold Temperatures This Winter In Oklahoma
Bring Pets Inside!
Winter temperatures can pose additional challenges for pets, particularly older animals or those with health conditions. Hartfield recommends:
- Wellness Checks: Ensure pets are up to date on vaccines and discuss arthritis or other cold-weather health concerns with a veterinarian.
- Outdoor Time: Monitor the duration of outdoor activities, especially for short-haired breeds or pets with conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
- Paw Care: After walks, inspect and clean paws to remove ice or de-icing chemicals that could harm your pet.
>>> Cold Weather Pet Tips: How To Keep Animals Safe During Winter Months
How Can I Protect Myself From Sickness This Winter?
The Tulsa Health Department is urging residents to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent respiratory illnesses as Oklahoma enters the coldest months of the year.
- Health experts say the risk of respiratory illnesses is higher during the winter, as colder weather often leads to more indoor gatherings, increasing the likelihood of viruses spreading.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Oklahoma is one of 11 states with very high respiratory virus activity, and with flu vaccination rates lower than this time in 2024, more people have reported getting sick.
>>> How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Illness This Winter
Emergency Info: Outages Across Oklahoma:
Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric cooperatives, many of which have overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.
>>> Tulsa HVAC, Plumbing Companies Flooded With Calls During Cold Weather
- PSO Outage Map
- OG&E Outage Map
- VVEC Outage Map
- Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
- Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map — (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)
The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fEZPYYSi4emW9fYwMROVf
The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:
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