Nothing much to see here as we begin December. Quite remarkable in its own way, I suppose.

^

Remember last year at this time??

About the biggest difference you can imagine year-to-year.

Christmas party Saturday night. Is this weather going to hold out or do I need extra wood for the cigars smokers around the fire pit?

Christmas party Saturday night. Is this weather going to hold out or do I need extra wood for the cigars smokers around the fire pit?

NWS saying 60s and 50s overnight. Still pretty darn nice for December.

I love the snow and winter, but I'm not complaining at all about how this winter has started after last year.

Yeah let’s keep this going until spring I’ll be happy

I covered the Miata up and plugged her in to the battery maintainer. I'm gonna have to undo that and drive the next couple days.

I love the snow and winter, but I'm not complaining at all about how this year has started after last year.I'm praying hard that this winter be one of those we get fairly often with no snow. There's enough to deal with right now.

If it stays like this too much longer then my seasonal depression is also going to start suffering from seasonal depression.

If it stays like this too much longer then my seasonal depression is also going to start suffering from seasonal depression.

I’d like to see more rain chances but like the mild weather

Major wind shift coming into the state right now. With extreme drought still setting in, wildfires with direction shift will occur. 30mph winds from the north with temps in the 30s by monday morning. Rebound back to above average mid-week.

Looks like the storms just missed the OKC metro and are now moving across eastern OK. Really could use some moisture across the state especially the west

Record highs for much of the state coming for Friday. OKC will attempt a run at 80F with strong south winds. Extreme fire danger across west half of OK.

Cold front will come through late Friday night and switch us to cold north winds for Saturday. Highs only reaching 50s.

Looks like a decent storm could be impacting the state early next week. Finally

It looks like clouds will break soon and winds out of the SW will start screaming. We will still likely set a new temperature record today. Extreme fire danger this afternoon.

And yes, right now a major storm is looking likely for the plains around the 20th. Right now it looks like mostly rain for OK, but it is worth watching.

I'll take the rain. Drought was starting to creep up.

New record high today so far for OKC is 79F. Previous record was 75F in 1996.

Dust and smoke is moving into the airspace, so filtering of the sun will probably limit further temperature rise. May just barely squeak out an 80F in OKC.

Me and my Miata were just assaulted by a huge box flying down S Meridian.

^^Hard to dodge all the stuff being picked up with this wind. The air quality right now is causing havoc on my respiratory system.

Holy cow! I was on my nightly walk and as I was approaching Mayfair, I literally watched their large flag shift from a nice southerly breeze, to a gale out of the west, then northwest, then north, all in just a few minutes.

It also dropped what felt like 20 degrees.

I started out without a jacket and was more than warm, then suddenly had to kick it into gear in order to get home because I was starting to freeze my tail. Was interesting to experience that big shift.

Devastating tornadoes in the Midwest. One of them could end up being classified an F5

Devastating tornadoes in the Midwest. One of them could end up being classified an F5

Really. It's a grim reminder that the worst tornado outbreaks can happen at night. I suppose it will be blamed on climate change.

High fire danger next few days, emphasis on Wednesday for fires.

Right now, that big storm next week looks like it is favoring to take a more southern track and have little impact on OK weather. We will have to keep looking for moisture.

Another tornado outbreak is underway across NE-IA-MN-WI this evening. Some areas under the risk literally have snow on the ground. This has been an insane "winter" for the US so far.

As for OKC, winds will turn from the N late tonight and cool us off closer to normal for the end of the week. Still no real rain chances in sight. Maybe someone lucky in the SE on Friday.

Look, I know it’s easy to attribute one or two extreme weather events to climate change without putting it into perspective of a larger chunk of history, but I’m telling you guys, the weather we have had this winter is pretty concerning to me. I can’t recall a time where we had such a dry start to winter. Add in the wind!! It’s atrocious. Oklahoma is naturally windy, but we have had more extreme wind days in the first half of this winter than I can remember. Add in the crazy tornado outbreaks in the Midwest. It is all very concerning how dramatic our weather is becoming. Dramatic in the sense of major temperature swings, extreme polar vortexes (last year), unusually warm temperatures, extreme wind, and tornado outbreaks in December.

^^^ this really seems to me at least only to be a problem over the last several years being so concentrated like this but yes I’m noticing it too. Hopefully things level out.

I’m probably somewhat biased because I lived through the 2020 wildfire season in Colorado, but my major concern is the long-running pattern of drought in the American West. Generally speaking, you can put yourself in a position to survive most short-term extreme weather events, but the trend towards long-term below-average precipitation in an area of the country that’s exploding in population and also doesn’t receive much precipitation in the first place just doesn’t seem particularly sustainable. I feel like OKC (and really the entire I-35 corridor) is also on somewhat of a knife’s edge as far as this goes, as while we do average 2-4x as much precipitation when compared to much of the Intermountain West, we’re not immune to extended dry spells either, as we’ve seen over the past six weeks (and for a more extended recent example, you only have to go as far back as October 2018 - April 2019). Though from what I understand, OKC is set up fairly well as far as water rights go, so that’s good at least.

I’m probably somewhat biased because I lived through the 2020 wildfire season in Colorado, but my major concern is the long-running pattern of drought in the American West. Generally speaking, you can put yourself in a position to survive most short-term extreme weather events, but the trend towards long-term below-average precipitation in an area of the country that’s exploding in population and also doesn’t receive much precipitation in the first place just doesn’t seem particularly sustainable. I feel like OKC (and really the entire I-35 corridor) is also on somewhat of a knife’s edge as far as this goes, as while we do average 2-4x as much precipitation when compared to much of the Intermountain West, we’re not immune to extended dry spells either, as we’ve seen over the past six weeks (and for a more extended recent example, you only have to go as far back as October 2018 - April 2019). Though from what I understand, OKC is set up fairly well as far as water rights go, so that’s good at least.

Decent article from 2016 that discusses OKC water resources and the forethought that droughts would always cycle through https://www.405magazine.com/divining-okcs-water-future/

I’m probably somewhat biased because I lived through the 2020 wildfire season in Colorado, but my major concern is the long-running pattern of drought in the American West. Generally speaking, you can put yourself in a position to survive most short-term extreme weather events, but the trend towards long-term below-average precipitation in an area of the country that’s exploding in population and also doesn’t receive much precipitation in the first place just doesn’t seem particularly sustainable. I feel like OKC (and really the entire I-35 corridor) is also on somewhat of a knife’s edge as far as this goes, as while we do average 2-4x as much precipitation when compared to much of the Intermountain West, we’re not immune to extended dry spells either, as we’ve seen over the past six weeks (and for a more extended recent example, you only have to go as far back as October 2018 - April 2019). Though from what I understand, OKC is set up fairly well as far as water rights go, so that’s good at least.

It is concerning because the whole state is back in drought conditions. But periods of drought is normal in the west. What is not normal is farming and people, Las Vegas, Phoenix, LA and San Diego pulling from the Colorado. Some of that atmospheric river needs to hit southern California and pour into AZ., Nevada and Utah, then just stay a while

It is concerning because the whole state is back in drought conditions. But periods of drought is normal in the west. What is not normal is farming and people, Las Vegas, Phoenix, LA and San Diego pulling from the Colorado. Some of that atmospheric river needs to hit southern California and pour into AZ., Nevada and Utah, then just stay a while

San Diego is using desalination for a few years now. Enough to supply roughly half a million people. But they need more.

Record high temperatures and grass fire threat will be the holiday weekend theme.

The latter is not good but the former could continue all winter for me.

80 degrees projected for Christmas and the weekend.

Unbelievable, especially when compared to last November and December.

I can remember previous years where we had a Christmas Day in the 70's but I can't remember too many previous Decembers where it was THIS warm so consistently. I generally prefer warmer weather over the cold but this has been just crazy. What has the average been for this month so far?

I can remember previous years where we had a Christmas Day in the 70's but I can't remember too many previous Decembers where it was THIS warm so consistently. I generally prefer warmer weather over the cold but this has been just crazy. What has the average been for this month so far?

http://www.mesonet.org/common/db/library/functions/mcd/mcd.php?ver=2&year=2021&month=12&format=pdf&stid=OKCE

So far this month, average max is 63, average minimum is 38, overall average temp is 50.

Compared to previous Decembers:
Year: average max - average min - overall average
2021: 63 - 38 - 50.0
2020: 54 - 31 - 41.8
2019: 55 - 34 - 44.0
2018: 50 - 32 - 40.9
2017: 51 - 31 - 40.5
2016: 50 - 28 - 39.0
2015: 57 - 34 - 45.3
2014: 49 - 35 - 41.8
2013: 46 - 24 - 34.9
2012: 53 - 32 - 43.0
2011: 51 - 31 - 40.9

This is on track to be the warmest December on record in OKC.

Warmest December Mean Avg Temperature for Oklahoma City
Period of record 1890 - Present
1. (2021 through Dec 22) 49.1 °F
2. (1965) 48.7 °F
3. (1939) 46.3 °F
4. (1946) 45.6 °F
5. (1931) 45.5 °F
....
131. (1983) 25.8 °F

The mean of all Decembers is 40.0 °F.

Based on current forecasts we should end the month with a monthly mean of 51.1 °F.

Good. Let’s keep that trend going.

Good. Let’s keep that trend going.
I'm all for it!!!!!

I'm all for it!!!!!
I might plant some palm trees this year ;)

Fire danger will increase overnight and be extreme during the day Friday. Record highs look likely the next 3 days.

OKC should come within 2-3 degrees of an all-time December record high tomorrow (current record is 86).

Merry Christmas everyone! This weather is something else. Can’t remember such a warm Christmas Eve. It’s so warm that the ants must have just exploded out of the ground. They were really looking for water or something. This is definitely something else.

I had a Christmas Eve open house and had to put on the A/C for a bit!

I usually like the cold but after last year I'm happy with this crazy warm weather.

^^^Yes

I had a Christmas Eve open house and had to put on the A/C for a bit!

I usually like the cold but after last year I'm happy with this crazy warm weather.

Agreed. I have never embraced a warm Christmas day as much as I did today. Wore a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip flops with my Santa hat today and just enjoyed.

Glad the weather was clear for safe traveling but not much in the Christmas mood with this weather. Baw Humbug! lol

Need Rain. I think OKC is around 60 days since the last time it rained more than 1/4 inch. I think around Nov 5th and 6th combine we had over 1/4 but that's been it. As far as the cold it looks like the weekend of Jan 9th it's coming. Might not last long but a 3 day shot of temps not getting above freezing

Some models are starting to trend up the precip (rain and ice/snow) for Saturday across N Oklahoma

Our first legit arctic air is on the way late this weekend. Potential for frozen precipitation is showing up for late Sat-Sun.


https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs/2021122812/gfs_T2m_scus_21.png



https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs/2021122812/gfs_mslp_pcpn_frzn_scus_17.png

NAM tracking storm further north, resulting in some spotty rain for the state and a major snowstorm for KS.

https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/namconus/2021122918/namconus_ref_frzn_scus_46.png

Dang. I was really hoping that the models would push this storm further south. We really need some precipitation.

The track will keep shifting. Tonight, all models shifted system south giving a lot of good rain to majority of the state, so hopefully that continues.

It’s been so long since it rained that I think I’ve forgotten what rain looks like.

It’s been so long since it rained that I think I’ve forgotten what rain looks like.

it rained today in OKC

it rained today in OKC

Barely. And not enough to be measurable in the majority of Oklahoma County. I've had 0.01" of measurable rain in December at my house near downtown Edmond.

Looking at the 3-day precipitation map, it was a pretty bleak rainfall for central OK... https://www.mesonet.org/index.php/weather/map/3_day_rainfall_accumulation/rainfall

As someone who will be attempting to drive from Springfield, IL to OKC on Saturday, I really need the NAM’s hilariously northward solution to come through lol.

As someone who will be attempting to drive from Springfield, IL to OKC on Saturday, I really need the NAM’s hilariously northward solution to come through lol.

We are driving from Golden, CO to OKC on Saturday. We came up her via I-70, but I guess we will head straight south and cutover through the TX panhandle.

The track will keep shifting. Tonight, all models shifted system south giving a lot of good rain to majority of the state, so hopefully that continues.

It looks like most of the state will get some decent and much needed precip out of this

Track has shifted back to the north.

For OKC it looks like a mostly rain event. Will keep monitoring, but any moisture is desperately needed.