Oklahoma Weather Discussion - February/March 2013

[Bunty]

Light to moderate snow resumed in Stillwater as of 7:15pm with ground trying to turn whiter than it did early this afternoon before it all melted . Temp at 33.

[Easy180]

Perfect snow storm IMO since we got to enjoy the sight w/o any travel hassles

[Bill Robertson]

Perfect snow storm IMO since we got to enjoy the sight w/o any travel hassles

Absolutely!

[Anonymous.]

Moving on to next storm(s).

Active pattern remains in place for OK. A couple weak chances at light precip (flurries/drizzle/shower) tomorrow and again on Monday/Tuesday.


Next legitimate system looks to arrive around Thursday next week. At this time it looks like a rain event for OK and winter event for KS/NE/IA/MO.



Looking even longer-range - the pattern looks to stay in pace for the remainder of FEB and into MAR. Where did that drier than normal outlook come from again?

[Praedura]

A nice pic of the streetscape by the Colcord on Tuesday when the white fluffy stuff came through:



I'm hoping that the videographer from newsok that captured the Christmas day snow, and posted a video of it, did the same for Tuesday's snow.
It was actually a fuller, prettier snowfall -- would make for an excellent downtown video.

[ou48A]

Sounds like the next strong WX system will be here about Wednesday & Thursday. Right now according CH 9 (Armstrong) Kansas and Nebraska could have blizzard conditions with rain further to the south.

If we can get a major system every week to ten days that leaves us with a half inch or so of participation for the next 4 to 6 weeks it would put a dent in the drought but also moisten up the ground and help make it easier to rain during the normally wetter months of April and May.

Perhaps that’s our best hope for drought busting weather?

[Praedura]

Some nice snow pics from newsok staff:

Snowing on Lake Hefner


Delivering mail in Edmond


Jogging around a pond near Britton & I-235



More photos here:
Snow in the metro

[Praedura]

Another snow pic...

A waiter at In The Raw Sushi in Bricktown mugs for the camera on the outdoor patio:



I'm guessing there weren't too many customers that day.

[Bunty]

Surely someplace had an outdoor area covered and with kerosene heaters. That would have been a cool way to watch the snow.

[venture]

Outside of some horrendous flurries tonight, nothing really going on for a few days.

Next monster storm moves in Weds/Thurs next week. Looks like snow northern OK early, everyone else stays rain. Instability right now looks marginal. Could see a few strong storms, but most of the severe weather should be down in Texas. Heavy snow for Kansas and those North and East. So we'll just be looking at a cold rainfall here. This could be another good rain for the area to help some with drought concerns. Amounts could be around an inch along and south of I-44. NW of I-44 looks like 0.5 to 1".

The trick in all this moisture and combating the drought conditions is how fast it falls. Heavy and quick rainfall does us nearly no good. It will just run off and that's the end of it. We need a prolonged light to moderate rain to get things soaking in.

Next system lines up for Sunday the 24th. Around a quarter inch of rain for the first half of the day expected for Central OK. As the system moves east amounts will increase. Around a half inch for Western and Eastern (maybe heavier) OK. Central might get a dry slot but still pick up another quarter inch or more of QPF. The trick here is cold air will move in on the back side of the system, so right now everything along and west of I-44 looks like it'll be transitioning to snow. Early amounts so a general 3-6" snowfall West and North...maybe 6-9" north. Everything should start to move out by early Monday.

Next quick little system moves in around Wednesday the 27th - just some light cold rain right now.

Finally another storm system for Friday into Saturday the 2nd. Storm system won't really get cranking until it is past us, but could still get a good shot at some decent rain in a squall line type setup. However, this is way out there so don't even plan on this solution to stick around.

[OKCisOK4me]

How about a forecast for those in the Canton Lake water basin? I'd appreciate that so we can pass it on to those that base their livelihoods off of a replenished lake for recreational activities and income off those activities provided. If you could I'd be happy to post it in the Lake Hefner thread

[Bunty]

How about a forecast for those in the Canton Lake water basin? I'd appreciate that so we can pass it on to those that base their livelihoods off of a replenished lake for recreational activities and income off those activities provided. If you could I'd be happy to post it in the Lake Hefner thread

At least Canton Lake is outside the most intense part of the drought, but only barely.

[Praedura]

Just read that's there a chance for a "light dusting" in the OKC area Friday night.

Anyone else here think that "light dusting" would be a great name for a band?

[venture]

Just read that's there a chance for a "light dusting" in the OKC area Friday night.

Anyone else here think that "light dusting" would be a great name for a band?

*sniff* I don't get it.

[OKCisOK4me]

Just read that's there a chance for a "light dusting" in the OKC area Friday night.

Anyone else here think that "light dusting" would be a great name for a band?

I think White Mustache would be better, if that's what you're hinting at...lol

[venture]

Light to moderate snow moving through. Might bring a quick dusting. Enough to make it pretty outside. :-P

[Dustin]

I have a 1/2" of snow on my grass... What? lol

[Praedura]

I have a 1/2" of snow on my grass... What? lol

Yeah, had a fair bit of snow around 11pm last night in Edmond.
It was too warm (about 35 degrees) for anything to stick around for long, but it was quite a nice little flurry of flakes while it lasted.

[Praedura]

A nice little video from a videographer at OCCC showing last Tuesday's snowfall around the campus:

[venture]

Midweek storm looks interesting. GFS wants to mix some cooler air further south before the warm front moves through. So Wednesday looks like it could have a mix of rain/snow. NAM keeps the snow to mostly just far northern and NE OK. Any snow that does fall won't stick around long.

Rainfall amounts still look alright...0.5 to 1 inch of rain.

Next chance of precip is Monday which looks like Light Rain changing to Snow just before it ends. Nothing major.

[Anonymous.]

Looks like a rain event for most of OK on this one.

It would take a pretty dramatic shift south to bring legitimate winter precip. down here, but it has happened before.


These wet systems coming in here each week is really great news.

[venture]

GFS is still wanting to do a Snow to Rain transition on Weds. NAM is biting now too. So looks like we could see a couple inches of wet snow first before warming up to be all rain. Then NAM transitions western and Northern back to all snow pretty quickly. Oh these silly things. Though liquid is liquid. These may not break the drought, but they help.

[ou48A]

These wet systems coming in here each week is really great news.

Do you see the near weekly wet systems continuing for long?
As I mentioned previously wet ground could help it rain more during our traditionally wettest months.

In the meantime I would be happy with large snows or gully washers too.
The ground is so dry that it would still absorb good amounts of moisture, but the run off would help recharge our lakes and ponds.
Just filling up the low spots would help replenish our ground water.

[Anonymous.]

Do you see the near weekly wet systems continuing for long?
As I mentioned previously wet ground could help it rain more during our traditionally wettest months.

In the meantime I would be happy with large snows or gully washers too.
The ground is so dry that it would still absorb good amounts of moisture, but the run off would help recharge our lakes and ponds.
Just filling up the low spots would help replenish our ground water.

Long Range models keep the storms rolling in all the way through early March.

In fact, next week there is indication of a winter event followed by the coldest air we have seen in a long time in the first week of March.

[OKCisOK4me]

In fact, next week there is indication of a winter event followed by the coldest air we have seen in a long time in the first week of March.

Those groundhogs and bears suck!