Record heat to give way to storms
Record heat to give way to storms
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By Micah Gamino
Published: February 4, 2008
The National Weather Service said today's bright, record-setting warm day will give way to storms and snowflakes Tuesday.
Record high temperatures were set in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and McAlester today.
Oklahoma City reached 78 degrees, breaking the previous record of 77 set in 1962.
Tulsa’s high temperature was 81 degrees, which broke the previous record of 77 in 1962.
McAlester’s high was 79 degrees, also breaking a previous record of 77 degrees set in 1962.
Tuesday's forecast calls for cloudy skies, with showers and thunderstorms continuing in the east and rain mixed with snow in western Oklahoma.
Snow of 1 to 2 inches is expected across northwest and north central Oklahoma by Tuesday evening. The eastern third of the state, however, should see the most moisture, in the form of rain, forecaster Ty Judd said.
Highs early Tuesday will range from the upper 30s and lower 40s in the west and northwest to the 60s in the southeast until a cold front brings afternoon temperatures down to near or below freezing for the western two-thirds of the state and to the lower 40s in the southeast, Judd said.
“And with the north wind, it will make it feel even colder,” Judd said.
Oklahoma City should get rain, with some snow mixed in. The probability of precipitation in the metro area is 60 percent. Snow accumulations are expected at less than half an inch, according to the weather service.
Tuesday's moisture should help reduce the state’s wildfire potential, but it isn’t expected to be enough to remedy the problem, Judd said.
“It will help out but it may not last long” Judd said. “We’re kind of in a pattern that doesn’t look great for real high precipitation chances. It will be helpful, but it may be more of a short-term thing.”
Wednesday will be dry, with skies ranging from partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Highs will climb back into the 40s.
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