Severe weather possible today in Oklahoma

By Brian Sargent

Published: April 7, 2008

The Oklahoman

Warm, humid air across southern and central Texas will lift northward today as an upper level storm system approaches the southern Plains.

A dry line will mix into far western Oklahoma and western north Texas by this afternoon, causing isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

Daytime highs are to be in the mid-60s to upper 70s.

A chance for severe thunderstorms will continue Monday evening, with overnight lows ranging from the lower 40s in the Panhandle to the lower 60s in far southeast Oklahoma.

A cold front will sweep across the southern Plains tonight, continuing into early Tuesday. More thunderstorms will likely occur along the cold front, forecasters said.

Breezy conditions are expected Tuesday, with highs in the 60s to mid-70s.

Another strong storm system will approach the Southern Plains Wednesday and Thursday. This system will likely produce widespread showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, especially across southern Oklahoma.

The wildfire potential today for Oklahoma will be high to very high.

Relative humidity will range from 30 to 70 percent, with winds 15 to 25 mph and gusting to 35 mph.

The temperature in Oklahoma City at 11 a.m. today was 62 degrees. Easterly winds were 20 mph.

In Tulsa, the temperature was 62 degrees. Northeasterly winds were 10 mph. Today's high will be in lower 70s with northerly and northeasterly winds from 5 to 15 mph, before shifting to easterly and southeasterly winds.

There's a 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms after 1 p.m.

Oklahoma forecast

• Today: Highs from the upper 60s to upper 70s. Slight chance of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

• Tonight: Lows from the mid-30s in the Panhandle to upper 50s in the east. Rain and thunderstorms likely.

• Tuesday: Highs from the upper 50s to mid-70s. Chance of rain and thunderstorms.

Oklahoma City-area forecast

• Rest of today: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. Easterly winds 10 to 15 mph. Twenty percent chance of thunderstorms, with some turning severe.

• Tonight: Cloudy. Lows in the mid-50s. Southeasterly winds 10 to 15 mph, gusting to about 35 mph. Sixty percent chance of thunderstorms.

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid-60s. Westerly winds about 15 mph, shifting to northerly winds in the afternoon. Forty percent chance of thunderstorms.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Northerly winds 10 to 15 mph.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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