MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... October 31, 2022 October 31, 2022 October 31, 2022 October 31, 2022
Frightener
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/thur-fri-svr-outlooks.png
Yes there is, and don't call me Shirley.
Remember our last big severe weather threat? Yeah, I don't either, so the fact that this biggie is coming in the first week of November is both a shock and not-a-shock...sort of like when I found out my hair would still grow fast, but it was just in my ears and eyebrows. We did have a severe thunderstorm watch back on Oct. 15 or so, but it wasn't like we had a large area of organized severe weather being warned (or watched) about 5 days out.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/oct15-storm-reports.png
The setup is sorta classical for us as a big closed upper-low moves into the West and kicks up our southerly winds, bringing lots of Gulf Moisture (and warmer air) up our way. We'll have a dryline and front to deal with as we get into Thursday and Friday, so a focus for severe storms. Then as that upper low swings out over us, the threat turns more towards heavy rain on Saturday.
At least that's how it looks now. Here's the word from SPC's mouth:
"Severe potential appears most likely across portions of the TX Panhandle into northwest OK and western KS beginning Thursday evening into the overnight hours as stronger height falls and increasing ascent spreads eastward into western portions of the central/southern Plains. Forecast soundings indicate thermodynamic and shear profiles favorable for organized cells capable of all severe hazards. On Friday, the surface front is forecast to move slowly eastward across western TX/OK. A combination of heavy rain and severe potential is expected, with greatest relative severe potential likely focused across southern portions of OK into western/central TX near and south of a surface low."
Right, "all severe hazards." Not to focus too much on tornadoes...
"Tornadoes? Heck, the hail will probably kill ya!"
Well, that's how meteorologists watch that waterfall scene from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Still lots to sort out, but we will have another week of temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal as that wind machine kicks in, and the added moisture should help us stay pretty warm in the mornings. Another added benefit: Halloween looks fantastical.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/halloween-highs.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/nws-norman-7day-temps.png
Now of course we do need to wait and see how the forecast maps and outlooks change as the storm draws more near...things could and probably WILL change, but that rainfall map looks deliciously wet for this weekend.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/7day-forecast-rainfall.gif
Here are the scenarios and the cautionary language coming from our local NWS offices, in order of westness.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/nws-amarillo-weekend.svr.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/nws-norman-weekend.svr.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20221031/nws-tulsa-weekend.svr.png
So obviously the time to prepare is now. Yes, for the possibility of severe weather, but also for eating all that candy tonight.
One final word, and this is important...always, and I mean ALWAYS, pick Snickers over Milky Way.
Gary McManus State Climatologist Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Climatological Survey gmcmanus@mesonet.org
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