Ticker for December 21, 2016

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
December 21, 2016  December 21, 2016  December 21, 2016  December 21, 2016


How about a lump of lightning in your stocking?




I'm dreaming of a warm, damp and stormy Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know if Christmas fell in May
Where the treetops bend and children listen to severe storm warnings
And dodge lightning as we play

I know, Bah Humbug, right? At least I made it rhyme. But no, forget those dreams
of a White Christmas this year. In fact, it's looking more and more like we'll
see near record temperatures in parts of the state as a cold front/storm system
moves through. Don't worry, this isn't the type of cold front we've seen over
the last couple of weeks...this air will be quite moderate, so we'll be back
up into the 50s after its passage.



One thing to watch out for would be slick roads from RAIN, however, and also the
possibility of strong-severe storms. I don't think we're talking a massive severe
weather day at this point, but if you're out caroling and you hear the boom of
thunder, that's not the Big Man upstairs giving you his approval. That's the sign
to take your singing indoors. The Storm Prediction Center already has Christmas
Day circled in yellow



and the local NWS offices are getting the word out as well.




From the Tulsa NWS forecast discussion:

"Strong warm air advection ahead of the front will push temperatures into
the mid and upper 60s making for a rather balmy Christmas Day. A few
locations may see temperatures approaching near record values if
afternoon highs nudge into the low 70s as some guidance suggests.
Thus, no white Christmas for Oklahoma and Arkansas this year. Strong
to severe storms are still looking like a good possibility with
this system as it moves through Sunday."

However, if you're a glutton for knuckle-biting travel weather, the NW half of
the state might see some freezing rain/drizzle Thursday night into Friday.




So enjoy the rest of your Holiday week, and if we don't Tick at you before then,
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Gary McManus
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@ou.edu