Ticker for October 23, 2020

                
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October 23, 2020   October 23, 2020   October 23, 2020   October 23, 2020


Get thee to a Braum's




We're still haunted by last October's (see what I did there?) forecast snow
event where it appeared a couple-three inches were on tap for select locations,
and we ended up with 13 inches in Arnett.

THESE IMAGES ARE FROM LAST OCTOBER'S SNOWSTORM!





Regardless of that event, which was of no fault of local forecasters (you try
and forecast wintry precip in the Plains, then you can miraculously give me a
full head of hair!), the mere mention of ice stand my hair on end. No, not that
hair, the other one.





Obviously the storm's timing, track, and strength are still a up in the air (pun
intended), so once the even draws near, the forecast models and therefore the
forecasters will have a better handle on the precip types and locations. Still,
doesn't take much to mess up a winter precip scenario. One warm nose of air
aloft can change everything.



So just be prepared to be prepared, in preparation of things you should have
already been preparing to prepare for. One thing that is more certain is much
more of the state will see a killing frost over the next few days. We already
have freeze watches and warnings out across the NW half of the state or so for
tomorrow morning.



The western Panhandle doesn't need a watch/warning since it's already experienced
freezing weather. I would expect another map for much of the remainder of OK
for early next week.



Finally, above all else, we COULD see a good dose of moisture with this storm,
which would go a long way to alleviate some of those drought impacts, the most
of which is the possible decimation of the wheat crop that's been or being
planted.



Stay warm, stay safe!

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