A cold and wet Monday to start Thanksgiving week in the Green Country
What is the forecast for Sunday?
Clear skies, dry air and light winds will allow temperatures early Saturday morning to drop into the mid 30s across northern OK and the lower 40s south of I-40. Daytime highs on Saturday will reach the mid 60s with a ridge of high pressure nearby keeping winds light and skies clear. A slow-moving storm system will be near the area on Sunday and Monday with increased rain and storm potential.
The major storm system we care about will bring showers and thunderstorm chances back to the area Sunday afternoon into the early evening hours. Enough wind gusts are expected to move through the Red River Valley Sunday afternoon and evening. Low moisture will be slow to develop ahead of the system, but a narrow area of instability may develop along the I 35 corridor into southern Oklahoma late Sunday afternoon and evening. This could allow for some strong to severe storms late Sunday night into early Monday morning. The main upper trough will still provide scattered showers and storm chances for part of Monday before exiting the area Monday and Tuesday night.
The temperature on Sunday will remain in the upper 50s, with some in the lower 60s. Monday morning starts out in the upper 40s with daytime highs in the upper 50s near 60 along with gusty north winds developing during the day. Temperatures Tuesday morning will start in the lower 40s and end with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s.
Wednesday features sunshine with morning lows in the 30s and highs in the lower 50s. Another front is likely to arrive on either Thanksgiving or Black Friday. This will bring cool to cooler weather in the central part of the country. Our temperatures on Thanksgiving will start near 30 degrees with daytime highs in the lower 50s. The cold air will likely arrive late Thursday night or early Friday. There will also be at least a slight chance of some rain developing behind the system Friday into early Saturday with some cold air present. We will continue to update different scenarios as we get closer to the end of next week.
How do I prepare my home for freezing?
The City of Tulsa says it’s important to protect your pipes from the cold.
Officials recommend protecting outdoor pipes by disconnecting garden hoses from your home and installing covers on outdoor faucets.
Also, if the sink is along the exterior wall of your home, allow a little water to flow and open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate.
The National Weather Service says that when temperatures drop to 28 degrees Fahrenheit or below for a few hours, you should bring pets inside, protect sensitive plants, protect outdoor pipes, allow indoor faucets to drip and turn off automatic sprinklers.
Space Heater Safety Tips (via CBS News)
- If you use a heater, make sure it is not too close to things that can burn such as upholstered furniture, clothing, a mattress or bedding.
- Never connect a space heater to an extension cord, always plug it directly into a wall outlet.
- Remember to turn it off before leaving the room or going to bed. Keep it out of reach of children and pets. Look for signs of malfunction, especially on older models.
- Make sure it has an auto shut off function.
- Make sure you have smoke detectors that operate with new batteries. Change the battery twice a year.
On average, fires caused by portable heaters cause 65 deaths and 150 injuries annually, according to the US Fire Administration.
Overnight Sunday, firefighters battled several house fires across Tulsa as temperatures dropped below freezing.
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