Snow chances return on Tuesday

(TULSA, Okla.) Through the evening hours on Sunday, the band of winter weather shifted southeast. Rain showers over far Southeast Oklahoma into West Central Arkansas transitioned to a wintry mix then then to mainly light snow. Precipitation continued to taper off from northwest to southeast across the rest of the County Warning Area, and should exit the area altogether by late evening with the departing mid/upper level trough axis into Arkansas. Additional snowfall accumulations look to be 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts possible within the higher terrain of far Northwest Arkansas to generally less than 1 inch across Eastern Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas. The higher terrain of far Southern Le Flore County could potentially get into the 1 to 2-inch range before precipitation exits. Thus, we will continue current winter headlines for most locations and begin to cancel behind the ending precipitation northwest of Interstate 44. Behind the ending precipitation, skies have begun to scatter out northwest of Northeast Oklahoma. This clearing line should also continue to push southeast through Sunday night. By early Monday morning the majority of the County Warning Area should be mostly clear. Clearing skies combined with snow cover and subsiding winds will aid in low temperatures Sunday night falling into the teens to mid-20s from north to south, with the potential for colder locations depending on the snow cover. With surface temperatures being at or above freezing Sunday, snow melt could refreeze overnight creating slick roadways, especially untreated bridges and overpasses for the Monday morning commute. The colder conditions should continue into the day Monday with highs in the 30s over the snow cover while highs in the mid/upper 40s will be possible across Southeast Oklahoma into West Central Arkansas. A second low pressure system, currently moving onto the West Coast is predicted to push east southeast into the Southern Rocky Mts Monday night and then eject across the region Tuesday. Continued cool conditions ahead of the approaching system will allow for additional rain and or snow chances to become possible during the day Tuesday into Tuesday night across much of the area. Onset of precipitation looks to be mainly Tuesday afternoon as wet bulb effects erode a midlevel dry layer over the area. At this time the greater snowfall potential looks to be across Northeast Oklahoma where another 1 to 2 inches of snow may be possible west of Highway 75 with less than an inch for the rest of Northeast Oklahoma into Northwest Arkansas. These amounts will continue to change and be updated as the event nears. In the wake of the departing Tuesday upper level low, quieter conditions and a temperature warming trend is forecast over the area as a ridge of high pressure pushes through the Plains. Breezy southerly winds look to return Friday ahead of another shortwave looking to push across the Plains. These winds will help for temperatures to possibly climb back into the 50s for the area. Rain chances will become possible again Friday night into Saturday as this third wave moves through the CWA. At this time, temperature profiles indicate that precipitation should remain as rainfall with this third system. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 9 and 19. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Snow likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 34. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 5 to 10 mph.