Warmer temps predicted for next week, then a drop

(TULSA, Okla.) The backside of a mid/upper level low continued to push low level cloud cover within northwesterly flow across most of Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas Sunday afternoon. These clouds are expected to continue to be slow to erode overnight with far Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas forecast to remain cloudy overnight. Further west over Eastern Oklahoma, there is potential that parts of the area could clear out overnight, especially west of a Bartlesville to Eufaula to the Talihina line. In response, cloud cover should keep lows from bottoming out with low temperatures falling into the mid-20s to lower 30s across the County Warning Area Sunday night. The cloud cover is forecast to erode from southwest to northeast during the day Monday and should hopefully exit far Northwest Arkansas by late afternoon as the low-pressure system and associated upper trough axis nears the East Coast. Lighter winds and more sunshine forecast Monday afternoon will aid in warmer temps for the area with highs in the 40s/low 50s forecast. A warming trend continues through mid-week with the return of southerly flow and a ridge of high pressure setting up over the Plains. Wednesday looks to be the warmest day for much of the area, with southerly winds becoming gusty in the 20-30+ mph range ahead of the next cold front forecast to move into the region Thursday. These winds look to continue Wednesday night as the front approaches, which combined with increasing low-level moisture, temperatures Wednesday night do not look to fall all that much and even could rise slightly overnight. During the day Wednesday, a wave is forecasted to drop southeast out of Western Canada while at the same time a second shortwave is forecast to push onto the West Coast. The longwave trough axis and associated cold front are forecast to drops southeast across the area during the day Thursday with the second shortwave looking to move across the Southern Plains Thursday night/Friday. Rain chances become possible during the day Thursday as the front moves through the area. There continues to be some differences within the details for moisture as some continue to hold precipitation over the area Thursday night, while others had Thursday night dry. Colder air behind the front could allow for some wintry weather for parts of Northeast Oklahoma and far Northwest Arkansas late Thursday night into early Friday morning. Over the weekend, the upper level longwave trough remains across the Plains with another disturbance pushing across the region Saturday into Sunday. Behind the weekend system, arctic high pressure is forecasted to drop southward through the Plains with the coldest temps of the season thus far possible Sunday. Wintry weather will again be possible Saturday/Saturday night before the majority of the moisture pushes eastward with the departing system. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. South wind around 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Thursday Night A chance of rain before midnight, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Saturday A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.