Warm weather ahead, fire concerns Tuesday

(TULSA, Okla.) A weak cold front has entered northeast Oklahoma and will clear western Arkansas by early evening. Scattered light showers may yet develop along the boundary as it moves eastward with any rains ending by early evening across western Arkansas. The post frontal airmass is not cold and low-level winds maintain a favorable downslope component through Monday. This along with an expanding low-level thermal ridge and plenty of sun will allow temperatures to warm well above normal. Low levels warm further on Tuesday and sufficient mixing depth is forecast to allow for much above normal temperatures Tuesday with some low 70-degree readings likely for portions of the forecast area. A cold front passes on Wednesday, and any locations remaining ahead of the front by afternoon are likely to experience another day of temperatures well above normal. The frontal passage is expected to pass dry with precipitation chances returning Thursday night as a passing wave interacts with the elevated frontal zone across the region. The forecast uncertainty increases for late week through next weekend. However, the overall pattern of troughing over the western states and downstream southwesterly flow aloft over the Plains is in general agreement. This pattern will interact with a frontal boundary and likely produce several precipitation events with timing and coverage being the more uncertain forecast elements. The forecast will carry several days of low rain chances until timing becomes clearer. Monday Sunny, with a high near 63. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming east after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 10 mph. Thursday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.