Wintry weather possible into Friday

Periods of light wintry precipitation are possible beginning Wednesday morning and continuing through Friday morning as an upper level low moves out the southwest U.S. and across northern Texas. Light accumulations of snow and ice are possible during this time-frame. This could cause some slick spots on elevated surfaces. Precipitation chances will continue to increase as the day wears on across southeast Oklahoma into west central Arkansas. Using the latest short term hi-res data for surface temps and the NAM for the thermal profile, there is some potential for light icing in the higher terrain of Southeast Oklahoma and over western portions of Choctaw and Pushmataha counties Wednesday morning as all precipitation that falls should be liquid. Any icing that occurs will be confined to elevated surfaces and thus no impact is expected, hence no advisory will be issued. The cold airmass in place over the region will not receive any more reinforcements from the north, as pressures are already falling across the northern and central Plains. Thus, some modification of the cold air will occur Wednesday, and temps should rise above freezing in the afternoon in all locations. Any precipitation that falls later Wednesday should be plain rain at all locations. Rain chances will be highest near the Red River, with solid chance extending as far north as the I-40 corridor. Much of Northeast Oklahoma and far Northwest Arkansas should remain dry. The best chances of any accumulating winter precipitation arrive by Thursday night into early Friday as the upper low ejects through eastern TX. Thermal profiles continue to show a warm layer, suggesting that a mix of rain/sleet will be possible mainly across southeast Oklahoma, along with light freezing rain where surface temps are below freezing. The best chances of accumulating snow may be confined to the higher elevations of the Kiamichi and Ouachita mountains in southeast Oklahoma. The system will exit early Friday, with any lingering wintry precipitation quickly exiting far eastern Oklahoma/northwest Arkansas. Temperatures will bounce back into the 50s/60s by Friday and into the weekend, with the next chance of showers arriving Sunday night into Monday.