Subfreezing temperatures on the way

A cold/raw day is on tap Thursday as scattered showers continue to spread north of a front in association with the right entrance region of an approaching upper level jet streak. With the rain/overcast conditions temperatures will likely struggle with highs only in the mid to upper 40s across northeast Oklahoma/northwest Arkansas. Precipitation will begin to shift east Thursday evening with decreasing clouds late in the night across NE OK. The freeze watch has been upgraded to a freeze warning Thursday night, generally along and north of highway 412 with temperatures falling into the upper 20s to lower 30s by Friday morning. Secondary surge of much colder air is expected Friday night into Saturday as Arctic high pressure moves directly over the area. With light winds/clear skies and an extremely dry air-mass in place, temperatures will likely fall to near record levels in some areas. The freeze watch currently in effect for Friday night/Saturday morning will be upgraded to a freeze warning with later forecast. The active and unseasonably cold weather pattern will continue late Sunday night into Monday as another strong upper trough swings out of the four corners region. Still some subtle model differences concerning precipitation amounts and types behind the cold front. Trended towards the more progressive GFS solution with lighter precipitation amounts across northeast Oklahoma behind the front, compared to the more aggressive/wetter ECMWF. Still a chance precipitation could transition to a light snow mix across NE OK/NW AR during the day Monday, but with temperatures expected to warm above freezing, travel impacts are not currently anticipated. Another hard freeze is forecast both Monday and Tuesday nights as large/expansive 1030 MB high settles over much of the SE CONUS.