Oklahoma is facing a volatile weekend with a dangerous combination of high winds, critical fire weather, and potential severe storms, according to State Climatologist Gary McManus. McManus is warning Oklahoma residents to prepare for a “wild” weekend, highlighting the state’s precarious position on the national weather map.
A Convergence of Hazards:
“This weekend’s weather is going to be wild across the country,” McManus stated, emphasizing the widespread nature of the impending weather system. However, he pointed out that Oklahoma faces a unique combination of hazards. “You’ll see that Oklahoma gets the high winds and critical fire weather portion of the Venn diagram, with a bit of severe weather thrown in across eastern Oklahoma for bad measure.”
Severe Weather Potential:
While the primary concern is fire danger, eastern Oklahoma also faces the threat of severe storms. “We do have severe weather in the forecast on Wednesday as well,” McManus noted, indicating that the threat is not limited to the weekend. He also addressed the tornado risk, stating, “All hazards will be possible, but you know the drill…tornado threat is low, but not zero.” He then gave a stark reminder, “The last ‘low but not zero’ we had on March 4 resulted in 13 twisters.”
McManus also tempered expectations by adding, “First you gotta get the storms to develop, and that’s definitely not a sure thing. If they do, watch out.”
Uncertainty and Caution:
McManus expressed uncertainty about the severity of Friday’s storm chances in southeastern Oklahoma. “I’m not bullish on Friday’s storm chances across SE OK. Heck, I’m not even cowish,” he quipped. He also cautioned against focusing solely on the weekend, saying, “We have to get by tomorrow first before we can worry about Friday, because we do have severe weather in the forecast on Wednesday as well.”
Preparing for the Weekend:
Given the forecasted conditions, Oklahomans are advised to take precautions. Residents should:
- Be aware of the high fire danger and avoid outdoor burning.
- Stay informed about weather updates and warnings.
- Prepare for potential severe storms, including strong winds and hail.
- Have a plan in place in case of a tornado warning.
McManus’s update serves as a stark reminder of Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather, urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for the “wild” weekend ahead. Sadly, rain chances appear to be non-existent over the next few weeks for most of Oklahoma.
