Rain to move out by Thursday afternoon

Locally heavy rainfall is possible, primarily in extreme southeastern Oklahoma, where a flood watch will be posted. This watch does not include northeastern Oklahoma and the Tulsa metro area.

When will the rain end?

Rain will become more widespread later this afternoon and tonight, continuing through early tomorrow morning.

By midday Thursday, most of the rainfall will be moving east of the immediate area.

Highs Thursday afternoon will rebound late in the day into the upper 50s and lower 60s.

The Finally Friday Outlook

The strong upper-level low will continue moving across far northern Oklahoma Friday morning. Precipitation chances during this time will be very low, but cold air aloft could support the potential for some snowflakes across extreme southeastern Kansas.

Measurable snowfall is possible across eastern Kansas, northward into the Mid-Missouri Valley, which is well north of our area of concern.

Friday morning lows will start in the upper 30s with daytime highs in the mid-50s. Gusty northwest winds will remain for most of the day, ranging from 15 to 25 mph, creating some minor wind chill values.

Does The Weekend Look Great?

Yes, it does! As the upper-level low pulls away from the area, pleasant weather is expected this weekend. Morning lows on Saturday will be in the 30s, with highs in the mid-60s.

Sunday morning’s lows will be in the 40s, with highs in the upper 60s to near 70. Gusty south winds are likely Saturday, ranging from 15 to 25 mph, but speeds will decrease Sunday into the 7 to 15 mph range from the south.

Is Another Cold Front Coming?

Yep. Another cold front arrives on Monday or early Tuesday, but no rain is initially expected. High temperatures on Monday afternoon will range from the upper 40s to lower 50s.

Another disturbance will approach the area by the middle of next week, bringing additional precipitation chances for parts of eastern Oklahoma with another intrusion of cold air possible.

This may bring some wintry precipitation near or north of the area by next Wednesday.

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Where are the warming shelters available in Tulsa this year?

The city of Tulsa, local shelters, warming stations, and outreach teams are working to ensure access to safe, warm spaces during the cold temperatures.

>>> City of Tulsa prepares for extreme cold temperatures

>>> Warming Shelters Open Across Tulsa Amid Freezing Temperatures

Tulsa shelters and temporary warming locations are open to provide refuge. Major locations include:

1. John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne — Open 24/7
2. The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. — Open 24/7
3. Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. — Open 24/7 (Pets allowed, limited capacity)
4. Youth Services of Tulsa, 311 S. Madison Ave.

Temporary overflow shelters will also be open for the cold weather:

1. The Merchant: 605 S. Peoria Ave., open Monday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–Noon; Tuesday-Friday, 9–11 a.m.
2. Denver Avenue Station: 319 S. Denver Ave., open Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, 5:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
3. The Station at Youth Services: 311 S. Madison Ave., open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
4. Iron Gate: 501 W. Archer St., open daily, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
5. The Ministry Center: 312 S. 33rd W. Ave., open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

For a full list of warming station locations and hours, visit Housing Solutions’ Winter Weather Information Page.

>>> Warming Shelters, Safety Tips For Cold Temperatures This Winter In Oklahoma

Bring Pets Inside!

Winter temperatures can pose additional challenges for pets, particularly older animals or those with health conditions. Hartfield recommends:

1. Wellness Checks: Ensure pets are up to date on vaccines and discuss arthritis or other cold-weather health concerns with a veterinarian.
2. Outdoor Time: Monitor the duration of outdoor activities, especially for short-haired breeds or pets with conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
3. Paw Care: After walks, inspect and clean paws to remove ice or de-icing chemicals that could harm your pet.

>>> Cold Weather Pet Tips: How To Keep Animals Safe During Winter Months

How Can I Protect Myself From Sickness This Winter?

The Tulsa Health Department is urging residents to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent respiratory illnesses as Oklahoma enters the coldest months of the year.

1. Health experts say the risk of respiratory illnesses is higher during the winter, as colder weather often leads to more indoor gatherings, increasing the likelihood of viruses spreading. 
2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Oklahoma is one of 11 states with very high respiratory virus activity, and with flu vaccination rates lower than this time in 2024, more people have reported getting sick.

>>> How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Illness This Winter

Emergency Info: Outages Across Oklahoma:

Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric cooperatives, many of which have overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.

>>> Tulsa HVAC, Plumbing Companies Flooded With Calls During Cold Weather

1. PSO Outage Map
2. OG&E Outage Map
3. VVEC Outage Map
4. Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
5. Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map — (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YIGEQGw0qb6g1CK0r8jTA

The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/oklahoma-news-from-kotv-news-on-6-in-tulsa-oklahoma/id1499556141

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