


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tulsa, OK
Issued by NWS Tulsa, OK
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
833 FXUS64 KTSA 050220 AFDTSA Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 920 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 ...New UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 920 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 - Strong/severe storm threat continues this evening, focused across southeast Oklahoma into western Arkansas. - High rain chances continue through Sunday morning, with heavy rain and flood potential continuing across southeast Oklahoma and western Arkansas. - Much cooler weather arrives this weekend, with rain possibly changing to snow late Saturday night into Sunday morning north of Interstate 40. Minor accumulation is possible. - A freeze is expected many areas Monday morning. && .UPDATE... Issued at 920 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 The front has shifted east away from the region this evening, with the bulk of the severe threat done. There is still some elevated hail threat with storms across far eastern OK into western AR this evening. Otherwise there should be a relative lull in the activity for much of the 06Z to 12Z window. The next wave of rain and storms arrives around 11Z from the southwest. This next wave of weather is not expected to carry the severe threat that this morning`s storms did. However, it will exacerbate any ongoing flooding issues and some flash flood warnings may need to be reissued. Lacy && .SHORT TERM... (Through tonight ) Issued at 200 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms continue this afternoon, supported by warm advection in the 850-700 hPa layer and good diffluence aloft. Over the next few hours the potential for severe weather will intensify across southeast OK and northwest AR as the upper level trough approaches and begins to become negatively tilted. In the lower levels the boundary will see strong frontogenesis as cold advection increases north of the boundary in the surface to 900 hPa layer. This in conjunction with the more favorable upper level dynamics will support the severe weather threat ramping up. There are several factors to consider for this afternoon and evenings severe weather. The lifting boundary will probably become tied up on the north side with the terrain in west-central AR, and will be limited to the west by the advancing cold air. This should limit surface based instability to mainly Le Flore, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties. This area will be most susceptible to the severe weather threat, including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind. Elsewhere, roughly along and south/east of a line from McAlester to Bentonville, elevated instability will support severe hail or wind from any stronger cells that can form. This area will shrink from the west as the cold air moves in, with most severe weather ending sometime between 6-9 PM this evening. The flood threat will continue to increase as storms develop across southeastern portions of the forecast area, with areas of flash flooding and minor-moderate river flooding developing. The existing Flood Watch covers this threat for the areas most likely to be impacted. Total rainfall today could be several inches in the hardest hit locations. A brief lull is then expected until late in the overnight period, then yet another round of showers and storms will move in from the southwest. Unlike the last few days, the chance of thunder will be pretty low for the northwest half of the area, with more of a moderate stratiform rain developing. For southeast OK a few storms could become marginally severe with wind or hail, but it should be brief. Any areas that are seeing flooding will see an exacerbation of conditions given the additional rainfall. Lows tonight will range from the mid 40s in NE OK to mid 50s in the southeast portions of the area. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Friday) Issued at 147 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 The next round of rainfall will be ongoing Saturday morning, with light to moderate rainfall for the entire forecast area, but with pockets of heavier rainfall under any thunderstorms in southeast OK into west-central AR. The rain threat will gradually diminish into the afternoon with very breezy northerly flow developing and cooler air spilling into the area. Winds will gust to 30-40 mph, but for now elected to forego a Wind Advisory given speeds are only marginally reaching criteria. With all of the additional rain, several rivers will be pushed into moderate flood stage. Although conditions will again briefly dry out Saturday evening, the upper level low will pass overhead with one final round of wraparound rainfall on the backside of the storm. This is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. Model guidance continues to show uncertainty with respect to exactly where this heavier precipitation band will set up as well as its intensity. With that said, the timing is ideal to allow for maximum cooling of the column, and areas of mixed rain and snow or perhaps all snow will develop. As ground conditions remain warm, meaningful accumulation is unlikely, but its certainly possible that anywhere across northeast OK or northwest AR could see a brief dusting of snow early Sunday morning. No travel impacts are anticipated. Conditions finally dry out later Sunday with dry weather through much of next week expected. Monday morning will likely be the coldest this week, with many areas at or below freezing. Freeze headlines are likely for Monday morning. Temperatures will gradually warm back into the 70s and 80s with mostly sunny conditions. River flooding will probably continue for several days before subsiding, especially along main stem rivers. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1224 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 MVFR to IFR conditions are expected to prevail through the valid period with rounds of showers/storms also expected to impact area sites. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1224 PM CDT Fri Apr 4 2025 MVFR to IFR conditions are expected to prevail through the valid period with rounds of showers/storms also expected to impact area sites. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 46 49 34 50 / 70 90 90 30 FSM 51 53 40 52 / 90 100 90 30 MLC 48 51 35 51 / 100 100 90 20 BVO 45 49 33 52 / 60 90 80 20 FYV 47 49 33 49 / 90 100 90 30 BYV 45 47 34 45 / 90 100 90 40 MKO 47 50 34 49 / 90 100 100 30 MIO 45 46 34 49 / 60 90 90 40 F10 46 49 34 51 / 90 100 100 30 HHW 51 55 39 50 / 100 100 80 20 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for OKZ049-053-063-068>076. AR...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for ARZ001-002-010-011-019- 020-029. && $$ UPDATE...30 SHORT TERM...06 LONG TERM....06 AVIATION...67