By late evening severe storms had pushed out of southeast Oklahoma. Broad low pressure from Kansas to North Texas…will gradually pull cooler and drier air into the entire region. Around midnight…the leading edge of some of the cooler air extended from near Wichita Falls up through Purcell and Chandler. As low pressure remains strong…and high pressure approaches from The Rockies…the gradient will become unusually strong…resulting in strong winds…even during the more stable nighttime hours. Wind speeds had already increased to between 20 and 25 mph. In western Oklahoma…gusts over 35 to 40 mph were observed. Winds will become even stronger by Friday morning…especially in western Oklahoma. At midnight…temperatures ranged from the low 60s in southern Oklahoma…to low 50s around Hobart…Guthrie…and Ponca City… to middle 40s in northwest Oklahoma. Temperatures will fall another five to ten degrees overnight. Some light rain showers are also expected near the Kansas border.
Of note. Two people have been confirmed dead, a school totally destroyed, numerous homes & buildings destroyed as a large tornado tore through the small town of Tushka in Atoka County, Oklahoma at about 7 pm Thursday evening. Tushka is along Highway 69 between McAlester & Durant, OK. I will post more updates as they become available.
OKCStormWatcher's Weather Blog 