OKLAHOMA — A cool front is making a slow move into northeast Oklahoma, bringing scattered thunderstorms that are firing up along and behind the boundary, with a few capable of turning strong to severe with wind damage as the main concern. The front will continue moving through the Tulsa area overnight into Thursday, bringing steadily rising chances of thunder, rain, and sprinkles, along with a welcome drop in temperatures into the 70s and 80s.
Rain Chances Climb Sharply Through the Overnight Hours
The rain timeline for the Tulsa area shows a clear and steady increase in precipitation probability as the overnight hours progress. Chances start out low at just 10 percent between 9 p.m. and midnight, before climbing to 20 percent from 1 a.m. through 3 a.m. as the front continues its slow approach into the region.
By 4 a.m., rain chances jump significantly to 40 percent and hold at that level through 6 a.m., before surging even higher to 90 percent by 7 a.m. and remaining there through 8 a.m. This dramatic increase in probability through the early morning hours indicates the front’s main line of activity is expected to arrive right around daybreak Thursday, making the early morning commute a likely window for widespread rain and thunderstorms.
Strong to Severe Storms Possible With Wind Damage as Main Threat
Forecasters note that some thunderstorms firing up along and behind the approaching boundary could become strong to severe, with wind damage identified as the primary concern rather than hail or tornado potential. This aligns with the kind of storm behavior commonly seen along slow-moving cool fronts, where the temperature and moisture contrast can support locally intense but generally wind-driven storm development.
Communities across northeast Oklahoma, including the broader Tulsa metro area and surrounding counties, should remain aware of the potential for these stronger storms as the front continues its gradual push through the region overnight and into Thursday morning.
Thursday Brings Notably Cooler Temperatures Behind the Front
Once the front clears the area, temperatures behind the boundary are forecast to drop into a much more comfortable range, with highs settling into the 70s and 80s across the region. Radar and temperature data for Thursday show readings ranging from the low 70s in areas like Coffeyville and Bartlesville up to the upper 80s and low 90s farther south near Stigler and Wilburton, indicating the cooler air will take some time to fully filter across the entire region…