The skies over Oklahoma City wear a shade of overcast as the National Weather Service (NWS) reports current temperatures at a mild 64°F. As Oklahomans kick off the Memorial Day observance, they're advised to keep umbrellas close with a 40% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms after 1pm, according to the morning update from NWS, Oklahoma City. Standing at 93% humidity with an east wind siding at 9 mph, it's a quintessential spring morning welcoming the possibility of rain.
Heading into the night, the likelihood of rainfall picks up, the NWS forecasting a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, potentially delivering a quarter to half an inch of new rainfall amounts. This wet spell intends to follow through tomorrow and beyond, with "mostly cloudy" skies and high temperatures ranging from the low to mid-70s.
In due course, both Oklahomans and Texans face the immediate concern of rising waters as a Flood Watch remains in place until 1 PM CDT today. The living in proximity to rivers, creeks, and streams have been urged by the National Weather Service to stay alert. The watch encompases a broad swathe of geography, all the way from Atoka to Wilbarger in northern Texas, affecting residents in a cohort of counties poised between saturation and deluge.
Simultaneously, a Flood Advisory has been issued, situated at the North Canadian River near Harrah, where excessive rainfall is pegged to cause flooding. The Flood Advisory is set in effect from the dawn of today until the early afternoon of tomorrow. Along the river, the advisory targets Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, and Lincoln Counties, as "Shallow flooding of low-lying areas" typically occur when the river hits the 12-foot mark, they said.
With continued rainfall forecasted, the National Weather Service has detailed that "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations." Residents have been advised to monitor forecasts and be prepared to act should the need arise. The conversations on climate and infrastructure will surely endure as cumulus clouds loom but today, in neighborhoods and towns threaded by waterways, the talk is likely to be of the rising tide.
