Sunday morning, March 15, Oklahoma City woke up to mild temperatures, mid-60s on the thermometer, and winds already starting to flex. A High Wind Warning covers the metro from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and a Red Flag Warning kicks in at noon for parts of western and central Oklahoma. Forecasters say gusts could punch up to 60 to 65 mph this afternoon, with blowing dust reducing visibility in the driest spots, accoring to the National Weather Service.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
A strong cold front will charge south through the morning, turning winds around to the north-northwest and cranking them up to a sustained 30 to 40 mph this afternoon, with higher gusts, especially west of I-35. Dry areas are expected to see blowing dust that could knock visibility down to roughly 5 to 6 miles at times. The National Weather Service has both the High Wind Warning and Red Flag Warning in place for much of the region.
What This Means For Your Day
On the ground, that kind of wind can make travel tricky for high-profile vehicles, and it raises the odds of sporadic power outages if trees or limbs give way. Before the midday wind spike, haul in or tie down patio furniture, tarps, trampolines, and trash cans that like to wander, and hold off on any outdoor burning while the warnings are active. We first flagged the warm, windy pattern earlier this week in our look at the warm, windy setup, and today’s stronger punch of wind is the expected sequel.
Heading Into Monday And Beyond
After sunset, temperatures will drop quickly, with Sunday night lows forecast near 26°F and a hard freeze likely Monday morning. Wind chills are expected to slide into the single digits to teens, so protect sensitive plants and bring pets inside. Winds will ease on Monday, but highs stay stuck in the 40s. Then the switch flips again midweek, with a rapid warmup bringing widespread 80s by Wednesday and readings climbing into the 90s by Thursday and Friday. Keep an eye on local forecasts and the National Weather Service for any tweaks to timing or coverage as conditions evolve.
