Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Oklahomans should prepare now for multiple rounds of steady rain March 5-11 that could create water-covered roads and rising creeks across much of the state.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, Oklahoma sits within a 60 to 70 percent chance of above-normal precipitation during the March 5-11 period. The wet corridor stretches from the Upper Midwest through the Mississippi Valley and into parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast, favoring repeated rainfall events instead of a single storm system. Temperatures are also expected to trend above average statewide, increasing runoff potential.
In Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Lawton, most precipitation will fall as rain, with periods of moderate to heavy downpours possible. Warmer air will dominate throughout the period, eliminating any threat of wintry weather and allowing rainfall to move quickly into streams and rivers.
Heavier rain bands may create ponding along Interstates 35, 40 and 44, particularly in low-lying and urban areas with poor drainage. The North Canadian, Arkansas and Red rivers could see noticeable rises if repeated rain tracks over the same counties.
Residents should clear storm drains, check sump pumps and avoid driving through water-covered roads. The wet pattern remains active through March 11, and additional flood advisories could be issued if rainfall totals trend higher.
