Tulsa, Oklahoma – Arctic air is expected to remain positioned mainly north of Oklahoma late this month, with only limited and short-lived influence possible across eastern portions of the state from Jan. 24 through Jan. 30.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, eastern Oklahoma falls within a roughly 40 percent probability zone for below-normal temperatures during the Jan. 24–30 period. This places the region on the southern fringe of the broader Arctic pattern, where brief cool-downs are possible but sustained cold is not favored.
Across eastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa, Muskogee, and the Interstate 44 corridor, daytime highs may dip slightly below late-January averages at times, but are expected to rebound during milder stretches. Overnight lows could fall into the upper 20s and 30s on colder nights, allowing for patchy frost and isolated slick spots on bridges and elevated roadways during early morning hours.
Farther north toward Bartlesville and the Kansas border, cooler air may linger a bit longer overnight, though daytime temperatures should recover enough to limit prolonged cold impacts. Southeast Oklahoma, including McAlester and Idabel, is likely to see even less influence from Arctic air due to warmer Gulf flow at times.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation advises drivers to remain alert for isolated early morning slick spots during brief cold spells, particularly in rural areas. Overall, confidence remains low that below-normal temperatures will dominate eastern Oklahoma through the end of the month, with the pattern favoring variable but generally seasonable late-January conditions.
