TULSA, Okla. – A sharp blast of cold air will end Tulsa’s late fall warmth this weekend, setting the stage for the season’s first widespread hard freeze by early Monday. Temperatures are expected to tumble more than 30 degrees between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning as a powerful cold front sweeps across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.
According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, daytime highs in the mid-70s on Saturday will fall into the 40s by Sunday, with overnight lows plunging into the 20s. The front will bring strong north winds and a dramatic chill Saturday night through Monday morning, likely producing a hard freeze capable of damaging sensitive vegetation and unprotected outdoor plumbing. Areas along and north of I-40 face the greatest risk of a killing freeze.
The NWS reports that the first freeze for Tulsa typically arrives around mid-November, but this outbreak could bring sub-28°F readings as early as Monday morning. Residents are urged to protect outdoor plants, pets, and exposed pipes before the cold arrives. Motorists should prepare for frosty windshields and patchy ice in low valleys during early commutes. Despite the chill, forecasters note almost no chance of rain through next week, keeping conditions dry across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
The return of seasonable highs in the 60s is expected by midweek as high pressure settles back over the region.
