Oklahoma – Morning light breaks over the Tulsa skyline, cool and steady after a crisp night that left thin frost on rooftops and lawns. It’s the calm before a shifting pattern — one that could impact post-Thanksgiving travel as moisture and wind return later in the week.
According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, most of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas will enjoy dry, sunny conditions through Thanksgiving Day, with highs near 53°F and light winds. It’s perfect weather for holiday road trips along I-44 and Highway 412, with clear skies and no immediate hazards. But forecasters warn that the weather won’t stay quiet for long.
By Friday night, a strengthening low-pressure system will push moisture northward, bringing rain and thunderstorm chances that rise sharply into Saturday. The latest outlook shows an 80% chance of showers and isolated storms, with a few areas possibly seeing heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Travel could slow on wet roads across eastern Oklahoma and into the Ozarks by Saturday afternoon.
Behind the system, much colder air will settle in across the region Sunday into Monday. Lows will dip into the upper 20s, and some rural areas could see a light freeze or patchy frost by early next week.
Long-range models also hint at another strong Arctic front moving into the Plains around December 1–5, which could bring early-season snow chances north of Oklahoma and below-normal temperatures across much of the Central U.S.
For now, Thanksgiving looks picture-perfect — but travelers should stay weather-aware heading into the Black Friday weekend, when fall warmth gives way to winter’s first hints.
