This Coming Weekend's Weather April 21-23

9 years ago

Well, I included Friday in the weekend since the rain is expected to begin then.

Are you watching the forecast for the approaching cold front, possible severe weather and rainfall?

I've been watching it for a couple of days now, ever since the NWS uttered the words "heavy rainfall". Of course, when you are watching the forecast for a date 4-7 days out from the current day, the forecast is unsettled and still can change a lot. Having said that, I no longer think the term 'heavy rainfall' applies to my part of Oklahoma since the heavier rain seems like it keeps shifting more northward. Some of you, though, may get more rain than you want or need. Carol, You and Al may need to start building an ark.

Here's the current QPF showing forecasted rainfall amounts over the next 7 days. Keep in mind that this map updates multiple times daily and a lot can change in a short time:

Seven Day QPF

The cold front will bring a night or two of temperatures dropping into the 40s, and I expect that the further north you are, the lower in the 40s your overnight lows might drop.

As for possible Severe Weather, we'll just have to watch and wait and see how things come together, but I did notice last night that even though we are really far south, our local TV met said we could have March-like winds this weekend with gusts in the mid-30s or higher. I'm not looking forward to that. I think that hail and tornadoes are less of a risk way down here and may be a slightly higher risk in central thru northern OK but we'll just have to see where the severe weather unfolds as the cold front collides with our hot weather.

Apart from gardening, what would talk about in April and May if our weather weren't going nuts on a regular basis and slamming our gardens and landscapes with some weather conditions we don't need (hail, wind, tornadoes, etc.) and some we generally welcome (rain, unless you're already had too much)?

Let's enjoy the pretty days we are having right now, mud and puddles and all, because it seems like things may veer towards 'worse' instead of 'better' in a few days. I know rain always is a blessing, but it is harder to feel blessed if you're about to get 3-5" of rain on top of all the rain that just fell. On the other hand, drought-busting rain still is needed in many areas. It is a shame that often it takes flooding rainfall to really bust a drought.

Dawn

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Comments (10)

chickencoupe
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh boy. I've never had this many plants in. Local mesonet station reached 50s last night, but only briefly. 47 is way low meaning we could reach 30s.

Are cardboard boxes covering plants an option? If these boxes are stuffed and covered with hay? I can wrap plastic milk jugs with plastic. I think that would help if we have enough sun to warm them up.

Sheets over seedlings covered with hay (and mulched beneath)
Blankets over beds covered with hay (and mulched beneath)

Time to be a redneck! hahah
bon

Edit: 47 is forecast for our Friday night at the mesonet station.
elkwc
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
They are saying 37-38 here Friday & Sat nights. Trying to decide what to do with those in the unheated greenhouse as I will be away. Glad I didn't put anything in the ground last weekend.
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
9 years ago
Bon, I don't think that 47 necessarily would worry me. Cardboard, if stuffed loosly with hay or grass, might provide protection but might be overkill. Be careful using any organic matter to cover plants when it is this wet. They can spread fungal diseases like crazy.

Jay, Now...that 37 or 38 is worrisome. Could you put a simple space heater in the greenhouse with the thermostat set pretty low, like around 40, so it only comes on if needed? I'm glad you don't have any in the ground yet too. This weekend might be dicey.

Of course, if wind blows us all away on Friday, then the low temperatures won't matter. (grin)

Dawn
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
9 years ago
Depending on where I look either 45 or 43 this Sat. Mine could all be covered with a trash bag...they have starter cages around them...if it's not too windy.
Katie Jbaugh
9 years ago
I'm worried about my beans...they didn't like cold in the greenhouse...UGH. How to cover climbers?
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
9 years ago
How cold are you supposed to be? What sort of climbers? Beans? How tall are they already?
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
9 years ago
Amy, For our wind, our local TV met mentioned gusts in the 30s but didn't say if the wind would keep up all night or if it would drop off after sunset like it often does. In this case, we're better off if the wind keeps blowing all night long. That way, if patchy frost forms with temperatures in the upper 30s, the wind may keep it from settling down on plants.

Dawn
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
9 years ago
Perhaps more tender than tomatoes would be the Korean summer squash. I just have to remember to cover them. Hmmm and the tub with the frost blankets was out in the rain, I need to air them out so they don't get smelly. Just makin' myself more work since I don't have enough to do.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
9 years ago
Amy, That sounds just like me. At least we have good advance warning that this cold front is coming so we have time to make plans, instead of just finding out that afternoon and then going into full freakout mode....not that any of us would freak out or anything.

Dawn
elkwc
9 years ago
Dawn I may bring in a few plants before I leave and leave them in the utility room. I will open a window that comes from the utility room and that should let a little heat in there. If I lose them I still have plently. They aren't my best plants anyway.