If you were late for work Thursday morning because you had to remember where you last put your jacket months ago, dig it out of the back of your closet, and brush off lint and pet dander, no one would blame you.
A strong cold front that arrived Wednesday and brought very pleasant afternoon conditions dropped temperatures to record lows early Thursday morning in Oklahoma City, Lawton, and Wichita Falls.
Thursday morning's 50-degree reading at Will Rogers World Airport shattered Oklahoma City's 65-year-old low August 20 temperature record of 56, set in 1950.
Aug 20, 2015 going down in record books! Daily record crushed & nearly tied the all-time coldest August temp. #okwx pic.twitter.com/1DoFcHBbV2
— Lacey Swope (@LaceySwope) August 20, 2015
The margin wasn't quite as extreme in the southeast corner of the National Weather Service's Norman forecast area.
"This is the kind of record I like to break in August," NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Rick Smith said on Twitter. Smith wasn't the only person enthusiastic about the preview of fall-like weather.
Woah!! Did I sleep through August? I'll take it! #okwx #feelinglikefall pic.twitter.com/nFOVxBEJPs
— Mandy Bailey (@MandyBaileyWX) August 20, 2015
A little nippy this morning. A welcome change. #okwx #krmgnews #fox23 #tulsaworld pic.twitter.com/eWVGb7UFls
— Dan Threlkeld (@DanThrelkeld) August 20, 2015
It is so cool our pond is steaming like a hot cup of coffee. #okwx #RecordCold http://t.co/JZJaoNdxVO
— Brad Sowder (@TheBradSowder) August 20, 2015
The cool conditions will be short-lived, though. Temperatures will be back in the lower 80s Thursday afternoon, and there's another possibility for showers and thunderstorms late Friday morning and again Friday night as an upper-level disturbance moves through over the region's warm, moist air.
Far western Oklahoma could see a few strong to severe storms, with strong wind gusts, small hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall all possible through at least Monday. Temperatures will peak in the low 90s on Saturday.
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