Cold to take hold

By News9 Meteorologist Nick Bender

The battle of the seasons - spring. Oklahoma can go from sunny and fair, to stormy, to hot, to cold in an instant; the latter will be felt Sunday morning and especially Monday morning.

A cold, dry Canadian high pressure system, currently over the Hudson bay in north-central Canada, will begin a southward track into the Lower 48 Sunday night. The clear skies, calm wind, and dry air will pave the way for freezing temperatures across the majority of the state Sunday morning and Monday morning. Areas near and along the Red River Valley may come away with just patchy frost, while areas along and north of I-40 can expect a prolonged period of freezing temperatures Monday morning.

Temperatures this cold could very well do damage to newly planted vegetation. Take some basic precautions such as bringing your potted plants indoors, or covering outdoor vegetation with newspaper, straw, or the likes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Sunday and Monday afternoon will prove better with temperatures climbing into the 50s and 60s, although still chilly by mid April standards.