Agricultural News
Summer Weather Patterns Setting Up Across Oklahoma
Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:50:34 CDT
Weather patterns across portions of Oklahoma have improved somewhat in the last few months and Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus says the trend from an unsettled, wet pattern is trending toward a hot and humid one.
"No shock there. As we get into late June and head into July, that's sort of what we expect here in Oklahoma. It doesn't always work out that way, but generally that's what we expect."
The weekly drought monitor maps have shown an easing of dry condition in much of eastern and central Oklahoma. McManus says that is not unusual, but it does not necessarily mean the drought is broken.
"The eastern two-thirds of the state have probably seen a couple of periods of relief over this three-year period of drought whereas far western Oklahoma and the Panhandle they've been in continuous drought for the last three years. So, that's the difference in experiences between the two regions.
"Once the drought starts to really get going, as we get into the summer, it's very difficult to get out.
"While the eastern two-thirds of the state are experiencing a normal summertime drying down because they did have a pretty good spring, in western Oklahoma it's just more of the same. They're getting more heat, more low humidity and the drought's just feeding upon itself out that way."
McManus said southwesterly winds blowing from the drier regions to the southwest could dry out central Oklahoma and return it to drought condition very rapidly, although it currently looks like the eastern two-thirds of the state are returning to a more normal summer pattern.
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