Agricultural News
Oklahoma's Gone Yeller, Says Climatologist
Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:38:24 CDT
Oklahoma's gone yeller. Normally those would be fighting words, says Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus, but in this case, he's talking the yellow designation for abnormally dry conditions on the latest U.S. Drought map. (Gary spoke with Radio Oklahoma Network's Ron Hays about the current conditions and you can listen to their conversation by clicking the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.)
Oklahoma has gone from 73.8 percent of the state under at least abnormally dry to 100 percent in one week. This is the epitome of a flash drought, McManus says. Even though abnormally dry isn't considered drought itself, it is a precursor.
The amount of the state in actual drought only rose from 44.6 percent to 50.5 percent last week. Exceptional drought did expand farther into Jackson County, where horrible conditions still exist, including a water supply emergency with Lake Altus down to 12 percent of capacity and Lake Tom Steed at 24 percent.
The western Panhandle has received some nice rains within the last 48 hours, but the state's last good rainfall was on August 17. The reasons again are obvious, but here are the rainfall statistics since the state's last good rainfall on August 17. The statewide average since then is still a paltry 0.15", 2.61" below normal. It did raise the total to the 2nd wettest such period since 1921, however, so that's a win.
The statewide average temperature since August 18 has been 80.8 degrees, which is 2.5 degrees above normal. The average high across the state over that period was 94.2 degrees, 3.5 degrees above normal. The current cool front that has entered the state should take some stress off of the soil moisture and reservoirs/farm ponds.
The latest 7-day rainfall forecast totals look OK for the most part, McManus says, but the far northwest appears to be in line for the best soaking.
And the Climate Prediction Center shows increased odds of above normal rainfall for the Sept. 19-25 period, with increased odds of above normal temperatures as well.
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