Agricultural News
Drought Monitor Report Shows Extreme Drought Consuming Western Oklahoma Counties
Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:33:23 CST
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, periods of enhanced onshore flow continued to bring rain and high-elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rocky Mountains. The heaviest seven-day precipitation was observed along and west of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. Month-to-date temperatures have averaged more than 6 degrees F above normal across the central and southern Great Plains. In contrast to the above-normal temperatures throughout nearly all the central and eastern continental U.S. so far this month, temperatures have averaged below normal across most of California.
With data ranging from Dec. 18 to Dec. 21, 2021, based on worsening soil moisture conditions, recent warmth and enhanced winds, severe drought was expanded to include all of the Oklahoma Panhandle and the northeastern Texas Panhandle. As of Dec. 21, no measurable precipitation has been recorded in Amarillo, Texas for 70 consecutive days which is the fourth-longest streak on record. Abnormal dryness and drought continue to expand across west-central Texas. Month-to-date temperatures have averaged 6 to 10 degrees F above normal throughout Texas. Impacts related to the expanding and worsening drought conditions across the southern Great Plains include poor grazing for livestock.
In the High Plains, based on 60-to 90-day standardized deviation of precipitation (SPI) values and soil moisture, abnormal dryness and moderate drought were expanded across parts of southern Nebraska and western Kansas. Severe drought increased across southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas due to rapidly worsening soil moisture and the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI). Based on below-average snow water equivalent (SWE) and SPI, the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range was degraded to extreme drought. Minor improvements were made to parts of North Dakota due to recent snowfall and above-normal precipitation dating back through the fall.
In the West, during early to mid-December, precipitation averaged more than 150% across much of California and western areas of Oregon and Washington. According to the California Department of Water Resources as of Dec. 21, 2021, SWE statewide is at 93%. During the past two weeks, temperatures have averaged 2 to 4 degrees F below normal which has contributed to the favorable SWE numbers. That and 12-to-24-month SPI considerations supported a reduction of exceptional drought across much of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Also, exceptional drought was decreased north of Los Angeles and eliminated from southern Nevada and southeastern California. A slight decrease in extreme drought was made north of San Francisco.
As of Dec. 20, 2021, Oregon statewide SWE is at 95%. Recent heavier precipitation, especially at the higher elevations, resulted in improving drought conditions throughout many locations of Montana. The areas of exceptional drought were decreased due to recent wetness and lack of support from longer-term SPIs. Due to the current, low SWE, there is growing concern for worsening conditions across the Bear and Snake River basins of southern Idaho. These ongoing low SWE numbers supported a 1-category degradation for parts of southern Idaho and adjacent areas of western Wyoming. Due to recent dryness and rapidly worsening soil moisture, extreme drought was expanded to include more of northeast New Mexico.
To view the Contiguous U.S. Drought Map, click here.
Looking ahead, heavy rain and high-elevation snow are forecast from the West Coast east to the Continental Divide from now to Dec. 27, 2021. According to the Weather Prediction Center, five-day precipitation amounts could total more than 5 inches along the West Coast mountains, the Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Moderate-to-heavy precipitation is also forecast to occur across the Great Basin and Four Corners region. Dry weather and above-normal temperatures are likely to persist across the central and southern Great Plains.
From Dec. 29, 2021, to Jan. 2, 2022, above-normal precipitation will radiate out of the Four Corners in the West and Appalachian Mountains in the East, hopefully bringing normal precipitation to the Great Plains for this time of year.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Precipitation Outlook, click here.
Below-normal temperatures are expected to dominate the West. At the same time, above-normal temperatures are expected to dominate the south. As temperatures radiate out, they are expected to meet across the central U.S.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Temperature Outlook, click here.
According to the Monthly Drought Outlook map, the only improvements or removal of drought conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest, bleeding into western Montana and western Wyoming. Other than that, drought conditions are expected to persist in the West and areas of the Great Plains where it continues to develop.
To view the Monthly Drought Outlook map, click here.
Oklahoma
According to data as of Dec. 18 to Dec. 21, 2021, extreme drought increased across southwestern Oklahoma where a few locations have received less than 0.10 inches of precipitation during the past 70 days. Thus, drought conditions in Oklahoma continue to deteriorate. As of Dec. 21, 2021, 90.1% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. Moderate drought conditions or worse changed from 82.8% to 79.1%. Severe drought conditions or worse changed from 36.3% to 43.6%. Extreme drought conditions changed from 8.2% to 8.8%.
All of Cimarron and Harmon counties are classified as in extreme drought. Extreme drought conditions are also reported in Beaver, Beckham, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Texas, Tillman, Washita and Woods counties. Severe drought conditions continue to creep eastward, affecting much of the state.
A small pocket of eastern Oklahoma continues to fight off drought conditions.
The 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map shows Oklahoma is likely to receive normal precipitation levels. The 6-to-10-day temperature outlook map shows higher-than-normal temperatures are very likely.
To view the Oklahoma drought map, click here.
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