Agricultural News
Drought Covers Two Thirds of Oklahoma With No Relief in Sight
Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:43:43 CST
State Climatologist Gary McManus says that the continuing drought has intensified statewide, affecting more Oklahomans. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows 65 percent of the state was in drought impacting 2.8 million people. Drought has expanded into eastern Oklahoma, which is being triggered by lower reservoir levels and soil moisture amounts. The latest report shows 5.75 percent of the state was in exceptional drought, 17.06 was in extreme drought, 22.73 was in severe drought, 19.05 was in moderate drought and 33.48 percent was abnormally dry. The latest drought monitor map shows 65 percent of the state was in at least moderate drought(D1 through D4).
Since the start of the year, drought has expanded into eastern and southern Oklahoma. Each week the ongoing dry conditions continue to show its effect. At the start of the year, 25 percent of the state did not receive a drought classification. Last week only 5 percent of the state did not receive a drought classification. As of Tuesday, less than 1.5 percent of the state was not receiving a drought rating.
The state's two major metropolitan areas are now in moderate drought, with all of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties in that D1 classification.
The drought's impact on reservoir storage was evident in the latest map from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Lake Hefner was down 12 feet and Lake Overholser was down seven feet. In looking further west and south, the impact was more substantial. This week Lake Altus-Lugert was down 31 feet and Foss Lake was down 20 feet.
The lack of moisture in the soil profile was also evident. The modeled soil moisture from the Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center in Tulsa showed less than 50 percent to even less than 30 percent of normal across much of the western half of Oklahoma. The graphic below this story shows this longterm impact of the drought.
In the Oklahoma Climatological Survey Mesonet ticker, McManus said precipitation deficits are compounding the effect of the drought. While there has some precipitation over the last month, it was 35th driest January into February period.
In looking at the weather forecast, McManus said there are chances for accumulating snow and ice Sunday through Tuesday. Moisture looks to have greater chances across eastern Oklahoma. From the National Weather Service office in Norman, the bottom graphic gives you a feel of the expectations- the Tulsa office of the NWS says that snow and sleet chances are elevated in that time period for eastern Oklahoma.
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