MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... April 16, 2015 April 16, 2015 April 16, 2015 April 16, 2015
Rain on the return, drought on the run
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/torch1.jpg
Calm down Arnold, it will rain again. You just concentrate on GETTING TO THE CHOPPAH! In fact, that rain should begin again today out west and overspread the state over the next few days, bringing with it a chance for severe weather and lots and LOTS of moisture. Check out the 7-day rainfall forecast totals. If this happens, drought will suffer a significant dent when combined with the rain that has already fallen.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/7day-rain-forecast.gif
Keep in mind these totals were about doubled on yesterday's map, so these amounts can and will change as the whole mess evolves from today through the weekend. The NWS offices give us the story on the severe risk and whatnot, so take a look at their graphics. Tulsa clues us in on fog this morning across eastern Oklahoma. As the Amarillo NWS graphics point out, there will be the possibility for a few tornadoes out across the OK and TX Panhandles with an "enhanced" risk by the Storm Prediction Center, so best to stay weather aware out that way.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-amarillo-svr1.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-amarillo-svr2.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-amarillo-svr3.jpg
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-norman-svr-thur.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-norman-svr-fri.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-norman-svr-sat.jpg
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/nws-tulsa-fog.png
The NWS advises that the situation will have to be watched closely over the next few days for the severe threat to increase, so as per usual, keep a close eye on the forecasts from your favorite NWS office, media outlet or Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
Speaking of Arnold and mud, it did rain in the Panhandle last night with some pretty hefty storms. The totals were spotty, but that's better than what they've been getting out that way. Most of the rain fell in Beaver and Harper counties. Harper County is home to Buffalo, of course, the greatest place on the planet. That 8 hundredths probably evaporated as soon as it fell.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/rainrfc.24hr.png
That will do little to help the more intense drought out in that area, but as we continually say, it's a start! The new U.S. Drought Monitor released this morning shows improvements from eastern Oklahoma now extending all the way west into Oklahoma County, and as far north as Tulsa and Rogers counties. Those counties now see "abnormally dry" D0 conditions replacing areas of moderate D1 drought. Remember, D0 is not a drought designation, but a precursor to drought, or as in this case, an area coming out of drought.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/20150414_OK_trd.png
Notice also that notch in the D4 out west in Roger Mills and Beckham counties. That is a result of that 4-5 inches of rain that fell from the Texas Panhandle through that area in Oklahoma earlier this week.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/rainrfc.120hr.png
How about this next 7 days, which all appear to have chances (some bigger than others, and for different areas) of rain? It does appear that there will be increased chances for some rainy conditions across Oklahoma through the rest of April, but also a bit cooler. Maybe that will reduce the risk for the severe stuff?
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/apr23-29-precip-outlook.gif http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/apr23-29-temp-outlook.gif
The May and May-July temperature outlooks give us increased odds of below normal temperatures, which would also be a great thing. Cooler than normal weather means less drought stress.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/may-temp-outlook.gif http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/may-july-temp-outlook.gif Combine that with increased odds of above normal precipitation for far western Oklahoma and the Panhandle
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/may-precip-outlook.gif http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/may-july-precip-outlook.gif in addition to the fact that we are approaching the wettest part of the year for Oklahoma climatologically, and you get a really nice looking Seasonal Drought Outlook map.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20150416/season_drought.png
The forecasters at CPC think that we'll see drought improvement and even some removal across much of Oklahoma. Unfortunately (only if it comes true), they see that "core" area of drought in the Southern Plains, west central OK down through NW Texas, as seeing drought either persist or intensify through July. So good news for some, bad news for others. That core area remains the spot with the worst soil moisture profile down to the lower depths, as well as the worst reservoir problems.
We'll see. This is all based off the assumption (presumption??) that we'll see normal May-June rainfall amounts that will keep drought on the run. It's off to a good head start in April for some parts of the state, so why not extend it through the rest of the rainy season?
Gary McManus State Climatologist Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Climatological Survey (405) 325-2253 gmcmanus@mesonet.org
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