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. . . Ticker for May 8, 2014 . . .
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... May 8, 2014 May 8, 2014 May 8, 2014 May 8, 2014 More rain, no pain Simply put, no? What a difference 300 miles makes after my trip to Cimarron County and the Dust Bowl-like conditions out that way (a trip unfortunately cut short, by the way ... even in dust and 50 mph winds, the Panhandle is the best place in the universe), to rain-drenched central Oklahoma. Let's take a look at the rainfall map and the current rainfall totals first (and this will continue to change throughout the day since it is raining -- yep, mind like a steel trap!) since the newest Drought Monitor map is going to be UGLY! http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/current-radar.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/rainrfc.24hr.png So that rain shield continues to push to the east which will allow some clearing later possibly. Add that heat and moisture still available for the dryline situated out in western Oklahoma (out in the Panhandle currently, it appears) that will push to the east later today http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/current-dewpoints.png and you get the possibility for storms (some possibly severe) and rainfall later today. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/nws-norman.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/nws-tulsa.png So there is still a chance for more rain later today, and some of that shows up in this rainfall forecast (but it also shows some that has already fell, since it was issued at 5am). Unfortunately, not much on tap for far western OK and the Panhandle. That area still DESPERATELY needs rain to alleviate intensifying drought conditions. Speaking of drought (what a segue!), the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map released this morning shows the effects of the record-breaking heat, low humidity, and daily 40-50 mph winds (all of which helped spark the fires in the past week, like this monster out in Woodward County Tuesday) http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/woodward-fire1.jpeg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/woodward-fire2.jpg And the rainfall statistics we need to look at are numerous, but we'll just choose since the first of the year, a period in which many of our western and northern stations continue to see some of their driest weather ever from January 1-May 7. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/caltot.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/caldel.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/calpct.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/cal-stats-table.png Okay, finally on to the drought map. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/20140506_OK_trd.png Another large expansion of D4 Exceptional drought across northern Oklahoma and the Panhandle, where the wheat crop is deteriorating rapidly, and if estimates are correct (66.5 million bushels), this year's wheat harvest will produce the least amount of grain since 1957, the end of the horrible 1950s drought. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/projected-wheat-harvest.png The total amount of drought stayed the same, but the amount of at least D2 Severe drought increased from 55% to 66 percent, and the amount of at least D3 Extreme drought went up from 39% to 49%. Hopefully we can see a reduction thanks to the recent rains, at least in central Oklahoma. Speaking of the Panhandle, these pictures tell a thousand words, I think. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2387.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2388.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2390.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2391.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2393.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20140508/IMG_2395.jpg Gary McManus State Climatologist Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Climatological Survey (405) 325-2253 gmcmanus@mesonet.org ================================================== The OCS/Mesonet Ticker https://ticker.mesonet.org/ To subscribe or unsubscribe from the Ticker or for questions about the Ticker or its content Phone or Email the Ticker Manager at OCS Phone: 405-325-2253 Email: ticker@mesonet.org --------------------------------------------------- -C- Copyright 2024 Oklahoma Climatological Survey ===================================================