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March 1, 2019 March 1, 2019 March 1, 2019 March 1, 2019
Jarch
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/Braums-DEFCON-meter-March2-3.png
Good riddance February? HA! What about March? With this weekend's weather coming
up, it's gonna feel more like January. Jarch? Manuary (okay, that one sounds
gross for some reason)? We'll go with Jarch. Snow is okay, but not ideal. It's
the ice that worries most, and we saw that play out over the last week. Snow
tends to make people stay home and drive more carefully. It's that initial point
of icing with freezing rain/drizzle that causes the most problems for drivers,
when things just look wet. Plus they soon realize that no amount of careful
driving can defeat ice. That's basic physics. Less friction means more slippage.
My comb through my hair is proof positive. Hence, the new BRAUM'S EMERGENCY
DEF-CON METER depiction. Just stay home, folks. No, you aren't gonna starve
regardless of a trip to Braum's, and you won't end up in the ditch either. Plus,
you'll freeze your tail off with those wind chills dropping below zero Sunday
and Monday.
Here's a preview from your local NWS office.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-norman-sat-night.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-norman-sunday.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-tulsa-sat-sunday.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-amarillo-snow.png
Okay, let's take a look back at February, a tropical paradise compared to what's
coming this weekend! And forget Monday (Sunday in the Panhandle). Just sleep
through it until Tuesday (Tuesday, July 2, ideally). February summary after the
break.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-norman-monday.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-tulsa-monday.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/nws-amarillo-sunday.png
Gary McManus
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@mesonet.org
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Winter Highlights February’s Weather
March 1, 2019
Drought, fire danger, floods, severe storms, multiple bouts with freezing rain,
and even a good old fashioned Plains snowstorm – Oklahoma’s weather had a little
bit of everything during February. Frequent incursions of arctic air kept
Oklahomans guessing what to wear from day to day, although choices from the
spring wardrobe were rare. A round of severe storms marched across the state Feb.
6-7 ahead of an arctic front. Hail, damaging winds and flash flooding were
reported with the storms, followed by a batch of freezing rain behind the front.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb6-storm-reports.png
Up to a quarter-inch of ice accumulation was noted in parts of northeastern
Oklahoma. A strong storm system met up with an arctic air mass over Oklahoma on
the 19th and dropped a swath of sleet and snow from southwest through north
central Oklahoma. Reports of 3-5 inches were common with Burlington leading the
way at 7.5 inches. Those outside of that band received a bit of freezing rain
and sleet.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/Feb19-snow-sleet.png
The wintry fun didn’t end there, however. Another arctic intrusion led to an
icy glaze over much of the state on the 27th, closing schools and making travel
a challenge. Numerous wrecks were reported across western and central Oklahoma,
including at least one fatality accident in Blaine County. Oklahoma City police
stopped responding to non-injury accidents due to the sheer number of
collisions, and area emergency rooms soon filled with slip-and-fall accident
victims.
Much of the state finished with a moisture deficit, but that was countered by
wet conditions across eastern Oklahoma. According to preliminary data from the
Oklahoma Mesonet, the statewide average precipitation total was 1.58 inches,
0.25 inches below normal to rank as the 53rd wettest February on record.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb-rain-totals.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb-rain-depart.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb-rain-pct.png
The southwest experienced its 32nd driest February, while southeast and east
central Oklahoma had their 30th and 34th wettest, respectively. Idabel led the
state at 6.3 inches. Boise City had the lowest total with 0.14 inches.
Climatological winter – December through February – finished with a statewide
average of 7.48 inches, 2.03 inches above normal to rank as the ninth wettest
such period on record. The only significant deficits during the winter season
occurred in the far southwest and northwest, where totals fell to 40-70 percent
of normal. The northeast’s winter season was their sixth wettest on record.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/winter-rain-totals.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/winter-rain-depart.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/winter-rain-pct.png
The northwestern two-thirds of Oklahoma experienced below normal temperatures
during February while the southeast was warmer than normal. Averaged as a
whole, the state’s average temperature for the month was 39.7 degrees, 2.4
degrees below normal to rank as the 44th coolest February on record.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb-avg-temps.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/feb-temps-depart.png
The Panhandle was 4.7 degrees below normal, their 23rd coolest February on
record, but the southeast was 1.7 degrees above normal to rank with their 36th
warmest. The Mesonet site at Hollis recorded the highest temperature of the
month at 83 degrees back on Feb. 3. None of the 120 Mesonet sites recorded a
temperature of at least 70 degrees from Feb. 15 through the end of the month.
The lowest temperature of zero degrees occurred at Beaver and Eva on Feb. 8.
Winter finished just a tad above normal with a statewide average of 39.6
degrees, the 51st warmest on record. The southeast was 1.8 degrees above normal
to rank as their 28th warmest winter.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/winter-avg-temps.png
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/winter-temps-depart.png
Oklahoma was free of drought for nine consecutive weeks according to the U.S.
Drought Monitor, a streak that ended on February’s final day. Only 1 percent of
the state was considered in drought, contained in far southwestern Oklahoma.
Another 10 percent across far western Oklahoma and the Panhandle was labeled as
“Abnormally Dry,” a drought precursor.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/20190226_OK_trd.png
The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) March outlooks see increased odds of
below normal temperatures for the entire state, as well as above normal
precipitation for all but the southwest quarter. The March drought outlook
indicates no further drought development in the state, but persistence of the
small area of drought in the far southwest.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/March-temp-outlook.gif
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/March-precip-outlook.gif
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20190301/March-drought-outlook.png
==================================================
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-C- Copyright 2024 Oklahoma Climatological Survey
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