OCS/Mesonet Ticker for January 4, 2021

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Previous Ticker: December 28, 2020 Following Ticker: January 6, 2021

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. . . Ticker for January 4, 2021 . . .

MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021

Snowly Cow!

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-21.seasonal.snowfall.png

Snow snow snow snow snow SNOW, "snow snow snow!"

SNOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

Had enough you-know-what yet? I'm not afraid to say the word, obviously, but
for some of us it has become a 4-letter word. Wait! I guess it was always a
4-letter word, but you know what I mean (and if you do, please wash your mouth
out with soap). Our next chance of 4-letter word will come later next weekend,
apparently, but still a long ways to go there. Otherwise, we will continue to
see seasonal-type temperatures this week and maybe a drop of rain or two
Wednesday into Thursday morning. We've been working on the December/2020
summary, and you can read it below.

Hey, speaking of 2020 (You started it! No I did. Guess I'll finish it.), did
you catch our Ticker over the break introducing the 2020 Mesonet extremes? No,
there weren't 2020 of them, they were for the year 2020. Here's the link to that
Ticker, just in case, and the 2020 Mesonet extremes graphic once again.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/select.php?mo=01&da=04&yr=2021

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20201227/2020-extremes_final.png

Now, onto 2020 (or back, whichever you prefer)!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter Flexes Muscles During December
Jan. 4, 2020

A powerful winter storm pounded the state on 2020’s final day, a fitting epitaph
to a tumultuous year—and a wintry December. The storm lasted into the first
morning of 2021 and brought widespread totals of 2-6 inches of snow from
southwestern into northeastern Oklahoma. Localized areas in central Oklahoma
reported up to 10 inches of snow.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/nws-norman-dec31.snow.totals.jpg

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/nws-tulsa-dec31.snow.totals.jpg

The storm was the last in a series of four impactful winter systems that struck
the state during December, and the fifth of the season. The month’s first storm
dumped 10-15 inches of snow in far northwestern Oklahoma between Dec. 2-3. Two
more storms traversed the state in quick succession on Dec. 13 and Dec. 15. The
northwest was again the big winner between the two storms with over a foot of
snow reported in Woodward and Ellis counties. Fargo and Arnett led official
December totals at 27.1 inches and 26 inches, respectively, with Vici close
behind at 25.5 inches. Fargo’s tally is the third highest December total in
state history, behind Beaver’s 35 inches in 1911 and Goodwell’s 28 inches in
1918. Arnett’s total ranks fifth all-time. The highest Oklahoma snow total for
any month remains Kenton’s 46 inches from February 1903. Arnett’s 32.3
inches—including 6.3 inches from a late October winter storm—led this season’s
totals through December. Beaver holds the all-time mark for seasonal snowfall
in Oklahoma with 87.3 inches in 1911-12.

The statewide average precipitation total finished at 2.84 inches according to
preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet. That ranks the month as the 22nd
wettest December since records began in 1895, 0.78 inches above normal. The
entire state saw near or above normal precipitation for the month, save for the
far western Panhandle where deficits continued to accumulate. Heavy rains
provided surpluses of 2-4 inches in far southeastern Oklahoma. Broken Bow’s
8.22 inches led the December totals. Boise City had the lowest total at 0.22
inches.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-total.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-depart.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-pct.png

The statewide average total for 2020 was 39.71 inches, 3.21 inches above normal,
to rank as the 20th wettest year on record. Annual rainfall varied tremendously
across the state, however. Southeastern Oklahoma’s average of 65.43 inches was
14.84 inches above normal to rank as their seventh wettest annual total on
record, while the Panhandle saw a deficit of 4.05 inches for their 25th driest.
Individually, The Mesonet site at Mt Herman had 2020’s highest total at 77.86
inches, 23.1 inches above normal. Boise City’s 10.16 inches was the lowest, and
8.4 inches below normal.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-totals.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-depart.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-pct.png

December was warmer than normal despite the wintry intrusions throughout the
month. The statewide average temperature was 40.8 degrees, 1.9 degrees above
normal, to rank as the 45th warmest December on record. The Mesonet site at
Centrahoma recorded December’s highest reading with 80 degrees on the ninth.
Hooker and Beaver shared the lowest reading of 2 degrees on the 14th and 16th,
respectively. The 2020 temperature extremes ranged from 1.2 degrees at Tipton
on Feb. 6 to 113 degrees at Hollis on July 14. The 2020 statewide average was
60.7 degrees, 0.8 degrees above normal, to rank as the 28th warmest year on
record.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-avg-temps.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-temps-departure.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-avg-temps.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-temps-departure.png

There was virtually no change in the U.S. Drought Monitor depiction for
Oklahoma throughout December, with a little over 25% of the state categorized
in at least moderate drought. The heaviest moisture fell outside the hardest
hit areas in western and southern Oklahoma, and the far western Panhandle.
Improvements were expected in 2021’s first map due to the moisture-laden storm
that ended the year. The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) January outlooks
indicate increased odds of above normal temperatures across the entire state,
and above normal precipitation over the eastern half of Oklahoma—especially the
eastern one-third. CPC’s January drought outlook calls for drought persistence
in those areas where it exists across western Oklahoma, but drought removal in
the south central section of the state. No drought development is likely during
January according to CPC’s outlook.

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec1-drought.monitor.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec29-drought.monitor.png

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-temp-outlook.gif

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-precip-outlook.gif

http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-drought-outlook.png

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 ===================================================

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Previous Ticker: December 28, 2020	Following Ticker: January 6, 2021

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. . . Ticker for January 4, 2021 . . .

MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021 Snowly Cow! http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-21.seasonal.snowfall.png Snow snow snow snow snow SNOW, "snow snow snow!" SNOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! Had enough you-know-what yet? I'm not afraid to say the word, obviously, but for some of us it has become a 4-letter word. Wait! I guess it was always a 4-letter word, but you know what I mean (and if you do, please wash your mouth out with soap). Our next chance of 4-letter word will come later next weekend, apparently, but still a long ways to go there. Otherwise, we will continue to see seasonal-type temperatures this week and maybe a drop of rain or two Wednesday into Thursday morning. We've been working on the December/2020 summary, and you can read it below. Hey, speaking of 2020 (You started it! No I did. Guess I'll finish it.), did you catch our Ticker over the break introducing the 2020 Mesonet extremes? No, there weren't 2020 of them, they were for the year 2020. Here's the link to that Ticker, just in case, and the 2020 Mesonet extremes graphic once again. http://ticker.mesonet.org/select.php?mo=01&da=04&yr=2021 http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20201227/2020-extremes_final.png Now, onto 2020 (or back, whichever you prefer)! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter Flexes Muscles During December Jan. 4, 2020 A powerful winter storm pounded the state on 2020’s final day, a fitting epitaph to a tumultuous year—and a wintry December. The storm lasted into the first morning of 2021 and brought widespread totals of 2-6 inches of snow from southwestern into northeastern Oklahoma. Localized areas in central Oklahoma reported up to 10 inches of snow. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/nws-norman-dec31.snow.totals.jpg http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/nws-tulsa-dec31.snow.totals.jpg The storm was the last in a series of four impactful winter systems that struck the state during December, and the fifth of the season. The month’s first storm dumped 10-15 inches of snow in far northwestern Oklahoma between Dec. 2-3. Two more storms traversed the state in quick succession on Dec. 13 and Dec. 15. The northwest was again the big winner between the two storms with over a foot of snow reported in Woodward and Ellis counties. Fargo and Arnett led official December totals at 27.1 inches and 26 inches, respectively, with Vici close behind at 25.5 inches. Fargo’s tally is the third highest December total in state history, behind Beaver’s 35 inches in 1911 and Goodwell’s 28 inches in 1918. Arnett’s total ranks fifth all-time. The highest Oklahoma snow total for any month remains Kenton’s 46 inches from February 1903. Arnett’s 32.3 inches—including 6.3 inches from a late October winter storm—led this season’s totals through December. Beaver holds the all-time mark for seasonal snowfall in Oklahoma with 87.3 inches in 1911-12. The statewide average precipitation total finished at 2.84 inches according to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet. That ranks the month as the 22nd wettest December since records began in 1895, 0.78 inches above normal. The entire state saw near or above normal precipitation for the month, save for the far western Panhandle where deficits continued to accumulate. Heavy rains provided surpluses of 2-4 inches in far southeastern Oklahoma. Broken Bow’s 8.22 inches led the December totals. Boise City had the lowest total at 0.22 inches. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-total.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-depart.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-precip-pct.png The statewide average total for 2020 was 39.71 inches, 3.21 inches above normal, to rank as the 20th wettest year on record. Annual rainfall varied tremendously across the state, however. Southeastern Oklahoma’s average of 65.43 inches was 14.84 inches above normal to rank as their seventh wettest annual total on record, while the Panhandle saw a deficit of 4.05 inches for their 25th driest. Individually, The Mesonet site at Mt Herman had 2020’s highest total at 77.86 inches, 23.1 inches above normal. Boise City’s 10.16 inches was the lowest, and 8.4 inches below normal. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-totals.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-depart.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-precip-pct.png December was warmer than normal despite the wintry intrusions throughout the month. The statewide average temperature was 40.8 degrees, 1.9 degrees above normal, to rank as the 45th warmest December on record. The Mesonet site at Centrahoma recorded December’s highest reading with 80 degrees on the ninth. Hooker and Beaver shared the lowest reading of 2 degrees on the 14th and 16th, respectively. The 2020 temperature extremes ranged from 1.2 degrees at Tipton on Feb. 6 to 113 degrees at Hollis on July 14. The 2020 statewide average was 60.7 degrees, 0.8 degrees above normal, to rank as the 28th warmest year on record. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-avg-temps.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec-temps-departure.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-avg-temps.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/2020-temps-departure.png There was virtually no change in the U.S. Drought Monitor depiction for Oklahoma throughout December, with a little over 25% of the state categorized in at least moderate drought. The heaviest moisture fell outside the hardest hit areas in western and southern Oklahoma, and the far western Panhandle. Improvements were expected in 2021’s first map due to the moisture-laden storm that ended the year. The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) January outlooks indicate increased odds of above normal temperatures across the entire state, and above normal precipitation over the eastern half of Oklahoma—especially the eastern one-third. CPC’s January drought outlook calls for drought persistence in those areas where it exists across western Oklahoma, but drought removal in the south central section of the state. No drought development is likely during January according to CPC’s outlook. http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec1-drought.monitor.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/dec29-drought.monitor.png http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-temp-outlook.gif http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-precip-outlook.gif http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20210104/january-drought-outlook.png 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 ===================================================