MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... July 7, 2011 July 7, 2011 July 7, 2011 July 7, 2011
Drought continues its eastward march
It's a tired story now (and tragic for many western Oklahomans), but the drought of 2010-11 continues punishing the Southern Plains and Oklahoma. Given the season, prospects for widespread relief are less than promising. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released this morning now has moderate drought covering most of eastern Oklahoma. Severe-to-extreme drought continues spreading east as well with most of western Oklahoma within the exceptional drought category.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20110707/ok_dm.png
Almost 94% of the state is now covered by drought of varying severity. The story is the same for much of the Southern Plains.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20110707/south_dm.png
The latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook from the National Weather Service once again paints a bleak picture for relief through September. Their forecasters expect the drought to persist or intensify for most of Oklahoma, with drought development likely in southern and eastern Oklahoma. The only area with some possible improvement indicated is northwestern Oklahoma due to its proximity to the Desert Southwest summer monsoon.
http://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20110707/season_drought.gif
Much of western Oklahoma is experiencing its driest October 1-July 6 since at least 1921.
Climate Div. Total Dep. of Normal Pct of Normal Rank since 1921 Panhandle 5.60" -9.08" 38% 1st driest N. Central 11.53" -11.54" 50% 4th driest Northeast 22.27" -9.19" 71% 11th driest W. Central 9.44" -12.19" 44% 1st driest Central 14.48" -14.70" 50% 3rd driest E. Central 26.48" -9.37" 74% 20th driest Southwest 10.24" -12.72" 45% 1st driest S. Central 15.96" -16.07" 50% 3rd driest Southeast 28.94" -11.83" 71% 14th driest Statewide 15.94" -11.96" 57% 3rd driest
High temperatures continue to run 8-9 degrees above normal since June 1. The average high temperature in southwestern and west central Oklahoma has averaged 102 degrees and 101 degrees over that period, respectively. The Altus Mesonet site has reached 100 degrees for 15 consecutive days and for 33 out of the last 35.
The bad news is the hottest part of the year (normally) is still ahead of us. The good news ... winter is only five months away??
Gary McManus Associate State Climatologist Oklahoma Climatological Survey (405) 325-2253
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