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. . . Ticker for May 31, 2023 . . .
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... May 31, 2023 May 31, 2023 May 31, 2023 May 31, 2023 Panhandle Paradise https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20230531/ski-optima.png We jest, of course. Surely there is water in Lake Optima now, the lake-that-is-not- a-lake, and don't call me Shirley. Heck, most downstaters probably don't even know that the lake, uhhhhhhh, doesn't exist. A strange turn of words, but it was SUPPOSED to exist. Completed sometime in the late 1970s, it was SUPPOSED to be an outdoor sports paradise and a big tourism draw for the entire High Plains region, and flood control reservoir for the Beaver River. Well, one thing led to another, and now the Beaver River needs mowed regularly so there's never much more than a gigantic pond where a 100 feet deep lake was supposed to be. But Shirley there's some water in there now? After going 8 or 9 months without significant precipitation, now the radar estimates in the area put the rainfall totals in that vicinity from 5-8+ inches in May alone! And go out to 60 days and we see even more widespread 8-12 inch amounts. https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20230531/60-day-rain-totals.png I'm probably not doing the real story of non-lake Lake Optima justice, but you get the gist (and we all know just how painful that can be). There's more rain on the way for the area after another round of storms last night. Heck, it's raining right now for crying out loud! https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20230531/current-radar.png https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20230531/5day-rain-forecast.gif The potential for heavy rainfall is indeed high as we go through the weekend. https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20230531/nws-norman-heavy.rain.png Parts of the Panhandle and far western Oklahoma are becoming the envy of the state. For those of us from there...it always has been! Gary McManus State Climatologist Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Climatological Survey 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 ===================================================