Ticker for July 16, 1998

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
July 16, 1998      July 16, 1998      July 16, 1998      July 16, 1998

Rainfall Update

Based on preliminary information, 1998 has contained Oklahoma's 3rd driest
April 1st through July 15th period in its recorded climatological history
(since 1895), and the driest since the Dust Bowl.

Two climate divisions (Southwest and South Central) are on pace to establish
new records for least April-July precipitation.

Here is how individual climate divisions break down:


Oklahoma Summary Precipitation Statistics
April 1, 1998 through July 15, 1998

Climate         Total  Departure   Pct of  Rank of 104  Driest    Driest
Division               from Norm   Normal  1st=Driest    Since    on Record

Panhandle       6.09"     -2.65"     70 %    13th         1974    3.71" (1910)
North Central  11.82"     +0.77"    107 %    52nd                 6.07" (1933)
Northeast      14.70"     +0.01"    100 %    43rd                 6.01" (1914)
West Central    6.81"     -4.15"     62 %     7th         1984    3.93" (1917)
Central         9.38"     -4.05"     70 %    10th         1988    6.85" (1936)
East Central   10.23"     -5.27"     66 %     5th         1988    4.55" (1936)
Southwest       5.13"     -6.36"     45 %     1st               **5.58" (1984)
South Central   6.43"     -8.18"     44 %     1st               **6.86" (1934)
Southeast       9.38"     -7.93"     54 %     5th         1988    6.73" (1896)

Statewide       8.08"     -5.09"     61 %     3rd         1936    7.62" (1934)

** Previous Record Pace


The Oklahoma Rainfall Update is updated every night at:

http://www.mesonet.org/ocs/drought.html


Heat String
Today is the 31st consecutive day that at least one Oklahoma Mesonet
station has observed a temperature of 100 F or more.