Ticker for August 31, 1998

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
August 31, 1998    August 31, 1998    August 31, 1998    August 31, 1998


April-August 1998 Oklahoma's 4th Driest

Preliminary information indicates that the April-August period this year
was the 4th driest in Oklahoma's recorded history (since 1895).  The period
was the driest on record for two climate divisions (West Central and
Southwest).

The Southwest and South Central climate divisions have recorded less
than half of their normal rainfall for the period.

A complete table is below.


August Rainfall Below Normal

Each of Oklahoma's nine climate divisions observed below normal rainfall
for the month of August 1998.  A brief summary is below.



AUGUST THROUGH APRIL PRECIPITATION DATA

Climate        August-April Precipitation    Rank*    Driest     Driest
Division         1998   Normal  Departure    of 104   Since      on Record

Panhandle      11.78"   12.51"    - 0.73"      43rd     1991     1934 (6.86")
N. Central     15.24"   15.80"    - 0.56"      39th     1990     1913 (8.71")
Northeast      16.88"   19.47"    - 2.59"      25th     1996     1936 (8.73")

W. Central      7.41"   14.66"    - 7.25"       1st     ----   **1984 (7.96")
Central        10.12"   17.37"    - 7.25"       2nd     1936     1936 (7.13")
E. Central     11.62"   19.87"    - 8.25"       3rd     1936     1936 (5.22")

Southwest       6.81"   14.98"    - 8.17"       1st     ----   **1984 (7.04")
S. Central      8.25"   18.32"    -10.07"       2nd     1934     1934 (8.23")
Southeast      11.29"   22.09"    -10.80"       4th     1936     1934 (8.87")

Statewide      10.44"   17.34"    - 6.90"       4th     1936     1936 (7.57")

* - 1st=Driest, 104th=Wettest
** - previous record




PRELIMINARY AUGUST 1998 PRECIPITATION

Climate Division   Total    Departure  Pct of Normal
Panhandle          2.42"    -0.19"       93 %
North Central      1.11"    -1.92"       37 %
Northeast          1.71"    -1.69"       50 %
West Central       0.69"    -1.94"       26 %
Central            1.02"    -1.66"       38 %
East Central       1.63"    -1.39"       54 %
Southwest          1.41"    -1.03"       58 %
South Central      1.82"    -0.71"       72 %
Southeast          2.30"    -0.73"       76 %
Statewide          1.56"    -1.26"       55 %