Ticker for September 1, 1998

                
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September 1, 1998  September 1, 1998  September 1, 1998  September 1, 1998


Summer 1998 Among the State's Hottest

Preliminary data indicates that this year's climatological summer (June 1
through August 31) was one of the state's warmest.  The season ranked in
the top 20 (out of 104) for all nine of the state's climate divisions,
and in the top 10 for seven of the zones.

August 1998 was warmer than normal for each climate division except the
panhandle, but not as historically outstanding as the entire summer.

Both data sets, with their respective historical standing, are listed
below.


Summer 1998 Rainfall Well Below Normal

Preliminary data indicates that the state received about 60% of its
normal rainfall for the climatological summer of 1998.  Only the panhandle
climate division exceeded normal rainfall.  The hardest hit climate
divisions were the west central (39% of normal), central (41%) and
southwest (36%).

This season has been added to the OCS Seasonal Rainfall page, available
through the Oklahoma Rainfall Update:

http://www.mesonet.org/ocs/drought.html (click on "Recent Seasons")




SUMMER 1998: HISTORICAL STANDING

Climate      Average Summer Temp   Rank      Warmest    Warmest Summer on
Division     1998       Normal     of 104    Since      Record (since 1895)

Panhandle    78.8 F     77.4 F      18th      1994       1934 (81.9 F)
N. Central   82.2 F     80.0 F      12th      1980       1934 (86.2 F)
Northeast    81.8 F     78.9 F       8th      1980       1934 (85.4 F)

W. Central   82.8 F     79.7 F       6th      1980       1934 (85.3 F)
Central      83.9 F     79.9 F       5th      1980       1934 (85.5 F)
E. Central   83.3 F     79.4 F       5th      1980       1934 (85.3 F)

Southwest    85.1 F     81.3 F       4th      1980       1980 (86.0 F)
S. Central   85.3 F     80.7 F       3rd      1980       1934 (86.1 F)
Southeast    83.9 F     79.2 F       4th      1954       1934 (84.8 F)



AUGUST 1998: HISTORICAL STANDING

Climate      Average August Temp   Rank      Warmest    Warmest August on
Division     1998       Normal     of 104    Since      Record (since 1895)

Panhandle    77.2 F     77.8 F      68th      1995       1983 (83.1 F)
N. Central   82.3 F     80.6 F      35th      1988       1936 (88.9 F)
Northeast    82.0 F     79.5 F      27th      1983       1936 (88.4 F)

W. Central   82.2 F     80.1 F      29th      1983       1936 (87.4 F)
Central      83.7 F     80.8 F      18th      1982       1936 (88.3 F)
E. Central   83.4 F     80.3 F      16th      1993       1936 (88.0 F)

Southwest    83.4 F     81.9 F      38th      1988       1952 (88.1 F)
S. Central   84.9 F     81.8 F      14th      1980       1934 (87.6 F)
Southeast    84.1 F     80.0 F      11th      1980       1943 (87.3 F)