Ticker for October 1, 1998

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
October 1, 1998    October 1, 1998    October 1, 1998    October 1, 1998

September 1998 Temperature Ties All-Time Oklahoma Record

Preliminary data indicates that last month has joined September 1931
as the warmest recorded statewide average temperature on record for the
month of September.  The average temperature of 79.8 F equals the mark
set 67 years ago.

Of the state's nine climate divisions, two broke the existing September
records, five experienced their second-warmest September, and all nine
recorded a September average temperature among its four warmest since
record-keeping began in 1895.

The warmest Mesonet temperature observed for the month was 110.5 F, at
Centrahoma on the 4th.  The coolest temperature was 46.7 F, at Boise City
on the 22nd.

SEPTEMBER 1998: HISTORICAL STANDING

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

Panhandle   75.5 F    69.2 F     2nd       1931       1931 (76.2 F)
N. Central  79.6 F    71.9 F     2nd       1931       1931 (80.8 F)
Northeast   78.9 F    71.7 F     3rd       1939       1939 (79.1 F)

W. Central  80.1 F    71.7 F     2nd       1931       1931 (80.4 F)
Central     80.5 F    72.7 F     2nd       1931       1931 (81.3 F)
E. Central  80.2 F    72.8 F     2nd       1939       1939 (80.5 F)

Southwest   81.4 F    73.8 F     1st       1931       1931 (81.2 F)
S. Central  81.5 F    74.1 F     1st       1939       1939 (81.1 F)
Southeast   80.3 F    73.0 F     4th       1939       1939 (81.2 F)

Statewide   79.8 F    72.3 F     1st-tie   1931       1931 (79.8 F)


Happy Hydrology New Year

September 30th marked the final day of the 1998 water year.  The water
year begins on October 1st to more accurately capture the typical annual
cycle (low-flow to low-flow) of North American rivers and larger streams.

Thanks to a very wet winter of 1997-98, precipitation over the duration
of the water year was near normal over Oklahoma.  However, the last six
months brought severely below-normal precipitation.

In fact, most of the state received much more precipitation in the
first (Oct-Mar) half than in the second (Apr-Sep) half.  This is
opposite of the normal distribution of rainfall.

The following table shows the contrast between the two halves of the
water year (preliminary data).

WATER YEAR 1998
Precipitation Amounts in Inches

Climate      ___Oct97-Mar98____    ___Apr98-Sep98____     _Full_Water_Year__
Division     Precip (Norm)  Pct    Precip (Norm)  Pct     Precip (Norm)  Pct

Panhandle     6.64 ( 5.18) 128%    11.29 (14.57)  78%     17.93 (19.75)  91%
N. Central   14.04 ( 9.38) 150%    15.40 (18.86)  82%     29.44 (28.24) 104%
Northeast    20.51 (15.98) 128%    22.01 (24.34)  90%     42.52 (40.32) 105%

W. Central   13.75 ( 8.56) 161%     8.58 (18.00)  48%     22.33 (26.56)  84%
Central      20.50 (12.86) 159%    13.33 (21.58)  62%     33.83 (34.44)  98%
E. Central   28.81 (18.96) 152%    18.36 (24.44)  75%     47.16 (43.40) 109%

Southwest    16.85 ( 9.54) 177%     5.45 (18.57)  29%     22.30 (28.11)  79%
S. Central   24.77 (15.25) 162%    10.61 (22.89)  46%     35.38 (38.14)  93%
Southeast    33.81 (22.61) 150%    19.00 (26.85)  71%     52.81 (49.46) 107%

Statewide    19.80 (12.95) 153%    13.91 (21.28)  65%     33.71 (34.23)  98%


Tomorrow on the Ticker

A look back at the temperatures of the last six months.