Ticker for May 2, 2000

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
May 2, 2000        May 2, 2000        May 2, 2000        May 2, 2000


Oklahoma's "Normals" to Change

As this decade draws to a close (yes, count climatologists in that
nasty group of decade-ends-on-a-zero-year purists), it means that the
data set used to determine what temperatures and precipitation
amounts are "normal" will change.  The "normals" that you've grown
used to seeing are actually based on moving 30-year windows, updated
after each decade.

In other words, data from 1991-2000 (we'll call it the "nineties")
will be replacing the data from 1961-1970 ("sixties").  After the data
set from the year 2000 is complete, the National Climatic Data Center
will take a year or so to quality check the data and compile statistics
before releasing the new official NCDC normals for each of the union's
states and climate divisions.

If, on average, the nineties were very similar to the sixties, the
normals won't change much.  However, OCS's precipitation and temperature
data for January through March, suggest that the nineties and sixties
are quite different for Oklahoma in these three months.  Today, the Ticker
will address the prospective January changes.  February and March will
follow on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.


"Normal" January to Be Warmer, Wetter Statewide

Oklahoma's "normal" January climate will be getting a makeover after
data from the 1991-2000 decade is processed.  Preliminary data indicate
that normal January monthly values will be warmer and wetter than
currently listed.

The sixties period was cooler than most decades over all but the
panhandle climate division, while the nineties period was warmer than
median in all Oklahoma climate divisions.  This translates into in an
upward shift in the normal January temperatures at all climate divisions.

Januaries in the sixties period were the driest of the century for six
of Oklahoma's nine climate divisions, and very close to the driest for
the remaining three.  When replaced by the relatively wet nineties
period, "normal" precipitation values for January increase by at least
one-tenth inch.  Eight climate divisions will see normals jump by more
than ten percent.

Related data are provided in the tables below.  The first documents
the prospective changes in "normal" January temperature values for
each of Oklahoma's climate divisions.  The second is similar, but for
precipitation.  The third provides a brief look at the apparent
historical standing of the Januaries of the 1991-2000 decade.

Disclaimer:  These are preliminary data for Oklahoma only, and have
not undergone extensive quality control processing.  The data are not
necessarily indicative of results outside Oklahoma.  The data are not
necessarily indicative of any long-term trend in Oklahoma's climate,
beyond natural interdecadal variability.



PROSPECTIVE CHANGES IN MEAN JANUARY TEMPERATURES (F)
------ Preliminary -----
Climate                           Current            "New"
Division     61-70  71-80  81-90  Normals    91-00   Normals   Change

Panhandle     33.5   29.9   34.7   32.7       34.6     33.1    +0.4 F
N. Central    33.7   30.6   34.9   33.1       34.7     33.4    +0.3 F
Northeast     34.1   31.8   35.8   33.9       36.4     34.7    +0.8 F

W. Central    34.8   32.2   36.3   34.4       36.5     35.0    +0.6 F
Central       35.5   33.6   37.3   35.5       37.9     36.2    +0.7 F
E. Central    36.9   35.0   38.2   36.7       38.8     37.3    +0.6 F

Southwest     36.9   34.9   38.5   36.8       38.8     37.4    +0.6 F
S. Central    38.6   36.6   40.0   38.4       40.6     39.0    +0.6 F
Southeast     38.7   37.4   40.3   38.8       41.0     39.5    +0.7 F

Statewide     35.8   33.5   37.3   35.5       37.6     36.1    +0.6 F



PROSPECTIVE CHANGES IN MEAN JANUARY PRECIPITATION (in)
---------- Preliminary ---------
Climate                           Current            "New"     Change
Division     61-70  71-80  81-90  Normals    91-00   Normals   in Normals

Panhandle     0.23   0.50   0.47    0.40      0.59     0.52    +0.12" (+30%)
N. Central    0.46   1.05   0.80    0.77      0.98     0.94    +0.17" (+22%)
Northeast     1.38   1.60   1.77    1.58      1.68     1.68    +0.10" ( +6%)

W. Central    0.39   0.82   1.00    0.74      0.86     0.89    +0.15" (+20%)
Central       0.90   1.25   1.53    1.23      1.36     1.38    +0.15" (+12%)
E. Central    1.70   1.61   2.34    1.88      2.65     2.20    +0.32" (+17%)

Southwest     0.63   1.07   1.15    0.95      1.06     1.09    +0.14" (+15%)
S. Central    1.28   1.45   1.88    1.54      2.15     1.83    +0.29" (+19%)
Southeast     2.30   2.27   2.57    2.38      3.64     2.83    +0.45" (+19%)

Statewide     1.02   1.28   1.49    1.26      1.63     1.47    +0.21" (+17%)



1991-2000'S APPARENT STADING AMONG THE MOST RECENT TEN DECADES

MEAN JANUARY TEMPERATURE (F)      MEAN JANUARY PRECIP (in)
Climate      1991- Rank                        1991- Rank
Division     2000  of 10 Warmest   Coolest     2000  of 10 Wettest   Driest

Panhandle    34.6  3rd   34.8-50s  29.9-70s    0.59  2nd   0.66-40s  0.23-60s
N. Central   34.7  5th   35.7-50s  30.6-70s    0.98  2nd   1.15-40s  0.46-60s
Northeast    36.4  3rd   36.6-50s  31.8-70s    1.68  5th   2.15-30s  1.21-50s

W. Central   36.5  4th   37.2-50s  32.2-70s    0.86  4th   1.21-40s  0.39-60s
Central      37.9 t2nd   37.9-50s  33.6-70s    1.36  5th   1.78-20s  0.90-60s
E. Central   38.8  4th   39.5-30s  35.0-70s    2.65  3rd   2.86-20s  1.59-50s

Southwest    38.5  4th   36.6-50s  34.9-70s    1.06  6th   1.51-40s  0.63-60s
S. Central   40.6  4th   41.4-50s  36.6-70s    2.15  2nd   2.16-20s  1.27-00s
Southeast    41.0  4th   42.3-30s  37.4-70s    3.64  3rd   4.03-30s  2.27-70s

Statewide    37.6  3rd   38.1-50s  33.5-70s    1.63  4th   1.80-30s  1.01-60s

KEY: 1st = warmest or wettest _ of ten decades starting with 1901-1910
10th = coolest or driest                 and ending with 1991-2000

"50s" indicates 1951-1960 decade, etc.