Ticker for June 21, 2000

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
June 21, 2000      June 21, 2000      June 21, 2000      June 21, 2000


Flood-Producing Rains Pelt Eastern Oklahoma

Three of the primary ingredients in any flash-flooding scenario are
soil saturation, topography, and of course rainfall.  Over the weekend,
much of eastern Oklahoma received almost two inches of rainfall to cap
off a wet week.  So, this morning, when six inches of rain fell in six
hours on the Brushy Mountains and surrounding hills in far eastern
Oklahoma, all three of these components came together to produce many
reported flash flood events.

All in all, rainfall totals since late last night have been quite
large in areas.  Some Mesonet rainfall totals are even approaching the
state record for today's date: 7.48 inches at Tribbey in 1948.  More
than seven inches fell on that day at locations in and around Shawnee
and Meeker, causing flooding on the North Canadian and its tributaries.

Here are selected Mesonet rainfall totals associated with the storms
of last night and today, as of 2:30 pm.  Moderate to heavy rainfall is
still occurring in southern and eastern Oklahoma, so these totals will
increase.

Cookson       6.61"     Westville     6.31"     Webbers Falls 4.95"
Tahlequah     4.70"     Haskell       3.21"     Okmulgee      3.05"
Perkins       2.66"     Stigler       2.64"     Porter        2.19"
Oilton        2.17"     Eufaula       2.04"     Pryor         1.98"
Bristow       1.94"     Talihina      1.91"     Mt. Herman    1.89"
Jay           1.80"     Kingfisher    1.63"     Marshall      1.63"
Hectorville   1.57"     Marena        1.51"     Red Rock      1.47"


In Case You Were Wondering ...

The record statewide rainfall for the month of June (not at a point, but
averaged over the state) is 8.73", set in 1908.  Including today, the
statewide averaged rainfall for this month is about 4.5 inches, so it's
several events away from a record.  However, this month's average will
definitely go down as above average, because the average average (if you
will) is 3.95".

As far as individual climate divisions go, even with today's three to
four inch average, east central Oklahoma is still four or five inches
from the record of 12.69" set in 1935.