Ticker for September 29, 2000

                
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September 29, 2000 September 29, 2000 September 29, 2000 September 29, 2000


Oklahoma's August-September 2000 Stands as Driest on Record

Note: related data and graphics can be found at:
https://content.mesonet.org/ticker/archive/20000929/

With just one inch of rainfall on average across the state, September
2000 will go into Oklahoma's climate archives as one of the ten driest
Septembers on record (since 1895).  Preliminary data from the Oklahoma
Mesonet indicates that about one-quarter of normal rainfall fell
during the month.

Northwestern Oklahoma was especially dry, with less than one-tenth of
an inch falling on three climate divisions (panhandle, north central,
west central) on the month.

When combined with the record lack of precipitation from August, the
period will be the driest August-September period on record in
Oklahoma.  The Mesonet-derived statewide rainfall for the two-month
period is 1.13", compared to the official record of 1.47" set in 1956.
At September's end, the statewide rainfall for the two months will
stand at 17%, roughly one-sixth, of the normal value for the period.
Rainfall deficit in eight of Oklahoma's nine climate divisions will
stand at more than five inches just for the two-month period.  The
exception is the panhandle division - its normal rainfall is less than
five inches.

Nearly one-third of the 114 operating Mesonet stations, primarily in
northwestern and southwestern Oklahoma, have not observed significant
rainfall since July.  The longest of these streaks is 79 days (as of
September 30th) at Hollis and Mangum.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is an indicator of the moisture
present in the uppermost eight inches of the soil.  The index ranges
from 0-800, with larger numbers indicating drier soils.  Values over
400 are considered "significant" drought and values over 600 are
considered "severe" drought.  The KBDI remains over 400 at every
single Mesonet station location, and more than half register values
well above 600.

The KBDI numbers are verified by soil moisture sensors deployed at
four depths at more than 100 Mesonet stations across the state.  These
sensors indicate a total lack of available soil moisture for virtually
the entire state at depths beyond 5 cm.

The Oklahoma Climatological Survey has established a Drought 2000
Monitor at http://climate.mesonet.org/drought2000/default.html



SEPTEMBER 2000 PRECIPITATION DATA

Climate      September Monthly Rainfall   Rank*  Least  Least
Division     2000   Norm   Depart  Pct   of 106  Since  on Record

Panhandle    0.06"  2.06"  -2.00"   3%     2nd   1956   1956 (0.05")
N. Central   0.07"  3.36"  -3.29"   2%   t-1st t-1939   1939 (0.07")
Northeast    1.23"  4.87"  -3.64"  25%    13th   1979   1948 (0.13")

W. Central   0.03"  3.34"  -3.31"   1%     1st   ----   1939 (0.07")
Central      1.13"  4.21"  -3.08"  27%    10th   1956   1956 (0.19")
E. Central   2.43"  4.57"  -2.14"  53%    33rd   1997   1948 (0.23")

Southwest    0.84"  3.59"  -2.75"  23%    16th   1998   1898 (0.00")
S. Central   0.89"  4.57"  -3.68"  19%     8th   1956   1909 (0.00")
Southeast    2.61"  4.76"  -2.15"  55%    36th   1997   1948 (0.29")

Statewide    1.01"  3.94"  -2.93"  26%   t-7th   1956   1956 (0.27")

* - 1st = Least Rainfall, 106th = Most Rainfall


AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2000 PRECIPITATION DATA

Climate      August-September Rainfall    Rank*  Least  Least
Division     2000   Norm   Depart  Pct   of 106  Since  on Record

Panhandle    0.66"  4.67"  -4.01"  14%     1st   ----   1939 (1.53")
N. Central   0.38"  6.39"  -6.01"   6%     1st   ----   1947 (1.70")
Northeast    1.24"  8.27"  -7.03"  15%     1st   ----   1956 (1.99")

W. Central   0.04"  5.97"  -5.93"   1%     1st   ----   1947 (0.71")
Central      1.15"  6.89"  -5.74"  17%     2nd   1956   1956 (1.04")
E. Central   2.43"  7.59"  -5.16"  32%     4th   1956   1956 (0.93")

Southwest    0.84"  6.08"  -5.24"  14%     2nd   1952   1952 (0.68")
S. Central   0.90"  7.10"  -6.20"  13%     3rd   1956   1948 (0.88")
Southeast    2.66"  7.79"  -5.13"  34%     3rd   1963   1956 (2.42")

Statewide    1.13"  6.76"  -5.63"  17%     1st   ----   1956 (1.47")

* - 1st = Least Rainfall, 106th = Most Rainfall