Ticker for November 8, 2000

                
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November 8, 2000   November 8, 2000   November 8, 2000   November 8, 2000



Snow Locks Temperature, Dewpoint Temperature near 32 F

Today's meteograms show the effect of snowfall in central Oklahoma.
Before snow began falling at the following locations, temperatures
hovered in the upper 30s, but the falling snow modified the local
environment and locked temps and dew points near 32 F:





In the following locations, where little snow had fallen as of 2:30
this afternoon, temperatures showed a diferent behavior:







"Normal" June to Be Somewhat Wetter Across Majority of State

Oklahoma's "normal" June climate will be getting a makeover after
data from the 1991-2000 decade are processed.  The normal monthly
temperatures and precipitation values are based on a 30-year average,
updated every ten years.  In practice, this means that the 1991-2000
decade (the "nineties period") will be replacing the 1961-1970 ("the
sixties period") decade in the 30-year benchmark.

Preliminary data indicate that normal June monthly values will change
very little with the decade throughout the state.  With the exception
of the panhandle, precipitation normals will be significantly greater
for most of Oklahoma.

Compared to the rest of the century, June months during the nineties
period were cooler than median statewide.  However, due to a similar
cool decade of Junes during the sixties period, the normal
temperatures will change very little.

Normal June precipitation values will increase significantly across
the state, for two reasons.  First, the nineties decade was quite wet
during June months.  In fact, the north central, southwest and
southeast divisions appear to have observed their wettest decade of
Junes of the century.  Second, the sixties period was quite dry and
June rainfall values during June were also low.  The expiration of
these sixties values plus the incorporation of the wet nineties
values means greater normals across the state.

The exception to the overall rainfall scenario is the panhandle.
Climate regimes in this division can behave somewhat differently than
the majority of the state, and the month June during the 1960s was
certainly divergent from the rest of Oklahoma.  In fact, June months
during the 1960s were the wettest such decade on record, and the
expiration of those dictate normal rainfall values in the panhandle
will be slightly less than current.

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

Disclaimer:  These are preliminary data for the state of Oklahoma
and the month of June 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 JUNE TEMPERATURES (F)
------ Preliminary -----
Climate                           Current            "New"    Change
Division     61-70  71-80  81-90  Normals    91-00   Normals  in Normals

Panhandle     74.0   75.3   74.1    74.5      74.5     74.4   -0.1 F
N. Central    76.5   77.4   76.9    76.9      76.2     76.8   -0.1 F
Northeast     75.3   75.8   75.9    75.7      75.6     75.8   +0.1 F

W. Central    76.1   77.2   76.2    76.5      76.1     76.5    0.0 F
Central       76.3   77.2   76.8    76.8      76.6     76.9   +0.1 F
E. Central    76.2   76.4   76.4    76.4      76.0     76.3   -0.1 F

Southwest     78.0   79.2   78.0    78.4      78.0     78.4    0.0 F
S. Central    77.3   78.1   77.3    77.6      77.7     77.7   +0.1 F
Southeast     76.3   76.4   76.5    76.4      76.3     76.4    0.0 F

Statewide     76.2   77.0   76.5    76.6      76.3     76.6    0.0 F


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

Panhandle     3.55   2.12   3.49    3.05     3.15     2.92   -0.13 (-4.3%)
N. Central    4.11   3.07   3.99    3.72     4.92     3.99   +0.27 (+7.3%)
Northeast     5.08   4.48   4.19    4.58     5.47     4.71   +0.13 (+2.8%)

W. Central    4.14   2.99   4.48    3.87     4.27     3.91   +0.04 (+1.0%)
Central       3.73   3.98   4.65    4.12     4.81     4.48   +0.36 (+8.7%)
E. Central    3.46   5.02   3.63    4.04     5.55     4.73   +0.69 (+17.1%)

Southwest     3.38   2.95   4.66    3.66     4.68     4.10   +0.44 (+12.0%)
S. Central    3.74   3.60   5.04    4.13     4.83     4.49   +0.36 (+8.7%)
Southeast     3.88   4.55   4.59    4.34     4.90     4.68   +0.34 (+7.8%)

Statewide     3.91   3.65   4.31    3.95     4.74     4.23   +0.28 (+7.1%)


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

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

Panhandle    73.8  7th   76.4-50s  72.4-00s    3.15  4th   3.55-60s  2.12-70s
N. Central   76.2  9th   78.4-50s  75.3-00s    4.92  1st  *4.12-50s  3.07-70s
Northeast    75.6  8th   77.4-30s  74.3-00s    5.47  3rd   6.09-40s  4.16-10s

W. Central   76.1  9th   78.4-50s  75.2-00s    4.27  2nd   4.48-80s  2.95-50s
Central      76.6  8th   78.2-30s  75.2-00s    4.81  2nd   5.30-40s  3.73-60s
E. Central   76.0  9th   77.8-50s  75.1-00s    5.55  2nd   6.39-40s  3.46-60s

Southwest    78.0  8th   80.2-50s  77.1-00s    4.68  1st  *4.66-80s  2.95-70s
S. Central   77.7  7th   79.3-50s  76.8-00s    4.83  3rd   5.08-40s  3.41-10s
Southeast    76.3  8th   78.1-50s  76.1-00s    4.90  1st  *4.63-40s  3.61-50s

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.
* - previous record