Ticker for November 17, 2000

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
November 17, 2000  November 17, 2000  November 17, 2000  November 17, 2000



"Normal" July to Be Slightly Wetter

Oklahoma's "normal" July 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 July monthly temperature values
will change very little with the decade throughout the state.  Normal
monthly precipitation will be slightly greater for most of Oklahoma.

Compared to the rest of the century, July months during the nineties
period were near or slightly warmer than median statewide.  Because
mean decadal temperatures were quite similar to those from the sixties
period, the normal temperatures will change very little.

Normal July precipitation values will increase somewhat across the
state.  The nineties decade was wetter than median during July months.
The north central climate division appears to have observed its wettest
decade of July months of the century (it also did likewise for June).
July months during the sixties period were somewhat dry.  The
expiration of these sixties values plus the incorporation of the
nineties values means greater normals across the state.

The exception to the overall rainfall scenario is the panhandle.
July precipitation in the nineties period was almost equal to that
of the sixties period, and it appears that the normal value will not
change with the decade.

Related data is provided in the tables below.  The first table
documents the prospective changes in "normal" July 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 July months of the 1991-2000 decade.

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

Panhandle     80.3   80.0   79.3    79.9      79.6     79.7   -0.2 F
N. Central    82.7   82.7   81.9    82.4      82.1     82.2   -0.2 F
Northeast     81.0   81.2   80.9    81.0      81.0     81.0    0.0 F

W. Central    82.1   82.1   81.2    81.8      81.8     81.7   -0.1 F
Central       82.2   82.2   81.6    82.0      82.3     82.1   +0.1 F
E. Central    81.5   81.7   80.9    81.4      81.5     81.4    0.0 F

Southwest     83.8   83.5   82.8    83.4      83.4     83.2   -0.2 F
S. Central    82.9   82.9   82.0    82.6      83.0     82.7   +0.1 F
Southeast     80.7   81.1   80.4    80.7      81.4     81.0   +0.3 F

Statewide     81.9   81.9   81.2    81.7      81.8     81.7    0.0 F


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

Panhandle     3.00   2.36   2.38    2.58     2.99     2.58    0.00 ( 0.0%)
N. Central    3.14   2.98   2.31    2.81     3.73     3.01   +0.20 (+7.1%)
Northeast     3.08   3.07   2.53    2.89     3.80     3.13   +0.24 (+8.3%)

W. Central    2.05   2.11   2.06    2.07     2.28     2.15   +0.08 (+3.9%)
Central       3.00   2.66   2.07    2.58     3.05     2.59   +0.01 (+0.4%)
E. Central    3.33   2.43   2.79    2.85     3.47     2.90   +0.05 (+1.8%)

Southwest     1.97   2.21   1.86    2.01     2.45     2.17   +0.16 (+8.0%)
S. Central    2.19   2.07   2.53    2.26     2.79     2.46   +0.20 (+8.8%)
Southeast     3.32   3.19   3.98    3.50     3.63     3.60   +0.10 (+2.9%)

Statewide     2.81   2.57   2.47    2.62     3.16     2.73   +0.11 (+4.2%)


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

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

Panhandle    79.6  5th   81.5-30s  77.5-00s    2.99  4th   3.70-20s  1.11-30s
N. Central   82.1  5th   84.5-30s  80.5-00s    3.73  1st  *3.29-50s  1.90-30s
Northeast    81.0 t4th   83.0-30s  79.1-00s    3.80  2nd   4.01-00s  1.94-10s

W. Central   81.8  5th   83.9-30s  80.0-00s    2.28  6th   3.07-20s  1.36-30s
Central      82.3  2nd   83.7-30s  80.0-00s    3.05  4th   3.52-50s  2.07-80s
E. Central   81.5 t5th   82.9-30s  79.7-00s    3.47  4th   4.44-50s  2.42-30s

Southwest    83.4  4th   84.5-30s  81.8-00s    2.45  4th   3.15-80s  1.59-30s
S. Central   83.0  3rd   83.7-30s  81.2-00s    2.79  4th   3.22-50s  2.07-70s
Southeast    81.4 t5th   82.7-30s  80.1-00s    3.63  5th   4.72-50s  2.42-10s

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