Ticker for August 21, 2001

                
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August 21, 2001    August 21, 2001    August 21, 2001    August 21, 2001


Since 1998: Much Drier Summers, Much Wetter Winters?

Historically, Oklahoma expects more than 60% of its annual rainfall
during the six-month period from April-September (we'll loosely call
this the "warm season").  This ratio goes up as one travels west
in Oklahoma: for instance, CD's 4 (west central) and 7 (southwest)
expect about two-thirds of their rain to fall during this period.
The panhandle climate division normally observes 74% of its rain
during this warm season!

Three of the last four years featured intense short-term dry spells
that have impacted Oklahoma's residents, economy, and natural
resources management.  This year is no exception.  Since early June,
lack of precipitation has affected much of the state, particularly
west of I-35.

The running 4-year total of warm season rain is the lowest in the
last 100 years for the southwest climate division (2nd lowest in the
west central, 3rd in the south central, and 5th in the southeast).
What's that mean?  That the warm seasons of 1998-2001 have been
unusually dry.

But here's the kicker: annual rainfall was above normal during each
of these years.  "Annual" is the key word.  So, if all of this rain
isn't falling during the warm season, it must be falling during the
"cool season" (October-March).  In fact, the numbers are even more
striking than for the warm season.

The running 4-year total of cool season rainfall is more than any
other such period in recorded history for the panhandle, west-central,
north-central, and south-central climate divisions (2nd most in the
southwest).  In the panhandle, the current four-year total of 38.78"
broke the existing mark by more than six inches!  In the southwest,
two-thirds of annual rainfall is normally observed during the warm
season.  Since 1998, more than half fell during the cool season.

What does all this mean?  It means that Oklahoma has received more
than its normal share of rainfall lately, but it has come largely
during the cool season months, which is opposed to the historical
precedent.

We'll have all the numbers and some pictures tomorrow.