Ticker for September 21, 2001

                
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September 21, 2001 September 21, 2001 September 21, 2001 September 21, 2001

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair, but ...

Legend has it that the State Fair of Oklahoma brings rain.  That legend
seems more fact than fiction this year, as more than three inches of
precipitation has fallen on Oklahoma City since the Fair?s opening last
weekend.

According to Nathan White at the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, Will
Rogers World Airport ? the official observing site for Oklahoma City ?
has received 3.36 inches of rainfall since September 14.  Other places
in the state have received more than five inches of rainfall for the
same period, with Sulphur and Tishomingo leading the way with just over
ten inches.  And forecasters say more could be on the way.

Celebrations and holidays throughout this past year have been marred by
severe or notable weather events.  Consider these notable weather events
for recent holidays:

? Christmas Ice Storm, December 2000: Several inches of ice and snow
fell across the state. Property damage was extensive, and hundreds
of thousands were left without power, some for more than a week.
Travel ground to a halt statewide as roads became impassable.  The
storm left millions of dollars in damage in its wake, prompting
Governor Keating to declare all 77 counties a disaster area.

? Memorial Day weekend, May 2001: Parts of central Oklahoma experienced
severe winds in excess of 70 and 80 mph as powerful thunderstorms
pushed through the state on Sunday, May 27.  Damage estimates reached
at least $500,000 for Oklahoma City, with many public buildings and
homes damaged or destroyed.  Damage estimates statewide were in the
tens of millions of dollars.

? Fourth of July, 2001: July 4 saw the onset of nearly 2 months of
searing high temperatures for the state.  Temperatures in Oklahoma
City and Tulsa climbed into the upper 90s, remaining there until late
August.  The heat, combined with an ongoing dry spell, led to a burn
ban for 44 counties in the western two-thirds of the state.
Lightning-sparked brush fires were a serious concern, keeping fire
crews on alert for much of the summer.

Will the eventful holiday weather continue?  We won?t have long to wait.
Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner.