Ticker for October 2, 2009

                
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October 2, 2009    October 2, 2009    October 2, 2009    October 2, 2009


WE'RE STILL HERE!

It seems like our last Ticker was back when Og discovered fire, only to find out
there was a burn ban on at the time so he was punished with crushing-by-woolly
mammoth. But have no fear (or perhaps you SHOULD fear), we're back with breaking
news. And this is bad news if you correctly despise cold weather, like I do.

The Oklahoma Mesonet recorded its first freezing temperatures of the season in
the Oklahoma Panhandle:

Boise City     28 degrees
Beaver         29 degrees
Kenton         30 degrees
Goodwell       32 degrees

You can see if for yourself on the Mesonet's hi-lo temperature map here (highs
will obviously go up after you receive this Ticker, so disregard...the high
readings, not the Ticker!):



The 28 degrees at Boise City puts it in the "hard freeze" territory, but we
probably shouldn't consider this a hard freeze in general since only one
station got that low. However, that 28-degree reading at Boise City ties the
record for coolest minimum on October 2 in Oklahoma (scroll down to the bottom
and find out who it tied).

The October 2nd first freeze date is still a few weeks late from that area's
earliest first freeze (September 12-21'ish), but it is a bit earlier than the
average date of their first freeze (October 12-21). In fact, looks like it is
around the 30th percentile date:



You can find all of our freeze data in really nice and easy-to-read maps on
our climate website:

http://climate.mesonet.org/normals_extremes.html

Just click the "First/Last Freeze Days" link on the left-hand side. Keep in mind
those maps are based on our 1971-2000 normals.

So batten down the hatches and prepare for the descent into dreary and unending
cold; the time of ice storms, sleet and dry skin. I'll give all you winter-lovers
your due, and allergy sufferers get a pass as well. Meanwhile, I'm going to pray
for an Indian Summer that lasts until February!

Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253