Ticker for September 2, 2011

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
September 2, 2011  September 2, 2011  September 2, 2011  September 2, 2011


Terrible Tipton Times

I thought I would slip in a drought update before the holiday, but as I was
summarizing the summer yesterday, I found something quite horrifying. The Oklahoma
Mesonet site at Tipton measured a pathetic 0.08 inches of rainfall from June
through August (and still going).



There are obviously some other impressively non-impressive numbers on that map as
well, but that 0.08 certainly stands out. Let that soak in (and remember there is
nothing soaking in down in the southwest!). Here's a table to help you out.

Tipton Summer Climate Statistics

Total Rainfall:   0.08 inches
Average High T:    105 degrees
Average Low T:      78 degrees

So not a pretty picture. I'm thinking the U.S. Drought Monitor needs to add a D5
for southwestern Oklahoma and much of Texas. At any rate, there were few changes
to the latest DM map. A slight increase in D4 coverage in the southeast. There
were certainly no pushes to show improvement anywhere.



The latest Seasonal Drought Outlook from the CPC was fairly unchanged as well.



The key to that map is the "some improvement" area in northern and east central
Oklahoma. The correct interpretation of that designation is that there is an
expectation for some precipitation that will lessen the impacts somewhat, but
not enough to eliminate the drought. The reasoning:

"... continued drought persistence is likely for the southern Plains (if
no landfalling tropical systems or forecasted September wetness fails
to materialize), with a chance for improvement and some improvement
along the western Gulf Coast (low confidence), some slight and spotty
improvement in parts of the southern High Plains (low confidence) and
the northern edge of the drought (southern Kansas, northern Oklahoma;
moderate confidence)."

A moderate confidence in some slight and spotty improvements. That's how I used
to feel about my hair. I've lost hope there, but not in the fall rainy season.

COME ON, NEAR- TO ABOVE-NORMAL!

Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@mesonet.org