Ticker for October 11, 2011

                
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October 11, 2011   October 11, 2011   October 11, 2011   October 11, 2011


Soils benefit from rainfall

The latest Oklahoma Crop Weather report by the USDA NASS Oklahoma Field Office
indicates that a good portion of Oklahoma soils enjoyed the soaking rainfall, at
least the topsoils. The report, released on October 11, has 23% of Oklahoma's
topsoil with adequate/surplus moisture. Of course, 22% of that is in the adequate
column, but that's better than what it has been. Here are the soil moisture
conditions, courtesy of the Oklahoma Crop Weather report.

Topsoil         Current Week        Previous Week      One Year Ago
Very Short           52%                 76%                17%
Short                25%                 20%                44%
Adequate             22%                  4%                39%
Surplus               1%                  0%                 0%

Subsoil         Current Week        Previous Week      One Year Ago
Very Short           78%                 87%                23%
Short                14%                 12%                37%
Adequate              8%                  1%                40%
Surplus               0%                  0%                 0%

Notice that the topsoil was in a bit better shape a year ago with 39% rated
adequate (vs 22% now) and only 17% rated very short (vs 52% now). The
subsoil did not improve as much, but it did gain with 82% rated short or very
short this week vs 99% last week.

That's not surprising. This is the first good dose of moisture for much of the
state in over a month so that topsoil was going to take the first long drink.
There obviously wasn't a lot left over for the subsoil. Last year at this time,
40% of the subsoil was rated as adequate, so those crops that reached down
for deeper moisture to survive had a bit more to work with.

The soil moisture gains are reflected in the latest data from the Oklahoma
Mesonet as well. The tongue of heavier rains shows up quite well on the 24-inch
soil moisture map.






Those graphics clearly show the drying as you go deeper, exactly what would
be expected with one of the first slow-and-steady bigtime rain events during
an exceptional drought.

The reservoir reports from the Corps of Engineers indicate limited recovery
of Oklahoma's lakes and many remain rather low. Lake Thunderbird in Cleveland
County parlayed the 3-4 inch rainfall amounts around the Norman area into a 2%
increase and is now 75% full. Arcadia was a big winner coming up from 82% to
97%. Most lakes remained steady or rose 1-2%, however. Lake Altus came up 1%
and is now a whopping 17% full. Canton is a little more than half full at 56%.

Drought relief is a process. During a normal rain event, the soils drink first.
When they're sated, then the reservoirs will start to get theirs.

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