Ticker for February 11, 2013

                
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February 11, 2013  February 11, 2013  February 11, 2013  February 11, 2013


RED ALERT!

With the entire Ticker Staff off over the weekend, we had nobody on hand to
activate the official "Emergency Bread and Milk Broadcasting System." I guess
in this new incarnation, it would be known as EBMBS, although we can almost get
EMBALMS. RATS! I should have named it something with an L in there. Anyway, if
you have not gotten your bread and milk from Braum's just yet, then you face the
possibility of being stranded in your house for several hours without (lock up
the cats and dogs until the hunger subsides).

The NWS has issued a winter storm warning for much of the Panhandle and northwest
Oklahoma. The official-yet-preliminary forecast right now is calling for up to
3"-5" across northwestern Oklahoma, with surrounding areas getting diminishing
amounts.





Since I'm in the midst of giving 15 drought talks in February alone, I'm much
more interested in the liquid contained in that snow. So whether it falls as
snow or rain, it's VERY welcome. Right now, looks like we could get a good
half-inch to quarter-inch of liquid out of this, but a nice general statewide
dose of moisture at any rate.



If it falls as snow, that will be a soil moisture recharger. If it falls as
rain, that would help the reservoirs and farm ponds somewhat more. But, each
has its role in the process known as drought eradication. This is extremely
important for the northwest since they're once again up to about a month
without significant rainfall (or at least a quarter-inch in any single day).



So flock, don't walk, to your local Braum's, get in line and buy that bread
and milk. For northwestern Oklahoma, from my recollection, that means you
had better be on your way to Guymon or Woodward. That's a lot of driving, so
you had best be on your way.

Haven't you heard? There's a snowstorm coming!

*Disclaimer: this Ticker will be eradicated from the Internet should the
forecast be wrong.

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