Ticker for September 10, 2013

                
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September 10, 2013 September 10, 2013 September 10, 2013 September 10, 2013


How long's it been?

Have you seen cracks in your yard with nary a plumber around? Was the last time
you mowed the last time you will mow this season? I mowed my yard last night after
giving it a couple of weeks and found cracks in the back yard big enough to my
mower wheels to slip into. Our clay soils are quite fickle, swelling with all the
lovely summer rain then gasping for more when the rain goes away. And gone away
it has!




Again, the cutoff point is probably August 17th ... there was a good rain in the
Panhandle that day. But since then, the drops are few are far between.




The statewide average since August 18 remains 0.07 inches, 2.44 inches below
normal (or about 3% of normal). That's the driest such period since 1921 statewide,
and all areas of the state have suffered their 1st or 2nd driest August 18-
September 10 since 1921. I guess we should congratulate Idabel for their 1.3 inches
as well as Shawnee and Sallisaw for their 0.7 inches.

Things have gotten so bad Oklahoma City's total for the year thus far of 45.18
inches has been passed by 2007, which had 49.21 inches for the same period.
So OKC's quest for its wettest year on record has been struck a blow and now
is at least 4 inches back from 2007.



That's really not much to complain about, however, especially if you're living
in Altus (11.5 inches) or in the western Panhandle (9.4 inches-10.5 inches).




At least there will FINALLY be some rain chances in a couple of days thanks to
a weak frontal system. Here are some friendly graphics showing the setup. Note
the Tulsa slide shows cooler air for this weekend and even more cooler air next
week, and the Amarillo slide indicates the Panhandle rain chances start tonight.





And the western Panhandle appears to have the best chance for significant rain
totals for the next 7 days.



There's good and bad news after that ... CPC shows increased odds for above
normal precipitation for the Sept. 17-23 period, but also increased odds of
above normal temperatures.




Now while I'd rather not have to mow again (I used the last gas out of my gas
can last night), I'll gladly bite the bullet and take a few more outings with
the mower, because we do need the rain.

No plumbers need apply, however.

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