Ticker for March 10, 2014

                
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March 10, 2014     March 10, 2014     March 10, 2014     March 10, 2014


Now come the days of the spring



Has spring sprung, finally? Climatologically, it began March 1st. Astronomically,
it begins with the vernal equinox on March 20 at 11:57 A.M. CDT.
Temperature-o-logically (hey, I'm a professional, I can make up words like that),
it might just begin today. At least the high temperatures the next couple of days
say "maybe."




Trouble is brewing on the Tuesday highs map with the hint of a coming cold front
in the NW that day, sweeping through the state to yield this Wednesday's highs
map.



Even that front will only drop highs into the 50s, with a good rebound the
following two days.




And then we'll see another front this weekend, probably, and another slight
chance of rain. With the warm weather, dry air and windy conditions the next
couple of days, the big concern will be wildfire.






The prospects for moisture are still a tad bleak, at least according to the
7-day forecast from WPC and also the extended probability forecast those
hosers to the north. We see up to a quarter of an inch for most of the state
on the 7-day, but not much more than that on the extended with less than a 20%
chance to see at least 0.4" (or so) accumulate between now and March 25.




That's a bit woeful when you look at what's occurred over the last 90 days (and
even farther back than that). Those oranges and reds look might nice down in
the southeast until you realize even those totals are well below normal.

90-day rainfall



120-day rainfall



Has spring sprung for good? Probably not. We'll no doubt have a few good arctic
cold fronts left in us. Heck, maybe all the way into May? Let's hope not!




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