Ticker for March 17, 2014

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
March 17, 2014     March 17, 2014     March 17, 2014     March 17, 2014


You raining on me??

Rain! Glorious rain fell over most of the state over the weekend. There were
definitely winners and losers through the event, and not shockingly, western
Oklahoma (where they need it the worst) came out on the short side of the
measuring stick. Here's the rainfall map itself for the entirety of the event.



An area from down around Walters in south central Oklahoma up through east central
Oklahoma received from 2 inches to over 4 inches, with the Wilburton Mesonet
station coming in on top with 4.33 inches. Those 2-inch plus amounts also
extended to the far northeast as well. In general, the amounts shrank to between
1-2 inches as you went NW and SE, much more rapidly to the NW, however. The
northwestern half of the state, in general, came in with less than an inch. Far
northwestern Oklahoma, including "the little pond that still can't" south of
Buffalo? Zilch.



Hey, at least there's water in it, right?

Judging by what was needed, how would my good friend Bob De Niro analyze the map?
Well, it's all in his facial expressions.



We got "Raging Bull" De Niro up in the Panhandle to show both their anger at
getting left out of the event, but also their indomitable spirit: "You never got
me down, Ray!"

We'll use "Cape Fear" for far NW OK. Another angry portrayal to go along with
their tenth of an inch and less. Revenge will be theirs!

We get "Meet the Parents" De Niro for central through parts of NE OK in areas
with less than an inch, in general. It was good, stops the drought from
advancing, but we're watching you, Mother Nature.

Southeast Oklahoma gets a couple of classic De Niro grins. Trust me, even
though it looks like he's stepping on a nail, that's him being giddy. And they're
giddy after getting their widespread 1-4 inches.

Finally, we are left with the far SW. I had to go with the crying De Niro from
"Analyze This" for that area. Yeah, they needed the rain, and they appreciate
it, but four-tenths and less just ain't gonna cut it. Even Bob's tears won't
help fill up Lake Altus-Lugert (11.7% of capacity) or Tom Steed Lake (26% of
capacity).




Looks like there will be a chance of rain again this weekend. Doesn't look like
much just yet, but neither did this last storm 5-6 days out. Keep hope alive
(and ignore this 7-day rainfall forecast map).



Until then, we get fire danger, and lots of it out west. Yes, angry De Niro has
a chance to get burned today and tomorrow. In fact, the NWS has issued a Red
Flag Fire Warning for the far western counties and the Panhandle (even while
Cherokee County is under a flood advisory for the Illinois River near
Tahlequah ... and you can throw in a flood warning for the Poteau River near
Panama in Le Flore County).





Pretty graphics to better explain the situation.







By the way, we saved the worst De Niro for last as we look at the 8-14 day
temperature outlook from CPC showing another blast of cold air from the North
possible for next week. After this contemplative-yet-menacing stare from De
Niro in "Goodfellas," gangsters started croaking.



Caphiche, Mother Nature??

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