Ticker for December 11, 2014

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
December 11, 2014  December 11, 2014  December 11, 2014  December 11, 2014


A little drought before the storm

The little bit of rain that fell last week across parts of Oklahoma was not
enough to curtail further drought intensification. Drought did ramp up just a bit
across northwestern, southwestern and southeastern Oklahoma.



All categories of drought (D1-D4) jumped somewhat, with the overall drought
designation of at least moderate (D1) drought going from 60% to 62%. Not much,
but not a good soon smack dab in the cool season when drought normally remains
dormant.

A look at the 90-day rainfall maps clues us into what has been going on in those
areas that intensified.





Less than three inches has been recorded across parts of W OK, and that tongue
of 6-8 inches down in the southeast spells trouble for that area, as evidenced
on the percent of normal map. But nearly all areas of the state are below
normal since mid-September, amounting to the 35th driest Sept. 12-Dec. 10 since
at least 1921 (based on statewide average). You can see NC OK is getting
particularly dry at nearly 3 inches below normal, the 22nd driest such period
on record for that area.

Luckily (fingers crossed!) there is a storm system pegged for this weekend,
and it still looks like a go. There will be chances for precipitation over
several days, but the big day still appears to be Sunday.





Still no big arctic air outbreaks on the horizon, at least out as far as is
reasonable to try and forecast. That's not to say it won't get cold here and
there next week and maybe for a bit after that. It is winter, after all. But
we are still watching those medium-range outlooks for that first sign of an
arctic plunge.



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