Ticker for January 6, 2016

                
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January 6, 2016    January 6, 2016    January 6, 2016    January 6, 2016


Meh




Hullabaloo, anyone? The snowstorm some had tried to eek out this weekend is going
to end up being pretty tame. We are in for a wet next 4-5 days, but mostly rain,
and maybe a bit of snow here and there with little impacts. It is likely that I
just jinxed us into a blizzard this weekend...but probably not. We will see some
of the coldest air of the season early next week, however.



20s and 30s for highs, oh my! But that's pretty tame for winter as we head into
the second week of January. Heck, look at the number of days we've had with high
temperatures remaining at or below freezing compared this cool season (starting
on Oct. 1) as compared to last season at this time. Quite similar in the NW
quarter of the state, which has been encased in ice and snow for more than a few
days since Thanksgiving. But farther to the SE, no sign of REAL cold air to speak
of. And both pale in comparison to the similar period from two years ago (2013-14).





And then we had the incredibly mild weather of late 2011 into early 2012 (and
2012 would go on to finish as the warmest year on record for the state), as well
as the beginning of the 5-year drought in 2010-11.




And we can even go back to the previous "Super El Nino" period from 1997-98 (or
Oct. 1, 1997-Jan. 5, 1998, at least).




What's it all mean? Heck if I know, other than we've been somewhat lucky (at
least *I* think we have) in the southeastern 2/3rds of the state. And 2010-11
temperatures look pretty nice up to that point, but also remember what
happened about a month later. Here are a few nice images for you to look at.






The final lesson? Don't complain early next week...it could be worse*

*NOTE: final lessons don't apply to State Climatologists. I will be complaining
next week.

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