Ticker for June 23, 2016

                
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June 23, 2016      June 23, 2016      June 23, 2016      June 23, 2016


We will not go quietly into the dry!






Okay, technically the D0 (or yellers) you see on the Drought Monitor map this
morning is not drought, merely "abnormally dry" conditions. But that's only
because we're following the standard DM protocol by not asking for a 2-step
intensification in the DM depiction (e.g., skipping over D0 and going straight
to moderate drought, D1, would be a two-step intensification, just as going from
D2 to D4). But, the rainfall statistics over the last 60 days probably warrant
drought designation justification.

Centered over the El Reno Mesonet site, which has garnered a paltry 2.9 inches
through the last 60 days, the bulk of Oklahoma's primary rainy season, deficits
of 4 to 8 inches exist across the northern half of the state, as well
as parts of east central Oklahoma.






While the south was flooding, the north was baking. Combine the recent deficits
with the year-to-date data and you can see they grow even worse.



Some might say those blues across the SW are karmic retribution for what they
suffered through as the epicenter of the 2010-15 drought, but northern OK didn't
fare so well either. As noted in yesterday's Ticker, the heat hasn't helped
either.





Speaking of heat and drought, is there help on the way? Apparently so as the
heat dome that has plagued us for a couple of weeks



appears poised to pull off to the west leaving us in more favorable conditions
for both moisture and temperature. And northern OK, the area that needs that
help the most, might be the beneficiary. In fact, they could start receiving
moisture tonight with rain chances, at least SOME chances, continuing beyond.











Now this isn't a return to March, or even April, but at least it's not TOO much
like August. Jarch would sound pretty good right now. Jupril? No thanks. Sounds
like a hemorrhoid medication.

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