Ticker for March 14, 2017

                
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March 14, 2017     March 14, 2017     March 14, 2017     March 14, 2017


An Oklahoma tradition




Ahhh, Oklahoma traditions: rain during the State Fair and cold weather during
spring break. Of course, that doesn't impact folks that are going far and wide
for their vacation during this week, but for those of us unlucky enough to be
stuck here all week, the tradition is playing out step-by-step. Warm weather right
up until the break, then BLAMO (OFFICIAL CLIMATOLOGICAL TERM), down goes spring.
You older folks can read that in Howard Cosell voice: "DOWN GOES SPRING! DOWN
GOES SPRING!"

Even the 50s and 60s scattered about were made chilly by the strong winds
yesterday. And the chilly rain over the weekend, while welcome, was typical
spring break fare for Oklahoma. The amounts were light, but for the fire-ravaged
northwest, just the dampening and humidity was enough to help keep the fire from
sparking again.




And unfortunately, parts of the state suffered a hard freeze. Northern OK got it
the worst, but the vegetation there is perhaps a bit more winter-tuned still?
I hope? It's been awfully warm, so I'd be shocked if there wasn't some type of
stress introduced by the cold weather.





Some of those numbers in the last 48 hours and week are more than southern OK
saw during all of February. Never fear, if you want a bit of warm weather for
your staycation, hope is at hand. Temperatures will be on the rebound after
tomorrow and 70s and 80s should arrive by Thursday. The far NW will get a sneak
peak a bit earlier than the rest of us. I don't necessarily think that's a good
thing given the lack of appreciable moisture and fire damaged land, but it's
coming nevertheless.






If warmer weather is in the offing, increased fire danger will be as well.
Another early spring tradition as storm systems and fronts beget stronger winds
but also small chances of rain. It ain't enough.



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