Ticker for May 4, 2017

                
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May 4, 2017        May 4, 2017        May 4, 2017        May 4, 2017


I was told there would be no drought




Yeah, I want to see the movie, so what! But for some reason, even one of the
wettest Aprils on record (3rd wettest, to be exact) couldn't completely eradicate
the drought this week. I don't know if it's protected by cosmic superheroes, or
just bad storm placement. Whatever the reason, it's still here and it ain't going
anywhere just yet.

We had everything going in our favor to get rid of drought.

Drought taking body blows left and right the last 6 weeks? Check.

Record-setting rainfall? Check.

Well wait. Maybe not-so-check. Remember the rainfall maps I posted yesterday?
They did show a weakness from south central through east central Oklahoma.




And on a longer time scale, those deficits look even larger.



So while we did have big changes this week, even a very large area of rare
two-category improvements, we still have that lingering area down south and
east.



But this is the lowest amount of drought we've seen in the state since way
back on June 28, 2016.



And I did say it wasn't going anywhere soon, because there ain't no rain on
the horizon just yet. At least not in that part of the state.



I ain't no "Droughtlord," and I don't have a big talking tree to help me fight
it. Although that would be really cool! Not as cool as a talking raccoon, but
still pretty cool. Besides, I'm from the Panhandle...it would have to be a
talking soapweek, or sagebrush.

Does this look it would scare off drought to you?



I thought so.

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