Ticker for May 23, 2018

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
May 23, 2018       May 23, 2018       May 23, 2018       May 23, 2018


Summer, Big Ben, Parliment




After all my gibberish about Mother Nature skipping spring and going right to
winter (IT'S THE TRUTH, I TELL YA!), it now appears we're going to REALLY hit
summer starting this weekend. Highs in the 90s and 100s appear locked in, and
while we expect some heat this time of year, it's getting a bit ridiculous in
May 2018. And remember, this comes right after the 2nd coolest April since 1895.
Just look at this 30-day meteorgram from the Mesonet site at Kingfisher, poster
child for a central Oklahoma hot spot.



Notice how the temperatures go from highs in the 60s and 70s (and some 50s) to
the 80s and 90s as soon as we hit May. A few ups and downs there, but remember
normal highs for this time of year in that area of the state start in the mid-70s
at the first of May to the low 80s through the rest of the month.

Based on the statewide average from the Oklahoma Mesonet, high temps are currently
running 6.7 degrees above normal for May thus far. And the average is 6.4 degrees
above normal.

-***-
MaxT     MinT     AvgT
Statewide Avg.      85.3     61.3     73.3
Normal              78.6     55.3     66.9
Dep. from normal     6.7      6.0      6.4
-****-

That 73.3 avg., if the month ended right now (and it's a good thing it doesn't,
or all your bills would be late), would be the 3rd warmest May since records
began in 1895. Only 1962's 74 degrees and 1896's 73.4 degrees rank higher. By
the way, could there be two more boring years to bring up than 1896 and 1962.
I looked up 1896. X-rays were discovered that year. Also, Walter Arnold, of
East Peckham, Kent, England, is fined 1 shilling for speeding at 8 mph,
exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph, the world's first speeding
fine (thanks Wikipedia!). Word has it he claims to only have been going 5 mph,
and he was only speeding because he had to get home and use the outhouse.

Given the forecast for the next few days into the weekend, and a less-than-
springlike CPC outlook into next week, I'd say 1896 at least should be quaking
in its dust-filled, ancient boots.



None of this helps the drought situation, obviously, and the 7-day rain
forecast is less than helpful.



So bring on summer. Not faux summer like we've been having, but REAL summer.

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