Ticker for December 12, 2019

                
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December 12, 2019  December 12, 2019  December 12, 2019  December 12, 2019


Nobody snows




There are other things to talk about besides snow, you know. Like how drought
continues unabated across western Oklahoma, and how many days above 100 we had
this year.



Man, those were the days! But with the concerning storm system still churning
out in the Pacific south of Alaska, all we can do is watch the model output and
wait for the different scenarios to come into some sort of agreement with each
other. And then we can do it all over again when the storm comes ashore. And
then we can do it all over again when it crosses the Rockies! Each time the
forecast gets closer to reality, however. As of now, the American and European
models are diverging on the path, with the American model (GFS) taking the storm
farther north, and the European model (ECMWF) taking it a bit farther south. In
the former scenario, Oklahoma goes without snow. Heck, it goes without
precipitation at all, most likely! In the latter scenario, looks like northern
Oklahoma can get some frozen precip, and points south might get some light rain.
Not talking a lot of moisture here, but those areas need whatever they can get.



Again, we will see once that storm comes ashore and then crosses the mountains
and gets disrupted a bit. But it's not looking great for snow chances in the
state. And really, for those wishing for a white Christmas, not a lot of great
news there either.





Still a couple of weeks away on that one, so lots of time for things to change
to a more Christmasy weather pattern. Right now, the Grinch is steering the
jet stream, however.

Now we do need that moisture, pretty desperately in the Panhandle and southwest.
And it's now been close to 50 days since they've had substantial moisutre
across north central Oklahoma. The deficits from 30 to 60 days out are
starting to mount.











The Drought Monitor continues to reflect those dry conditions. This map WILL
get worse in the areas colored yellow (and tan and brown) unless moisture
starts showing up in the next couple of weeks...cool season or not.



Snow, sleet, freezing rain...shoot, we'll take about anything right about now.
Well, not the freezing rain. Do. Not. WANT!

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