Ticker for August 13, 2020

                
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August 13, 2020    August 13, 2020    August 13, 2020    August 13, 2020


The Incredible Shrinking Drought




Another week of summer, another week of unexpected drought improvement. Not that
rain wasn't forecast, but another overachieving storm system brought more than
expected. The amount of drought only decreased about 2.5%, from 21.12% to 18.62%,
but it's still quite an achievement for mid-August, and the same could be said
for the time since mid-July.



Check out the rain over the last month...mid-July through mid-August. Are you
kidding me? For much of the state, that's outstanding!







We see you, southern Oklahoma. Trouble is still afoot there. The Mesonet soil
moisture probes tell us more.



Unfortunately, things are worsening in those areas where you still see deficits,
and the heat isn't helping matters. Making it worse, actually, with increased
evaporative demands. Today will not bring relief with either rain or cooler
weather.



YIKES! That will be one of the hottest days of the year thus far in the SW, and
if you add the humidity, watch out.



Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath. You want relief? Okay, how about early next
week? Will that work? Are you okay now?



It ain't perfect, and that heat dome is perilously close to us to our west, but
it will bring 80s for highs, which will allow some of that rain that's going to
fall to stick around a bit longer. Oh wait, you thought you'd get some rain with
all that cool air? LOL! It's 2020!



But wait, there is hope after all!



We've had a lot of overachieving storm systems lately. We'll hold out hope
for this forecast as well. Let this tide you over until fall.



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