Ticker for May 19, 2021

                
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May 19, 2021       May 19, 2021       May 19, 2021       May 19, 2021


Whither Wharmth?




Where oh where has our warm spring gone? Why have you left, me here all alone. I
searched the world over and thought I found true spring. You met another and
PBBBBTTTTTT you were gone. Hee Haw! You can see from that long-term average
statewide max temperature plot vs. what has happened this year that we have spent
most of our time this year on the cool side of that long-term average. Can you
see the February deep freeze? Try cleaning your glasses...it's that dip straight
into Hades there about a third of the way in. Ironically, the longest period of
warmer than average weather came directly after that prolonged historic cold, in
true Okie fashion. The last half of April and most of May has been downright
chilly. The normal statewide average temperature for May
18, for instance, is 80.7 degrees. That means several days of 90+ mixed in with
several days of 70s averages out to around 81, but we haven't even hit 90 degrees
thus far for the majority of the state. 100s you say? HA!





A check over the last 5 years shows it's not too unusual, at least recently, but
that don't make it right. We always like to throw 2011 in there as well, just
for laughs.













One of the problems we have this year is too much Justin Bieber. But
weatherwise, it's not enough sun. Check out our statewide pct possible sunshine
this year vs. the long-term Mesonet average.



Again, we've spent too much time under that long-term average. If you computed
the area under the curve vs. above the curve, it would be overwhelmingly under.
At least this gray, cloudy stretch is coming with good rains across the state.
Some folks need more, but this will go a long way towards drought relief.



It would appear we will see more 80s coming up, begrudgingly from the looks of
it. Mother Nature is being pretty stingy with the heat. She's like a Dad from
the 1970s keeping the thermostat turned down to save money.



Maybe next week we can add to that 90s map. Don't do it for me...do it for my
bermudagrass.

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