Ticker for September 30, 2021

                
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September 30, 2021 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2021


Autumngeist




Just in time for October, Mother Nature slams the gate on summer and transitions
us into fall. Regardless of what happens after this, fall has arrived with an
extended period of actual seasonable temperatures, and more importantly...RAIN!
That's the real story, ain't it? Check out these pitiful rain maps from the last
60 days.









Those stats represent a massive change in the drought fortunes of Oklahoma, with
an increase in drought across the state of nearly 70%, making Oklahoma the
centerpiece of drought development over that time frame.





Now THAT is a flash drought. That 73.23% of drought in the state is the most
we've seen since Feb. 20, 2018, more than 3.5 years ago. And the 23.72% of the
state in at least severe drought is that category's highest since Aug. 14, 2018.

Yep, things have gotten serious. That's where the rain over the next 3 days
comes in. Heck, it's raining now!



Wow, that looks serious, too. Seriously wet. Rain totals are already starting to
add up.



I'm a bit worried about western Oklahoma, however. The rain forecast for this
storm system just don't look quite as good as they previously did, with less
than an inch shown on the forecast maps. Now the 2-3 inches over much of the
state looks wonderful, but we need more out west.

It's all over but the shouting, now. We now sit back and await the results of
the storm system through Saturday, which will then give way to some wonderful
fall weather with highs in the 70s (a few 60s and 80s) and lows in the 50s
(some 40s and 60s).



We don't really see a frost or freeze showing up just yet. Some 40s in the
Panhandle on Sunday are the lowest 6emps I can find in the forecast, but I
wouldn't be shocked to see some upper 30s out that way.



STEP INTO THE FALL, ALL ARE WELCOME!

This season is clean.

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