Ticker for February 8, 2023

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
February 8, 2023   February 8, 2023   February 8, 2023   February 8, 2023


Repeat




You see, I've determined that we're made up of two kinds of people...those with
keys to start their cars (like me), and those that have a push-button start. What
a glorious experience those with the push-button are missing, that dangling of
keys that represents the magical start to the day, inserting the key with that
satisfying "CLUNK," then storing those bad boys in your jeans pocket to poke your
leg and just be generally obtrusive throughout the day. Sort of like the Ticker.
We don't MEAN to be obtrusive, it just comes naturally.

But it goes to show you that inconvenienced can often be the better side life.
Just look at the difference in the days of those across NW OK, and
those to the SE of there. The folks getting rain might think it's a hassle--you
mean I have to carry an umbrella??--but we should remember just how lucky we are
with our muddy floor mats and dashing through the drops trying not to get doused
by the heaviest part of the showers. SOME of us, and you know who you are,
actually worry about getting your hair wet.

Go ahead, laugh. You won't think it's funny when we find out the aliens that are
sure to come think hair is a defect and those with it are an infestation!

Where were we...ah yes, inconvenienced is better! You think those folks in NW
OK wouldn't love to be dashing through the rain and needing their floor mats
cleaned? It's not raining up there right now, for crying out loud! And it hasn't
rained in ages in some cases, at least not significantly. Not in the current
storm system.



Not in the last 30 days.





Heck (sorry for double-hecking you today), not for the last several months,
approaching 6 months for some!



You go out past 6 months or so and most of us are looking at deficits, of course.





Yeah, you go out to the long-term and then we're all still carrying those fob
thingies. Now THOSE are really annoying. And when the fob runs out of battery, you
have to do some sort of Mission Impossible-esque series of actions and
incantations to get your car to start? Am I right?

Go out 6 months and the Panhandle has seen it's driest such period in at least
the last 100 years.



There's still more to come in this current storm, but not for those that need
it the most.



So now it's due time for NW OK to be running through the rain (or snow),
trying to get from their cars into work, or vice-versa (or versa-vice...a whole
different story). Right now, it's looking a *little* better for next week?



Push-button hair, now THAT would be a great invention.

Gary McManus
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
gmcmanus@mesonet.org