Ticker for July 31, 2024

                
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July 31, 2024      July 31, 2024      July 31, 2024      July 31, 2024


Hang 10




Much like Gale Sayers loved Brian Piccolo, or McAdams loved Gosling, I love the
Oklahoma Panhandle. I grew up out that way, of course, but even today it's one of
the few places you can still get a good look at the Milky Way (I prefer Snickers)
with the naked eye. But I'd really like to know why it decided to start bogarting
all the rainfall this summer. With the additional 2-4 inches last night, did'ya
know that the central Panhandle region leads the climatological summer rainfall
totals with more than a foot of rainfall?

It's true (Paul Harvey fans, you feel me?).



Now, kneel before Zod.

Sorry, Superman non-sequitur. I hate when that happens. Those Goodwell and Hooker
totals of 11.97 and 12.53 inches, respectively, are both record totals for the
June-July period, and the Guymon Airport had even more at 13.31 inches! Look at
poor Mangum down there in SW OK with 0.92 inches.

Panhandle, can't you spare a drop or two for those folks?

Well, back to the frying pan. Or pressure cooker. Both will burn ya.





But wait, is there relief on the horizon? Past the minor cold front we'll see
this weekend, at least? Well, maybe. It's showing up on the medium-term outlook
maps as an area of increased odds for below normal temps across the Northern
Plains.



There does appear to be a pretty decent cold front up that way, the only question
is will it make it this far south? Well, that's not the ONLY question...for
example, why do they even make Strawberry Pop-Tarts? But back to weather, some
forecast models bring it down through Oklahoma, but others shuffle the cool
air off to our north and east.

I'm hopeful, but wary.

Uh oh, that triggered my inner Alanis!

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful, baby.

And what it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine.

And cool, hopefully.

Gary Morissette
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climate Survey
gmcmanus@ou.edu