Thu, Apr 27, 2023
Summer/Fall 2023 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2023 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Tue, Jan 03, 2023
December Caps 2022 Rain Record December provided a fitting end to Oklahoma’s tumultuous 2022 weather story. This final chapter came complete with a half-dozen tornadoes,… Read More »
Tue, Nov 01, 2022
October Drought Relief Mixed Drought held on through October in Oklahoma for the fifteenth consecutive month, its roots dating back to August 2021 and… Read More »
Tue, Oct 11, 2022
Winter/Spring 2023 Mesonet OK-First Classes Winter/Spring 2023 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Mon, Oct 03, 2022
September Continues Dry Dusty Weather Drought surged across Oklahoma as the driest September since 1956 took its toll on the state’s landscape. The amount of… Read More »
Wed, Aug 17, 2022
Fall 2022 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision support system… Read More »
Mon, Aug 01, 2022
July Heat Punishes Oklahoma The seemingly impenetrable heat wave and dry spell that had punished Oklahoma since early June continued through nearly all of… Read More »
Fri, Jul 01, 2022
June Teases Several Seasons June managed to pack pieces of three seasons into a single month. The first 10 days were quite springlike, with… Read More »
Wed, Jun 01, 2022
May Rains Dent Drought May’s reputation as Oklahoma’s most prolific severe weather month was confirmed within the first week with as many as… Read More »
Mon, May 02, 2022
April Winds Highest in Mesonet Era Opinions on Oklahoma’s weather are often more variable than the weather itself. Some Oklahomans will look back on April… Read More »
Wed, Apr 13, 2022
Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Fri, Apr 01, 2022
Variety Describes March Weather March’s weather ran the gamut of nearly all the hazards Oklahoma has to offer, befitting a seasonal transition month in… Read More »
Tue, Mar 01, 2022
Wintry Weather Rules February Three impactful winter storms struck Oklahoma during February, snarling traffic on state highways, bringing down power lines, and forcing… Read More »
Tue, Feb 01, 2022
Winter Arrives In January Winter arrived with conviction at the dawn of the new year in Oklahoma and delivered a startling counterpunch to the… Read More »
Tue, Jan 04, 2022
December Shatters Temperature Record In what could best be described as a climatological anomaly on steroids, Oklahoma soared to its warmest December on… Read More »
Wed, Dec 01, 2021
November Caps Off Warm, Dry Fall An extended pattern of warm, dry weather exacerbated drought conditions during November. Drought impacts, including fire danger and soil… Read More »
Thu, Nov 18, 2021
Spring 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Spring 2022 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »
Mon, Nov 01, 2021
October Sets Tornado Record Oklahomans are growing accustomed to Mother Nature’s October weather shenanigans following a snowstorm of up to 13 inches in… Read More »
Tue, Oct 05, 2021
Fall 2021 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision… Read More »
Fri, Oct 01, 2021
Drought Makes September Push The 17th warmest and driest September in Oklahoma since records began in 1895 allowed drought to flourish during the month.… Read More »
Tue, Jun 01, 2021
May’s weather was rather tame by Oklahoma standards, with severe weather greatly diminished by an abundance of cool, cloudy weather. Plenty of moisture was to be had, with heavy rains falling right through May’s final day. That is not to say severe weather was completely absent, but at times flood warnings were seemingly more prevalent than severe thunderstorm warnings. Only a handful of tornadoes were reported in the state during May. While the official number is still under investigation by the National Weather Service, the total will come in well below the month’s 1950-2020 average of 24.3 twisters. Those that did touch down were damaging, nonetheless. An EF-1 tornado struck near Roland on May 3, destroying several outbuildings and damaging homes in the area. Another EF-1 twister damaged structures near Hanna on the 27th before dissipating. The month ended on a more violent note as at least two large tornadoes were reported in Cimarron County on the 29th. The twisters traveled over open ground mostly, threatening Boise City before dissipating. More tornadoes were reported in Cimarron County the following night as well.
Most of the state saw a surplus of moisture during the month, although a few areas did suffer from continued dry weather. The statewide average precipitation total of 5.82 inches was 0.91 inches above normal and ranked as the 37th wettest May in Oklahoma since records began in 1895. Totals of 5-10 inches were common across much of central through eastern Oklahoma, and again through the Panhandle. Some areas of north central and southwestern Oklahoma saw only 2-4 inches for the month, however, to fall on the deficit side of the ledger. The Mesonet site at Broken Bow led the state with 12.62 inches. Seventy-seven of the Mesonet’s 120 sites saw at least 5 inches of rain, with 51 of those locations receiving at least 6 inches. Newkirk brought up the rear with 2.02 inches, one of only four sites with less than 3 inches for the month. May brought the climatological spring (March-May) to a close as the 30th wettest on record statewide with an average of 12.44 inches, 1.32 inches above normal. The first 5 months of the year continued on the wet side at 15.48 inches, the 37th wettest January-May on record and 0.97 inches above normal.
The statewide average temperature was 65.6 degrees according to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, 2.7 degrees below normal and ranked as the 15th coolest May since 1895. The cooler weather was mainly a result of diminished high temperatures throughout the month, as opposed to lower minimum temperatures. Statewide average high temperatures were below their long-term averages as many as 24 days in May. Only 58 readings of at least 90 degrees were observed by the 120 Mesonet sites during the month, on just five separate days. Hollis recorded the month’s highest temperature with 97 degrees on May 8. Nowata reported the lowest temperature of 35 degrees on May 5, marking April 24 in the Panhandle as Oklahoma’s final spring freeze. Spring finished at 59 degrees, 0.3 degrees below normal to rank as the 63rd coolest March-May on record. The year remained on the cold side at 49.9 degrees, 1.8 degrees below normal and the 32nd coolest January-May on record.
Drought coverage in Oklahoma was reduced by over half during May, from 20 percent of the state at the end of April to less than 8 percent to end May. Only two small pockets of moderate-to-severe drought were left in southwestern and south central Oklahoma. The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) June outlooks gave promise to a possible drought free Oklahoma by the end of June. The outlooks show increased odds for above normal rainfall and below normal temperatures across virtually the entire state. Given those expectations, CPC’s June drought outlook calls for improvement or removal of the remaining areas of drought in Oklahoma.
