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 »
Thu, Jul 01, 2021
A slow start to summer gave way to sweltering heat through the middle of June before once again succumbing to mild, wet weather to end the month. There were occasional bouts with severe weather—mostly high winds and large hail—although flooding was a common concern as well. Winds of up to 75 mph hit Snyder overnight on June 7, producing widespread damage to the town. The Oklahoma Mesonet site at Boise City measured winds in excess of 65 mph for 25 consecutive minutes the evening of June 12. Several homes reported significant roof damage, and the high school gym’s roof was partially blown off. Nearly 100 power poles were destroyed between Balko and Elmwood the evening of the 24th due to estimated winds of up to 95 mph. The Mesonet site at Hooker measured a wind gust of 85 mph on the 25th associated with severe storms in the area that toppled trucks on local highways. Unusually heavy rains along the Interstate-44 corridor June 25-30 produced widespread totals of 6-8 inches, and more than a foot of rain in some locations. A volunteer observer near Lawton reported 12.32 inches of rain during that period, and 14.29 inches for the month’s highest total. Heavy downpours on the 27th inundated areas of central Oklahoma with flash flooding, resulting in numerous water rescues from stalled vehicles.
The statewide average rainfall total was 4.97 inches according to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet. That ranked the month as the 34th wettest June since records began in 1895, 0.45 inches above normal. The extreme wet conditions along the I-44 corridor, with totals 4-6 inches above normal, were countered by dry weather that plagued much of the rest of the state. The far southeast was also considerably wetter than normal with surpluses of 6-8 inches. Cloudy led the Mesonet sites with 12.62 inches of rain during the month, but the central Oklahoma stations at Minco and Spencer were close behind with 11.46 and 11.36 inches, respectively. Thirty-nine of the Mesonet’s 120 sites recorded at least 6 inches of rain during June. Kenton reported 1.2 inches for the month’s lowest total. Another seven sites also recorded less than 2 inches. The first six months of the year ended 0.83 inches above normal with a statewide average of 19.86 inches, the 39th wettest January-June period on record for Oklahoma.
The statewide average temperature still managed to come out on the warm side during June, despite the extended mild weather that bookended the month. The statewide average finished at 77.1 degrees, 0.6 degrees above normal, and ranked as the 59th warmest June on record. Much of the middle of the month was dominated by oppressively hot weather, fueled by high humidity. The Mesonet sites at Eva and Goodwell recorded June’s highest readings of 107 degrees on the 23rd, while Boise City reported the lowest temperature of 47 degrees on June 2. Heat index values soared into the low 110s during June’s second week, topping out at 113 degrees on the 11th. The Mesonet’s 120 sites reported heat index values of at least 105 degrees 369 times during the month, but none coming before June 9 or after June 25. The first six months of the year fell 1.3 degrees below normal with a statewide average of 54.5 degrees, the 36th coolest such period on record.
Drought coverage across Oklahoma continued to shrink during June, decreasing from 8 percent of the state in late May to less than 2 percent at the beginning of July. Prospects for complete removal from the state appear favorable according to the July outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). Increased odds for above normal precipitation and below normal temperatures cover virtually the entire state, with even greater chances of below normal temperatures across the southern two-thirds of Oklahoma. The possible reduction in heat and increase in moisture lends confidence in complete drought removal across the state by the end of July, as depicted in CPC’s monthly drought outlook.
