Tue, Oct 10, 2023
Winter/Spring 2024 Mesonet OK-First Classes Winter/Spring 2024 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
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 »
Wed, Mar 01, 2017
If glimpses of winter were sporadic in December and January, they were downright scarce during February. Temperatures often soared into the 70s and 80s, culminating with a maximum of 99 degrees at the Mangum Mesonet site on February 11. That tied the mark for highest temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma during not only February, but winter as well. That record was set previously at Arapaho on Feb. 24, 1918. According to preliminary Mesonet data, the statewide average for February was 49.8 degrees, 7.7 degrees above normal to rank as the fourth warmest February since records began in 1895. February also marks the end of the three-month climatological winter. The December-February statewide average ended at 42.9 degrees, the ninth warmest winter on record, 3.4 degrees above normal. The lowest winter temperature recorded by the Mesonet was minus 19 degrees at Kenton on January 7. The first two months of 2017 also broke the record for the warmest January-February combined with a statewide average of 45.1 degrees, 5.3 degrees above normal, besting 1952’s 44.7 degrees.
The lack of substantial cold air was perhaps just as striking as the predominance of the warm extremes. Several cold fronts dropped state temperatures close to seasonal normals, but the truly frigid weather was mostly confined to the western Oklahoma Panhandle. The Mesonet site at Eva recorded a statewide low for the month of 5 degrees on the 25th. The Durant Mesonet site spent 11 hours at or below freezing during February, bottoming out at a relatively mild 29 degrees. In contrast, Eva was below freezing for 215 hours.
Two robust mid-month storm systems boosted the statewide average precipitation total to 2.04 inches, 0.21 inches above normal, to rank as the 34th wettest February on record. Southwestern through central Oklahoma enjoyed the best rains with totals ranging from 2-4.5 inches. Southwestern and central Oklahoma saw their 12th- and 15th-wettest Februaries on record, respectively. El Reno led the state’s monthly total at 4.48 inches. Seven Mesonet sites recorded at least 4 inches, and 69 garnered at least 2 inches. Parts of the state were exceedingly dry, however. Kenton led the Panhandle with a paltry 0.28 inches while Goodwell and Hooker tied for the lowest at 0.02 inches. In the northeast, Miami came in about 1.5 inches below normal with 0.63 inches. The winter ended as the 43rd wettest with a statewide average of 5.38 inches, about a tenth of an inch above normal.
Although a bit of severe weather made its presence felt during February, fire danger was the most frequent hazard. Weather conditions prompted Gov. Mary Fallin to issue a burn ban for 53 counties on Feb. 10, although the ban was lifted on Feb. 15 after the beneficial rains. Eleven county burn bans remained in place on the month’s final day. The two consecutive storm systems signaled a change in the general weather pattern experienced by Oklahoma since early last fall. The state had been seeing perhaps one good rain a month, allowing for drought intensification in between those systems. The reinforcing moisture allowed for more sustained and significant drought relief. Nearly 80 percent of the state was covered by drought at the end of January according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That amount was reduced to 68 percent on the last report for the month.
The March outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate warm, dry weather is possible during March with increased odds of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. With those conditions favored, CPC’s U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook sees drought persisting across the state where it currently exists. No drought development is expected during March.