Can Parts of Oklahoma Still Be Dry?
July 30, 2007
 June-July Rain.doc June-July Rain.pdf
By Derek Arndt, Assistant State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
NORMAN - It might seem hard for folks in some parts of the state to fathom, but it's been a dry summer for the Panhandle. After getting socked with a colossal snowfall to ring in 2007, precipitation events have been few and far between, even for a region used to dryness.
In fact, as of noon Monday, July 30th, the region is experiencing its 20th-driest June-July of the modern record (since 1921), even while the rest of Oklahoma easily recorded the wettest such period.
Recent rains in the western panhandle have helped somewhat, but for most of the area between Boise City and Buffalo, conditions are still dry. The months of June through August represent the "wet" time of year for the western panhandle. This is also in contrast with the rest of the state, which typically relies on spring rains for the bulk of its rainfall.
Summer 2007
June 1, 2007 through Jul 30, 2007 | Climate
Division | Total
Rainfall | Departure
from
normal | Percent
of normal | Driest
since | Wettest
since | Rank
since
1921 | Driest
of Record | Wettest
of Record | 60-day
SPI | Most Like
(Arndt Score) | | Statewide | 12.85" | +5.97" | 187% | 2006
(4.51") | -- | 1st
wettest | 2.29"
(1954) | 11.75"
(1950) | +1.99 | 2004
(7.59) | | Panhandle | 3.75" | -1.63" | 70% | 2001
(2.85") | 2006
(4.40") | 20th
driest | 1.98"
(1952) | 11.07"
(1950) | -0.77 | 1922
(8.99) | | N. Central | 13.08" | +6.18" | 190% | 2006
(4.42") | -- | 1st
wettest | 1.80"
(1954) | 11.93"
(1957) | +1.91 | 1957
(8.02) | | Northeast | 14.32" | +6.58" | 185% | 2006
(5.82") | 1948
(15.84") | 2nd
wettest | 2.53"
(1954) | 15.84"
(1948) | +1.74 | 1927
(7.93) | | W. Central | 9.05" | +3.08" | 152% | 2006
(5.18") | 1995
(9.30") | 10th
wettest | 1.77"
(2001) | 11.43"
(1962) | +1.21 | 2004
(9.20) | | Central | 18.27" | +11.26" | 261% | 2006
(5.41") | -- | 1st
wettest | 1.88"
(1954) | 13.55"
(1945) | +2.56 | 1945
(5.70) | | E. Central | 13.15" | +5.48" | 171% | 2006
(4.95") | 2000
(13.43") | 8th
wettest | 1.43"
(1936) | 16.90"
(1945) | +1.47 | 2004
(8.45) | | Southwest | 12.48" | +6.28" | 201% | 2006
(2.99") | -- | 1st
wettest | 0.93"
(2001) | 11.11"
(1962) | +1.92 | 1945
(7.37) | | S. Central | 14.26" | +7.42" | 209% | 2006
(2.11") | 1945
(15.31") | 2nd
wettest | 2.11"
(2006) | 15.31"
(1945) | +1.90 | 2004
(8.01) | | Southeast | 15.11" | +6.92" | 184% | 2006
(5.31") | 1951
(15.79") | 3rd
wettest | 1.51"
(1930) | 16.60"
(1945) | +1.73 | 2004
(8.05) | | Table 1. Precipitation Statistics since June 1, 2007. |
Media Contact:
Cerry Leffler
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2900
Norman, OK 73072-7305
405-325-2541
405-325-2550 (fax)
cerry@ou.edu
For Additional Information:
Derek Arndt
Assistant State Climatologist
120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2900
Norman, OK 73072-7305
405-325-2541
405-325-2550 (fax)
darndt@ou.edu
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