University of Tulsa student Emily Beers studies while her boyfriend Joe Reeder sits in the sun at Chapman Commons on campus Sunday. Tulsa World/Mike Simons
Two weather blogs in one day?! Lucky you.
Lots of folks have been asking me or loudly complaining about this early heat, how it must absolutely signify that a summer where the temperature doesn't drop below 90 is inevitable and already upon us.
The pros over at the National Weather Service's Tulsa office must have been hearing the same thing, because
here is a bunch of data they put together that shows that notion to not be a given.
For example, the record we just beat for warmest March. It was set in 1910, with an average temperature of 61.3 degrees (last month's average was 61.5). April of that year was the 45th coldest on record. May was 12th coldest and the whole summer was 31st coldest.
Now, with 100 years of data to draw from, 45th coldest is pretty close to average. But 12th coldest? That's notable.
The fourth warmest March was 1907, but it was followed by the coldest April and May on record and the 35th coldest summer.
The third warmest March was in 2007, and it was followed by the 13th warmest April, the 32nd warmest May and the 50th warmest summer (about as close to average as one can get).
Last year, when the bowels of Hell opened on Oklahoma, bringing with it a new definition of heat, the average temperature for March was 52.5, nearly 10 degrees cooler than last month, or about average. Then, come summer, everyone instantly melted into a sad puddle of exhaustion as soon as they even got near a door or window.
So, it's not time to panic just yet, everybody. Calm down.
Want some more info to cool your troubled heart? La Nina, which was a factor in the wild weather we had last year, is starting to wind down, according to the latest forecasts.
The
Climate Prediction Center's latest long-term forecast, issued Sunday, calls for an above average chance for above average temperatures this month. But their three-month forecast, issued last month, is predicting equal changes for an average temperature, but eastern Oklahoma is on the edge of that forecast area.
Maybe it will be an awesome, temperate summer that is enjoyable without being sweltering. And maybe it will be the surface of the sun, transplanted here to our humble planet. Let's hope for option A.
--Jerry Wofford
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Facebook. The former is updated more often, especially in nasty weather.
