Matthew Chapman (right) and his brother-in-law Ryan Loken carry a mattress through flood waters as they clear out Champman's home in the 800 block of Scraper street in Vinita, OK May 25, 2011, the day after flooding heavy rain filled up the neighborhood around 10pm the previous night. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
It’s difficult to see drastic differences in our current drought from week to week; not a lot happens. But after the gully washer we had this week, the drought received a significant chip in our drought condition.
Right now, we’re about 0.11 inches below normal for March, the beginning of our damp months. All things considered, only being down by 0.11 inches isn’t bad at all!
Nearly every part of the state saw at least some precipitation in the last week. Even the panhandle saw some rain. But it wasn’t enough to bring them out of the most severe drought category.
For the rest of the state, it’s the lowest level of drought in almost a year.
More than half of Tulsa County is now in the least severe drought category, besides no drought. A vast majority of the state is still in that category, but it’s less severe in general.
All that progress came on one day here. Just over 1 inch fell Mar. 11, bringing the total for the month in Tulsa to 1.41 inches.
And if you are hoping for more drought reduction, you’re in luck. It will more than likely rain early next week. And if it does, it will rain a lot. Like, 3 to 4 inches a lot. Like, enough that the National Weather Service has already started warning people to head for the hills. Some isolated areas could even see 10 inches of rain, the NWS boldly stated today.
So, with that much rain a possibility, flooding is a real threat. You have to be aware of what is happening out there with the streams, because those flash floods can wipe out a wide swath area in a short time, hence the flash part of that.
Remember, it only takes about 12-18 inches of rushing water to wash your vehicle away, even SUVs.
We talked a lot recently about drought, because it has been intense and extreme in the past 12 months. But, the Illinois River hit levels that have not been seen, well…ever on record. And that was also in the last 12 months.
The NWS has the cross hairs for next week’s storm system along the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line, in the Illinois River watershed. So, be prepared everybody and just think: At least it’s not snow?
A little side note for you faithful weather blog readers: Althea Peterson will be absent from the blog for a few weeks while she welcomes in the newest member of her family. Charlotte Norman Peterson was born Wednesday morning at 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Congratulations to Althea and her family!
--Jerry Wofford
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