Jan. 29 drought update
Here is the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map. No, you’re not crazy. It looks very familiar to last week. That’s because it’s
nearly the same.
“But what about the rain we had Tuesday?! There was nearly
an inch here and more than 2.5 in parts of northern Oklahoma. Why are things worse?!”
Frustrating, no? Well, look for the improvements in the next update. The cutoff for the update is 8 a.m. Tuesday, which is then released at 8 a.m. Thursday. Most of the rain occurred after that cutoff Tuesday, so the big totals won’t be reflected here.
What we’re left with this week is another visual representation of the depressing continuation of our devastating drought.
This update keeps the D-4 category -- the most severe -- the same as last week, at 38.59 percent of the state. The next most severe category, D-3, covers 92.14 percent, up from 91.8 last week. The entire state is in D-2.
Tulsa County is classified D-4 in our western arm and across the corner of the northern arm. The rest of the county is D-3. Southeast, northeast corners and northwest Panhandle are the "winners" here, still in D-2.
At least we’re not alone here in Oklahoma. Nearly
70 percent of the country is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions, with 58 percent in some drought classification.
How depressing is it? Here is what the summary from the U.S. Drought Monitor says about the Plains. It's harshing my buzz for sure (emphasis mine).
"The region remained unseasonably warm except for the Dakotas, but all shared in the all-too-common persistent dryness with no major precipitation outbreaks occurring last week. As such, the drought is firmly entrenched as we roll toward February. The relative lack of winter in back-to-back years will certainly place a much greater emphasis on well above-normal spring rains if the region is to have any real chance of shaking this drought. Same song, fifth verse with no changes of note on the map this week in what is now becoming the epicenter of the 2013 drought."
Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus
pointed out yesterday that the rain this week brought the statewide average above normal, the first time since April. However, the May-January state average rain total is about 15.5 inches. That’s the second driest May-January period on record, he said.
Looking for any relief? Fat chance. The NWS
seven-day is sunny and (relatively) warm, not good for drought busting. Looking out 14 days, the
Climate Prediction Center has us at near normal precipitation levels, with above normal temperatures possible.
So whatever improvements we see to the map will be short lived unless the skies miraculously open up and stay open to wash away our drought and our sorrow. Like I said, fat chance.
-- Jerry Wofford
