Water makes a mark
BY ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
7/06/12 at 2:51 PM
2 storms account for most of Tulsa’s wettest April
Tulsa has never had an April like this.
Since rainfall was first recorded
in Tulsa in 1888, this month’s 9.33
inches so far make it the wettest April in
history, said Nicole McGavock, National
Weather Service of Tulsa meteorologist.
Why wetter weather?
Stationary storm systems camped over
Oklahoma, McGavock said. Higher winds and
strong jet streams that typically move storm
systems through Oklahoma quickly were not
there this month.
The pattern combined with low-level moisture
to create some very high rainfall periods,
including April 7-10 with 5.88 inches and April
23-24 with 2.74 inches.
Has climate changed?
Don’t go blaming global warming, McGavock
said, but rather blame El Niño’s counterpart,
La Niña. La Niña happens when the
weather is cooler near the equator along the
Pacific Ocean, which causes atypical weather.
“This can shift rainfall patterns,” she said.
“Tulsa not always sees the effects, but we’ve
seen them this year.”
Precipitation panic?
Heavy rainfall can cause ground saturation,
which leads to runoff and flooding, McGavock
said. However, more rain can mean more
growth and garden beauty, said Sue Gray,
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa extension
horticulturist.
“On the positive side, it’s made for a beautiful
spring,” Gray said. “There’s nothing like
natural rainfall.”
On the downside, added rainfall makes it
difficult to plant seeds and cultivate soil evenly.
Plus, mowers might have an added challenge
when cooler, wetter weather helps shade-loving
fescue grass grow quickly next to dormant
hot-weather Bermuda grass, Gray said.
Opportunities outdoors?
With added rainfall, now is a good time to
check for areas around your yard that don’t
drain well, Gray said, as standing water can
lead to more mosquitoes.
Also, April showers bring many flowers, so
now might be a good time to test the green
thumb.
“In farming, you never curse rainfall,” she
said. “In gardens, people should just be thankful
for the rainfall because we’ve had some
very dry years.”
Althea Peterson 581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com
Most April rainfall in recorded history
(as of April 29; records date to 1888)
2008: 9.33 inches
1998: 4.54 (50th most rainfall)
1999: 7.2 (15th most rainfall)
2000: 2.71 (40th driest)
2001: 1.19 (7th driest)
2002: 3.71 (both the 61st driest and
61st most rainfall)
2003: 2.17 (24th driest)
2004: 5.97 (22nd most rainfall)
2005: 2.81 (42nd driest)
2006: 5.83 (26th most rainfall)
2007: 2.25 (27th driest)
*rainfall amounts have been recorded since 1888.
Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service of Tulsa Tulsa World
Associated Images:
Water remains standing Tuesday in fields just northwest of Jones-Riverside Airport after recent heavy rains.
Water remains standing Tuesday in fields just northwest of Jones-Riverside Airport after recent heavy rains.
Water standing in low-lying areas canlead to more mosquitoes and challenges forgardeners.
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