Tulsa County's drought status worsens
BY ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
Friday, August 10, 2012
8/10/12 at 7:32 AM
Tulsa World Weather: Check out a weather site powered by the Tulsa staff of the National Weather Service. The partnership allows Tulsa World readers
to receive weather alerts, forecasts and current conditions as the staff issues them.
Tulsa County's drought condition has turned extreme.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor's most recent report, released Thursday, all of Tulsa County is now classified as D3 for extreme drought. Last week, parts of northern Tulsa County were classified as D2 for severe drought.
Nearly 97 percent of the state is D3 or worse, with 16 percent of the state under the highest classification, D4 for exceptional drought, said Gary McManus, associate state climatologist for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
"It's getting worse all of the time," McManus said. "It's going to continue that way until we get rainfall through the entirety of the state."
The wildfires were one of many reasons, including lack of rainfall and high temperatures, that caused area drought classifications to rise, McManus said.
Some areas received isolated showers during the past week, including Tulsa, which received 0.35 of an inch of rain on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
McManus said part of southeastern Oklahoma received five-tenths to 2 inches of rain. However, the rain was not widespread enough to make an impact on the drought.
"Eradication of drought takes several moderate to heavy rainfall events spread over a few months," McManus said.
However, conditions are much better statewide than they were last year during the first week of August, according to the monitor. At the beginning of August last year, 64 percent of the state was classified as D4.
The worst drought conditions statewide peaked at the end of August through the beginning of September last year, according to the drought monitor. During those weeks, more than 69 percent of the state was classified as D4.
The last time Tulsa County did not have any drought classification was March 20 through May 22 this year.
Tulsa may receive some rainfall this weekend. The weather service forecasts a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday, with additional chances on Monday and Wednesday.
Tulsa temperatures
Days reaching the 100s: 32
Thursday's high: 100
Thursday's low: 74
Friday's forecast high: 93
Friday's forecast low: 61
Thursday's rainfall: None
August's total rainfall: 0.35**
August's average rainfall: 0.81**
* Since summer began June 21
** As of Aug. 9
Source: National Weather Service
U.S. Drought Monitor classification scale
D0: Abnormally dry. Area on watch for drought, likely to raise classification soon without rainfall.
D1: Moderate drought. First damages to crops, slowdown in pastures, water shortages start.
D2: Severe drought. Crop and pasture losses accelerate, water shortages and restrictions, burn bans start. Also triggers farm relief programs.
D3: Extreme drought. Long- and short-term precipitation shortage work together for crop and pasture damage and water shortages.
D4: Exceptional drought. Agricultural emergencies, widespread losses, a once-in-50-year drought event.
Source: Gary McManus, associate state climatologist, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
Voluntary water rationing still in effect
Tulsa's water usage was 183.6 million gallons Wednesday, and voluntary rationing remains in effect.
Mayor Dewey Bartlett's executive order urges customers to limit outside watering to between midnight and noon every other day. Those with odd address numbers can water on odd numbered days of the month, and those with even address numbers can water on even numbered days of the month.
The restrictions also apply to residents of Jenks, Owasso and Bixby, who receive water from the city of Tulsa.
If customers exceed 204 million gallons on two consecutive days, Tulsa's rationing order would become mandatory. The rationing will continue until the city deems water demand is consistently below the voluntary trigger point of 197 million gallons.
Here is Tulsa's recent water usage in millions of gallons daily:
Wednesday's usage: 183.6
Tuesday's usage: 182.0
Monday's usage: 182.9
Sunday's usage: 174.8
Saturday's usage: 199.9
Friday's usage: 199.0
Year's highest usage: 207.3 on July 30
Tulsa water use restriction stages
197 mgd: If water use tops 197 million gallons per day (mgd) for two consecutive days, voluntary water restrictions will begin. Customers are asked to limit outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day, based on odd-even address numbers.
204 mgd: If water use tops 204 mgd for two consecutive days, voluntary restrictions would become mandatory.
210 mgd: If water use tops 210 mgd for two days, watering would be restricted to the hours between midnight and noon every other day and with the use of a hand-held hose only.
Higher: If use grows higher, then outside watering could be prohibited.
Tulsa water use restriction stages
197 mgd: If water use tops 197 million gallons per day (mgd) for two consecutive days, voluntary water restrictions will begin. Customers are asked to limit outside watering to the hours between midnight and noon every other day, based on odd-even address numbers.
204 mgd: If water use tops 204 mgd for two consecutive days, voluntary restrictions would become mandatory.
210 mgd: If water use tops 210 mgd for two days, watering would be restricted to the hours between midnight and noon every other day and with the use of a hand-held hose only.
Higher: If use grows higher, then outside watering could be prohibited.
Althea Peterson 918-581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
A heavy-duty sprinkler sprays water onto a baseball field at LaFortune Park in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
|
