Agricultural News
Precipitation From February 16 - 24 Slightly Alleviates Drought Conditions in Eastern Oklahoma
Thu, 24 Feb 2022 11:15:32 CST
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, a low-pressure system developed across the southern Great Plains on Feb. 17 and tracked northeastward. The storm brought snowfall amounts exceeding six inches across northeast Kansas, northern Missouri and north-central Illinois. In the warm sector of the storm system, severe thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall (more than one inch) affected the Tennessee Valley and parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Another low-pressure system developed by Feb. 21, with a similar northeastward track. From Feb. 15 to 21, precipitation amounts exceeded two inches across much of the Ozarks, southeast Oklahoma and parts of northern Texas.
Farther to the south and west, little-to-no rainfall occurred in the central to southern High Plains. Although there was accumulating snow across the northern and central Rockies and the northern Cascades this past week, the drier-than-normal pattern persisted throughout most of the West. Seven-day temperatures for the week ending on Feb. 22, averaged above normal across the East, lower Mississippi Valley, and western Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, intrusions of Arctic air began to shift south from Canada into the High Plains and upper Mississippi Valley where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees below normal.
In the southern Plains, a sharp gradient in precipitation was observed from north to south across this region which is typical for La Nina during mid-February. Seven-day precipitation amounts, from Feb. 15 to 21, exceeded 2 inches across southeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Texas. A one-category improvement was made to these areas that received the heavier rainfall. Conversely, farther to the south, a 1-category degradation was made to southern Texas where little-to-no rainfall occurred this past week. Although no changes were made this week to the Southern Plains, soil moisture continues to rank in the lowest fifth percentile, consistent with much of this region being designated with extreme drought conditions. The lack of adequate soil moisture remains a major concern for the winter wheat crop across the Southern Plains.
In the High Plains, drought conditions degraded in parts of Kansas and southern Nebraska. The degradations were supported by 30-to-120-day SPI and soil moisture indicators. Snowfall of more than six inches during mid-Feb and favorable snow water equivalent values supported a one-category improvement over the Bitterroots of western Montana. A small reduction in exceptional drought and extreme drought was made to western and south-central Montana due to the past week's snowfall along with consideration of SWE for the season and long-term SPIs.
In the West, the dry pattern persists. 2022 year-to-date precipitation averages are less than 25% of normal throughout much of California and the Great Basin. Snow water equivalent continues to decline due to the dry pattern, falling below 75% of normal for much of the southern Cascades, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Great Basin. A one-category degradation was made to parts of northern California and southwest Oregon which reflects the extreme levels of drought according to the 24-month and 2022 year-to-date SPI, soil moisture indicators and 28-day average streamflows. Without a major pattern change during March, additional degradations may be needed for California and the Great Basin in the weeks ahead.
In northern Wyoming, a slight expansion of extreme drought was made. Recent snowfall with snow water equivalent currently running near-to-above average prompted a one-category improvement to an area north of Denver, Colo. Based on a favorable snowpack across the Clearwater and Salmon basins of central Idaho, severe was improved to moderate drought for that part of Idaho. Moderate drought was degraded to severe drought across the Upper Snake River basin of Idaho as snow water equivalents for the headwaters or this basin are nearing the 10th percentile. 7-day precipitation amounts of more than one inch prompted a one-category improvement from extreme to severe drought across parts of south-central Montana. Periods of above-normal temperatures coupled with enhanced surface winds support an expansion of severe to extreme drought across southern and eastern New Mexico.
To view the Contiguous U.S. Drought Map, click here.
Today, a swath of snowfall is expected from the High Plains to the Midwest. By the end of the day, the storm should have moved east, leaving the High Plains. In the wake of this winter storm, bitterly cold temperatures are forecast in the Great Plains and across the Corn Belt.
From now to Feb. 26, near-to-above normal temperatures are forecast across much of the contiguous U.S. However, it should be noted that below-normal temperatures are likely to return to the northern Rockies and High Plains by the second week of March. Below-normal precipitation is forecast for much of the Southern Plains, Southwest and California, while above-normal precipitation is forecast from the northern Rockies to the High Plains.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Precipitation Outlook, click here.
To view the 6 - 10 Day Temperature Outlook, click here.
According to the Monthly Drought Outlook map, drought conditions are expected to persist in areas adjacent to the Pacific Northwest that were seeing drought improvement or removal in December. Drought development is likely in the Great Plains and southern Arizona. In southeastern Oklahoma and the eastern half of Texas, drought conditions are expected to improve.
To view the Monthly Drought Outlook map, click here.
Oklahoma
With data ranging between Feb. 16 through Feb. 24, conditions slightly improved, expanding the area of eastern Oklahoma that has continued to fight off drought conditions from 2.3% to 6.6%. At this point, every county except for Adair County is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. Thus, the overall picture improved for Oklahoma by 3.7%!
Right now, 93% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. Moderate drought conditions affect 12% of the state. Severe drought conditions affect 21% of the state. Extreme drought conditions affect 49%. Exceptional drought conditions affect nearly 3% of the state, unchanged from last week.
The 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map shows Oklahoma is likely to receive below-normal precipitation levels for this time of year. The 6-to-10-day temperature outlook map shows above-normal temperatures are likely for most of the state.
Please note that any precipitation Oklahoma has received since Tuesday, Feb. 22, is not considered in this Drought Monitor report.
To view the Oklahoma drought map, click here.
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