Rain showers have been falling the past few days, and we have seen some pretty good rain totals across the state.
Unfortunately, most of the Panhandle still missed out on the rain. State Climatologist Gary McManus said, “The Drought Monitor continues with way too much color on it, from the yellow (Abnormally Dry conditions…which is NOT a drought designation on the intensity scale) to D4 (Exceptional drought…1-in-50 to 1-in-100 year event).”
However, he says Good progress has been made across the Southeast third, as well as into Central Oklahoma with 60 days with repeated bouts of significant rainfall.
While it’s been a blessing to see the rain, McManus says we also have to consider the last 365 days, “Which goes back to just when this drought was intensifying rapidly in the face of an incredibly warm, dry, and windy December 2021 (warmest on record by over 5 degrees, 10 degrees above normal).”
McManus says while the topsoils have improved, the subsoil is still looking pretty dry.
Looking at the ponds and lakes across the state, we have seen a little bit of progress with the primary reservoirs in Oklahoma, but most are still showing deficits, “So while we will see more improvements in the Drought Monitor next week, not all areas have seen equal relief. The good news is we have a couple more chances for rain in the next week, this weekend, and again early next week, but the bad news (ain’t there always?) is those chances don’t look so great for those that need it the most. Including Goodwell.”
More rains are on the way that will hopefully bring more relief to many of the hardest drought areas in the state.
To read more from Gary McManus on his Mesonet Ticker click here:
