Sep 23
Oklahoma drought relief may finally be approaching as a strengthening El Niño pattern offers hope to parched agricultural lands, according to State Climatologist Gary McManus. Speaking with Farm Director KC Sheperd at a recent Drought Commission meeting, McManus outlined the harsh reality currently facing the state’s agricultural producers while presenting a more promising long-term outlook …
Sep 21
Oklahoma agricultural producers and ranchers waiting on meaningful moisture to break ongoing dryness will need to hold onto their patience a bit longer, as the latest weather patterns offer little immediate relief. Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus noted that despite hopes for scattered activity, dry conditions continue to reinforce themselves across much of the state. …
Sep 09
The weak cold boundary sliding across the state overnight will bring noticeable changes to Thursday’s forecast, delivering a brief interruption to the dominant heat dome. The relief, however, will be far from uniform across Oklahoma in terms of both cloud cover, temperature drops, and actual precipitation. Temperatures: Stepping Down from the Century Mark After enduring …
Aug 27
Oklahoma is officially fully engulfed in drought, with 100% of the state now experiencing at least Moderate Drought (D1) conditions according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update. This marks the first time since November 1, 2022, that every part of the state has met the moderate drought threshold. Severe conditions continue to expand rapidly …
Aug 14
State Climatologist Gary McManus recently sat down with Farm Director KC Sheperd to address the rapidly deteriorating weather conditions across Oklahoma. Over a brief period, severe heat and lack of rainfall have triggered a significant flash drought, drastically altering soil conditions, agricultural outlooks, and surface water supplies statewide. The Rapid Rise of Oklahoma’s Flash Drought …
Jun 25
The threat of a rapidly intensifying King Kong El Niño is developing in the Pacific, carrying the potential to drastically alter weather patterns across the southern plains. However, Oklahoma must first navigate a forecasted period of below-normal precipitation through the core summer months. State Climatologist Gary McManus detailed the severe atmospheric shifts impacting the region, …
Apr 15
Oklahoma severe weather remains at the forefront of agricultural concerns as the state navigates a record-breaking spring and eyes a potential transition to a “Godzilla” El Niño. Farm Director KC Sheperd recently spoke with State Climatologist Gary McManus to break down erratic rainfall patterns, the persistent drought in the Northwest, and what shifting Pacific Ocean …
Feb 12
Oklahoma Drought Intensifies For Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus, chronicling the state’s weather is an exercise in tracking extremes. After a winter defined by record-breaking warmth and a persistent lack of rainfall, the state is looking toward a projected weekend storm system not just as a forecast change, but as a necessary reprieve from a …
Jan 20
State Climatologist Warns of “Bigtime Arctic Snap”: Coldest Air Since 2024 Headed for Oklahoma: If you have been enjoying the unseasonably warm weather of December and early January, State Climatologist Gary McManus has some bad news: the vacation is ending. A major arctic system is currently barreling toward the Southern Plains, threatening to bring the …
Jun 24
Well it looks as if the heat dome has settled above Oklahoma over the next week. According to State Climatolgoist Gary McManus we will see high heat index values up into the 110’s off and on over the next five days. McManus says while it is hot this week, there is some hope for change, …
