Oklahoma Drought Status Webinar: May 11, 2022

Welcome to the Oklahoma Drought Conditions Webinar

Speaker: Joel Lisonbee, NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) / University of Colorado Boulder

• Welcome
• Introducing the speakers:
  • Gary McManus, Oklahoma State Climatologist, Oklahoma Mesonet, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
  • Victor Murphy, NOAA/National Weather Service Southern Region

Drought & Climate Conditions for Oklahoma

Speaker: Gary McManus, Oklahoma State Climatologist, Oklahoma Mesonet, Oklahoma Climatological Survey

• The current drought began around August 2021 and intensified in December 2021.
  • December 2021 was the hottest December on record by over 5 degrees.
• April/May saw drought relief in eastern Oklahoma.
• This was the windiest March/April since Mesonet observations began in 1994.
  • Western Oklahoma has seen enhanced evapotranspiration, wildfires, and soil erosion and major dust storms.
• So far, May precipitation has been an improvement with above-average precipitation in southwest Oklahoma, but more is needed to alleviate drought conditions.

Oklahoma Forecasts & Outlooks

Speaker: Victor Murphy, National Weather Service Southern Region

• Except for the Panhandle, April–June is generally the wettest time of the year for Oklahoma.
  • The best chance for drought improvement would be during these months.
  • Basically, there are 6 to 8 weeks left for significant rain to improve conditions.
• The eastern third of Oklahoma should remain drought-free through June.
• Monsoonal rains in July–August will determine the post-summer drought status for the Panhandle.
• The probability of drought recovery in July to September is quite small.
• “Triple Dip” La Niña lessens chances for recovery in the 2022–2023 cold season.
• Seasonal outlooks show a hot and dry summer is likely for most of Oklahoma

Questions & Answers

Moderator: Joel Lisonbee, NOAA/NIDIS, CIRES/CU Boulder