Severe storms are expected to maneuver into Oklahoma Thursday and Friday, however the rain will make solely a small dent within the lengthy drought the state has skilled this yr.
Storms will develop alongside a chilly entrance that can advance by most of Oklahoma beginning Thursday night time. Less than an inch of rain is expected in central Oklahoma, although there’s a chance of damaging winds, hail and tornadoes.
Severe storm possibilities within the metro space will proceed Friday morning with essentially the most extreme climate beginning round 10 a.m. and lasting till 5 p.m.
Max Ungar, meteorologist on the National Weather Service in Norman, mentioned the first threat will probably be wind gusts as much as 60 and 70 mph. Ungar mentioned whereas hail is a chance, the tornado threat was low.
“Friday will be a gloomy day even before the main storm arrives,” Ungar mentioned. “Low clouds and drizzle are expected in the morning.”
Oklahoma drought will proceed into winter
State Climatologist Gary McManus mentioned this week’s rain is not expected to have a lot affect on the continued drought.
“We aren’t going to see as much rainfall as we expected,” McManus mentioned. “Anything we can get helps stop the drought from intensifying.”
Over the previous yr, Oklahoma’s month-to-month common rainfall has been under regular each month besides May, in response to the Oklahoma Mesonet.
The severity of the drought varies throughout the state, however northwest Oklahoma continues to be the driest space. Woods County, for instance, has seen solely 9% of its regular rainfall within the final 90 days — the bottom proportion within the state.
Wes Lee, agriculture program coordinator for the Oklahoma Mesonet, mentioned the drought hit state crops onerous.
“We had a poor growing season,” Lee mentioned. “Wheat is the most plentiful plant we grow here. It emerged very late or not at all this year. This severely affected our grain and hay production and also grazing land for cattle.”
‘Triple dip’ of La Niña winter climate
Meteorologists mentioned that is the third consecutive yr a La Niña occasion will final by the tip of the yr within the northern hemisphere. This is the primary time this century {that a} ‘triple dip’ has occurred in response to the World Meteorological Organization.
La Niña happens when the floor water temperatures within the Pacific Ocean are cooler than regular. It causes Oklahoma winters to be hotter and drier.
November by February is usually the driest stretch of the yr in Oklahoma and La Niña will solely intensify the drought.
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