April 2017 Climate and Hydrology Summary

April 2017

Tulsa: April 2017 was the 31st warmest (62.7°F, tied 1972, 1937; since 1905) and the Record wettest (10.44", previous record was 9.33" in 2008; since 1888) April on record. No snow fell in April 2017.

Tulsa: The 2016-17 cold season ranked as the 6th least snowy (since records began in 1900-01) with 0.7".

Fort Smith: April 2017 was the 14th warmest (65.5°F; since 1883) and the 21st wettest (7.06"; since 1883) April on record. No snow fell in April.

Fort Smith: The 2016-17 cold season ranked as the 90th snowy (since records began in 1883-84) with 2.0" of snow (tied 2011-12, 2006-07, 1995-96, 1887-88).

Fayetteville: April 2017 was the 14th warmest (60.0°F, tied; since 1950) and the 2nd wettest (12.86", current record is 15.28" in 2011; since 1950) April on record. No snow fell in April.

Fayetteville: Daily records set or tied this month include record daily rainfall.

Fayetteville: The 2016-17 cold season ranked as the 9th least snowy (since records began in 1949-50) with 1.0" of snow (tied 2008-09, 1956-57).

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for April 2017 ranged from 4” to 20”, with much of the area north of I-40 receiving 6”-15”. This corresponds to 150% to around 500% of the normal April rainfall north of I-40 and 75% to 400% south of I-40. The heavy rain areas received 4” to more than 8” above the normal April rainfall.

Major and record river flooding and widespread severe flash flooding affected a large portion of eastern OK and northwest AR during April 2017. Tulsa, OK recorded it’s wettest April on record.

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain affected eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas on the evening of April 25 and into the morning of April 26, and 4 EF1 tornadoes occurred. Three tornadoes, one EF2 and two EF1, impacted the area as severe thunderstorms moved through the region on April 28 and 29. Information about these events can be found at http://arcg.is/2m0UfGi

According to the Drought Monitor from May 2, 2017, D1 (Moderate Drought) conditions remained over southwest Pittsburg, far northeast Latimer, far eastern Haskell, and northeast Le Flore Counties in eastern OK and southern Franklin County in northwest AR. D0 (abnormally dry conditions but not in drought) were present across portions of Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Choctaw, Latimer, and Le Flore Counties in eastern OK, and Crawford, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties in northwest AR.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, April 2017 was the Record wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 3rd wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 22nd wettest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For the Year-to-Date period Jan. 1-Apr. 30, 2017, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 5th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 9th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 6th wettest period. For the last 365 days (May 1, 2016-April 30, 2017), northeast Oklahoma was the 38th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 29th driest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 39th wettest.