December 2011 Climate and Hydrology Summary

December 2011 & Year 2011

Tulsa: December 2011 was the 34th warmest (42.4°F, tied with 2004, 1970, 1928; since 1905) and the 61st driest (1.45"; since 1888) December on record.

Fort Smith: December 2011 was the 29th warmest (44.8°F, tied with 1890) and the 46th wettest (3.44") December since records began in 1882.

McAlester: Daily records set or tied this month include a record min temperature on 12/07/11 and a record warm mean temperature on 12/14/11.

Fayetteville: Daily records set or tied this month include a record warm min temperature on 12/14/11

Rainfall totals for December 2011 were 2” to 5” southeast of a McAlester to Bentonville line, with higher totals of 5” to 8” across portions of Choctaw, Pushmataha, southern Le Flore, and Madison Counties. The remainder of the area received 0.5” to 2” of rain this month. Most locations northwest of a McAlester to Bentonville line received only 25% to 75% of the normal December rainfall, with western Pawnee, northwestern Osage, and eastern Kay Counties the only locations that received a surplus. Elsewhere, far southeast OK and Madison and Carroll Counties in AR received 125% to 200% of the normal rainfall for December.

According to the Drought Monitor from December 27, 2011, little to no change occurred in the drought conditions during December. Severe drought (D2) conditions stretched across most of Pawnee, Osage, Washington, and northwest Nowata Counties in eastern OK. Moderate drought (D1) conditions were found across portions of Craig, Nowata, Rogers, Washington, Tulsa, Creek, Okmulgee, Okfuskee, western McIntosh, and Pittsburg Counties in eastern OK. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions affected portions of Ottawa, Craig, Mayes, Rogers, Wagoner, far western Muskogee, eastern McIntosh, far eastern Pittsburg, eastern Latimer, far western Pushmataha, and Choctaw Counties in eastern OK. No drought conditions were occurring in northwest AR.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) for December 2011, northeast OK ranked as the 32nd wettest, east central OK ranked as the 42nd driest, and southeast OK ranked as the 23rd wettest December since records began in 1921.

Year 2011

Tulsa: 2011 was the 14th warmest (62.4°F; since 1905), the 26th driest (31.99"; since 1888), and the 2nd snowiest (26.1", tied with 1924; since 1900) Year on record.

Fort Smith: 2011 was the 2nd warmest (64.4°F; since 1883), the 36th wettest (46.56"; since 1883), and the 19th snowiest (12.1"; since 1884) Year on record.

2011 was a year of extremes: from record breaking snow and cold; to record flooding, tornadoes, and hail; to record heat and drought; and even a record earthquake. To see a list of the plethora of record-breaking events from 2011, visit www.weather.gov/tsa/weather-event_2011extremes

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) for 2011, northeast OK ranked as the 22nd driest, east central OK ranked as the 30th driest, and southeast OK ranked as the 19th driest Year since records began in 1921.

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center CPC outlook for January 2011 (issued December 31, 2011) indicates an enhanced chance for above normal temperatures across all of eastern OK and northwest AR, and a slightly enhanced chance for above median precipitation across most of eastern OK and northwest AR. This outlook was based primarily on short-term dynamical computer models with La Niña and positive Arctic Oscillation impacts considered.

For the 3-month period January-February-March 2012, CPC is forecasting an enhanced chance for above average temperatures and equal chances for above, near, and below median precipitation across all of eastern OK and northwest AR (outlook issued December 15, 2011). This outlook is consistent with a La Niña pattern and computer model forecasts.

According to CPC, weak to moderate La Niña conditions remained in place at the end of December. La Niña is expected to continue to impact the U.S. through the remainder of the winter and into Spring 2012.