January 2019 Climate and Hydrology Summary

Tulsa: January 2019 was the 56th warmest (37.9°F; since 1905), the 6th wettest (3.84"; since 1888), and the 34th least snowy (0.3", tied 1923, 1965, 1982; since 1900) January on record.

Fort Smith: January 2019 was the 62nd warmest (40.0°F, tied 1980; since 1883), the 26th wettest (3.94"; since 1883), and the 56th snowiest (1.0", tied 2003, 1980, 1958, 1885; since 1884) January on record.

Fayetteville: January 2019 was the 33rd warmest (36.1°F; since 1950), the 16th wettest (3.27"; since 1950), and the 35th least snowy (0.9"; since 1950) January on record.

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

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for January 2019 ranged from 2” to 6” across eastern OK and northwest AR. This corresponds to 50% of the normal January rainfall in southeast OK to around 250% of normal in northeast OK.

Minor flooding occurred along the Neosho River near Commerce, the Poteau River near Panama, and the Illinois River near Tahlequah this month.

Northeast OK and northwest AR saw well above normal January rainfall this year, while southeast OK had below normal values.

During the late evening hours of Dec. 30th, rain developed across eastern OK and northwest AR as an upper-level low lifted out of northern Mexico and to the northeast across the Southern Plains. This activity spread over the entire area during the overnight hours before shifting northeast by mid-morning of Dec. 31st. Some additional wrap-around precipitation affected northeast OK before noon. Rainfall totals were around 0.50” to near 1.5”. This rainfall, combined with the higher amounts from Dec. 26th (see Dec. 2018 summary), resulted in minor flooding along the Neosho River near Commerce.

The first heavy rain event of 2019 began just before sunrise on the 3rd as an upper-level low over the TX panhandle tracked east through north central TX during the day. Warm conveyor belt precipitation spread northeast into eastern OK during the morning hours and into northwest AR just before noon. The precipitation became heavier during the afternoon as the upper-low tracked across northwest TX/southwest OK and continued east near the Red River. The widespread precipitation shifted north as the dry slot moved over southeast OK during the evening. This activity continued through the overnight hours and finally shifted east of the area by mid-morning on the 4th. Shallow arctic air over the region allowed for some frozen precipitation in the form of freezing rain and sleet throughout the event. With temperatures hovering around freezing, there was not much accumulation. Storm total ice amounts were estimated to range from a trace to near 0.2”. Rainfall and liquid equivalent totals ranged from around 0.50” to around 2.5”. This rainfall resulted in rises along several mainstem rivers, and Minor flooding along the Illinois River near Tahlequah and the Poteau River near Panama.

An upper-level trough over the Four Corners region shifted into the Central and Southern Plains on the 11th. In response, areas of moderate to occasionally heavy rain spread across eastern OK and northwest AR and continued most of the day. Southeast OK and west central AR had a break from the rain during the late afternoon through early evening hours, but then the rain spread back in later in the evening as a cold front moved through. The main area of rain shifted east of the area by sunrise on the 12th, though additional wrap around precipitation near the passing surface low impacted northeast OK through mid-morning. Rainfall totals ranged from around 2.5” in northeast OK to around 0.50” in southeast OK. 1.5”-2.5” of rain across the lower Neosho River basin resulted in the Neosho River near Commerce rising to flood stage. Rises also occurred along the Illinois River, but the river did not exceed flood stage.

Convection began to increase across northeast OK during the evening of the 18th as a strong cold front approached from the west. Showers and thunderstorms continued along and ahead of the front as it swept southeast across eastern OK and northwest AR through the overnight hours. A second area of precipitation developed over south central OK and moved east into southeast OK and northwest AR as the upper level low moved into the region. With sub-freezing air behind the front, a dusting to 5” of snow fell across southeast OK and northwest AR. The precipitation finally moved east of the region by noon on the 19th. Rainfall and snow liquid equivalent totals ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to around 2”.

Another cold front moved into the area on the 22nd, with rain developing near it across eastern OK and western AR during the evening hours. Widely scattered precipitation continued until the early morning hours before exiting the area. Light freezing rain and freezing drizzle were reported across northeast OK and northwest AR. Rainfall totals were 0.50”-1” across far southeast OK and west central AR, with a trace to near 0.50” elsewhere.

According to the Drought Monitor from January 29, 2019, no drought or abnormally dry conditions were present across eastern OK and northwest AR.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, January 2019 was the 6th wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 9th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 47th driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For Winter-to-Date (December 1, 2018-January 31, 2019), northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 6th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 7th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 17th wettest. For the Water Year-to-date, October 1, 2018-January 31, 2019, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 16th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 22nd wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 16th wettest period.