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Powerful Pacific System Impacting the West; First Significant Snow for Portions of the East

Power Pacific system will continue to bring significant impacts for Pacific Northwest into northern California the remainder of the week. Dangerous coastal affects, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow continues. Meanwhile, a storm across the east is set to bring the first accumulating snow to many higher elevations of the Catskills into the central Appalachians. Read More >

 

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October 2013

  • Fort Smith: No daily records were set or tied this month.
  • Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for October 2013 ranged from 2” in Osage and Pawnee Counties to around 8” in portions of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. A large portion of the area received 3”-6”. Portions of eastern Kay, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Tulsa, and Washington Counties in eastern Oklahoma ended the month at 50% to 75% of normal. Portions of Muskogee, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties were also below normal this month. The remainder of the are was near to above normal, with some areas receiving 150%-200% of the normal October rainfall this month
  • The first half of October 2013 was relatively quiet, with several rounds of heavy rainfall across eastern OK and northwest AR during the second half of the month. Much of the area received near to above normal rainfall this month.
  • No mainstem river flooding occurred this month.
  • According to the Drought Monitor from October 29, 2013, Moderate (D1) Drought conditions continued in southern Choctaw County in southeast Oklahoma. Southern Rogers, Mayes, northern Wagoner, far southern Pushmataha, and Choctaw Counties were classified as Abnormally Dry (D0), but not experiencing drought conditions.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, October 2013 was the 33rd wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 26th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 21st wettest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921.
Outlook
  • The Climate Prediction Center CPC outlook for November 2013 (issued October 31, 2013) indicates an enhanced chance for above normal temperatures and a slightly enhanced chance for above normal precipitation across all of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. This outlook is based primarily on short term forecasts of expected weather conditions during the first half of the month, as well as longer term climate anomalies.
  • For the 3-month period November-December-January 2013-14, CPC is forecasting an enhanced chance for above normal temperatures and equal chances for above, near, and below median rainfall across all of eastern OK and northwest AR (outlook issued October 17, 2013). This outlook is based on both statistical and dynamical forecast tools.
  • According to CPC, ENSO neutral conditions remained through October. ENSO neutral conditions are expected to continue into Spring 2014.