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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 >

Tulsa, OK

Weather Forecast Office

September 2010 Climate and Hydrology Summary

Weather.gov > Tulsa, OK > September 2010 Climate and Hydrology Summary

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September 2010  

  • Hermine helped to improve the drought conditions across east central OK and northwest AR.  According to the Drought Monitor, portions of Pushmataha, Latimer, Le Flore, and Sebastian Counties were still experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions by the end of September.  Abnormally dry conditions had also developed across Pawnee County this month.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS), east central OK ranked as the 8th wettest September, northeast OK ranked as the 27th wettest, and southeast OK ranked as the 22nd wettest since records began in 1921.  Interestingly, east central OK went from the 5th driest August to the 8th wettest September due to Hermine.
  • The end of September 2010 marks the end of Water Year 2010 (October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010).  From CoCoRaHS, "hydrologists and climatologists ofter use the "Water Year" calendar for tracking water resources.  Then comes spring with its accompanying snow melt and high runoff from mountainous regions and higher latitudes. The summer months bring high evaporation rates. Precipitation (much from thunderstorms) becomes much more localized. Soil moisture may be gradually depleted during summer as vegetation uses large volumes of water. Streams run slower and clearer.”  According to OCS, northeast OK ranked as the 24th wettest, east central OK ranked as the 32nd wettest, and southeast OK ranked as the 43rd driest Water Year since records began in 1921.
  • Rainfall totals for Water Year 2010 ranged from 35" to 60" across eastern OK and northwest AR.  This corresponds to +/- 25% of the normal rainfall for this time period.  The only exception was across a few areas of northern Osage and northern Washington Counties in northeast OK, where between 125% and 150% of normal Water Year rainfall occurred.
Outlook
  • The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for October 2010 (issued September 30, 2010) indicates an enhanced chance for above average temperatures and an enhanced chance for below median precipitation. For the 3-month period Oct-Nov-Dec 2010, CPC is forecasting an enhanced chance for above average temperatures and an enhanced chance for below median precipitation (outlook issued September 16, 2010). The enhanced chance for above average temperatures and below median precipitation for the 1- and 3-month outlooks are consistent with a La Niña impacts across the southern Plains.
  • Sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific continued to decrease this month.  According to CPC, La Niña conditions strengthened during August and early September. These conditions are expected to strengthen and at least last through winter 2010-11, though are very likely to continue into the spring.  A La Niña Advisory remains in effect, meaning that La Niña conditions are observed and expected to continue.
 

 

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