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September 2013 and Water Year 2013

  • Tulsa: No daily records were set or tied this month.
  • Fort Smith: No daily records were set or tied this month.
  • McAlester: No daily records were set or tied this month.
  • Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for September 2013 ranged from around 0.75” in east central Oklahoma and west central Arkansas to around 8” in Osage Co. (northeast Oklahoma). A large portion of the area received 2”-4”. Portions of Osage Co. were near to 200% of normal this month, with the majority of the region receiving only 25% to 75% of the normal September rainfall this month. Portions of Pittsburg, Haskell, northern Le Flore, Sequoyah, and Crawford Counties only had between 10% and 25% of the normal rainfall this month.
  • Overall, September 2013 was warm and dry across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
  • No mainstem river flooding occurred this month.
  • According to the Drought Monitor from October 1, 2013, Severe (D2) drought affected Choctaw County in southeast Oklahoma. Moderate (D1) Drought extended into Pushmataha County in southeast Oklahoma. Portions Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, southern Craig, Tulsa, Wagoner, eastern Pawnee, Creek, Okmulgee, Okfuskee, McIntosh, southern Muskogee, Sequoyah, Haskell, Le Flore, Latimer, Pittsburg, and northern Pushmataha Counties in eastern Oklahoma and far western Crawford and far western Sebastian Counties in west central Arkansas were classified as Abnormally Dry (D0), but not experiencing drought conditions.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, September 2013 was the 36th driest for northeast Oklahoma, the 28th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 37th driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921.
Water Year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 - Sep. 30, 2013
  • Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for Water Year 2013 ranged from 25” to 60”. This equates to 110%-125% of normal for portions of Osage, Nowata, Ottawa, and Benton Counties, while the remainder of the area was 50% to 90% of normal. Only small areas were near normal (90%-110% of the water year normal).
  • In Tulsa, OK, Water Year 2012-13 ranked as the 17th driest Water Year (30.59”) since records began in Water Year 1893-94.
  • Water Year 2012-13 in Fort Smith, AR was the 62nd wettest Water Year (42.06”) since records began in Water Year 1882-83.
  • Water Year 2012-13 in Fayetteville, AR was the 21st driest Water Year (41.51”) since records began in Water Year 1949-50.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, Water Year 2013 was the 42nd wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 39th driest for east central Oklahoma, and the 26th driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921.
Outlook
  • The Climate Prediction Center CPC outlook for October 2013 (issued September 30, 2013) indicates a slightly enhanced chance for above normal temperatures and an equal chances for above, near, and below median precipitation across all of northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. This outlook is based primarily on dynamical computer models.
  • For the 3-month period October-November-December 2013, CPC is forecasting an equal chance for above, near, and below normal temperatures and rainfall across all of eastern OK and northwest AR (outlook issued September 19, 2013). This outlook is primarily based on dynamical computer model output, though also includes some input from recent trends, statistical forecast tools, and long-term trends.
  • According to CPC, ENSO neutral conditions remained through September. ENSO neutral conditions are expected to continue into Winter 2013-14.