State Sees Drought Relief, More on the Way

This past week was almost a best case scenario in drought relief for our region. I think most would agree it was nice to see several days of soaking rains in Oklahoma. That, on top of several heavy storms over this past weekend led to the healthiest rain totals we've seen in QUITE some time. The cold air wasn't appreciated by many (including myself), but it was worth it to have more than just a few fleeting showers. The first map attached shows the one-week rain totals. Notice southeastern Oklahoma is the bullseye with over half a foot of rain in spots like Talihina! In fact, minor flooding has been an issue with saturated grounds and too much run-off. Who knew that'd be an issue amidst a drought?!

That drought is waning in the wake of the rain. The most recent Drought Monitor came out today and only accounts for the rain seen before 7am on Tuesday. Even without the most recent soakers considered, we saw some relief as seen in the second map. In fact, much of LeFlore County falls under the "Abnormally Dry" category. It's far from "dry" there now, but that is a transition category from drought to no drought. Essentially, this means the drought is coming to an end in parts of southeastern Oklahoma!

We welcome back the sunshine for the next several days along with temperatures that actually resemble spring! 70° readings will be standard into early next week, which is actually close to our normal high of about 70° for early-mid April. The rainfall combined with warmth and sunny skies on the way will certainly kick the greening up process into overdrive.

We'll only have a few days to dry out before another active period of weather begins. As early as Sunday, a few showers and storms are possible. A deep trough with lots of energy will inch its way into the Plains Monday and Tuesday, bringing a potential for severe weather. Warmth and moisture will supply this dynamic storm system with the needed ingredients for all modes of severe weather. The good news is that more rainfall will further weaken drought's grip on our region. The timing and placement is still in flux, but it appears Tuesday may be the biggest threat for severe storms in Green Country. ‘Tis the season.

One final note, not related to weather: this weekend I will be participating in Tulsa's edition of Dancing with the Stars! I am competing against other talented dancers from different TV and radio stations, and all of the money raised goes to the Hospitality House in Tulsa (an organization that helps families in medical crisis right here in eastern Oklahoma). Between now and Saturday, I need to rally as many on-line votes as I can to win the competition and raise money for the great cause! Would you like to give me your vote? You can go here to vote for the ONLY meteorologist in this year's event!

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