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Significant relief from the four-plus year drought has finally arrived in southwest Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Climatological Society reports this April was the 17th wettest on record, and the second wettest in history for the west-central part of the state.
State Climatologist Gary McManus expects the drought to be further dented by the end of May, he writes in a statement accompanying the new data:
The May temperature and precipitation outlooks from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) show great promise for further drought relief during May. In addition to increased odds for below normal temperatures across the southwestern one-third of the state, May’s precipitation outlook indicates increased odds for above normal precipitation, especially for the western half of the state.
Since just last week, the area of the state experiencing the worst category of drought — exceptional — has been cut in half, from about 8 percent to about 4 percent. Three months ago only 5 percent of Oklahoma was drought free. Now, it’s over 30 percent, according to the latest update of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The forecast for May shows drought continuing to improve, or being eliminated entirely in parts of western Oklahoma.
But McManus’ report isn’t all good news. Drought is beginning to worsen in north-central Oklahoma — the only area of the state to receive below-average rainfall in April. Drought conditions are expected to continue to deteriorate there through May.
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