Oklahoma monthly climate summary, 03/2013

              Copyright © 2012 Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Monthly Climate Summary 1
The wet conditions of February failed to translate into March,
but the cooler than normal weather continued virtually
uninterrupted. According to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet,
the month’s statewide average temperature was 47.7 degrees,
2.5 degrees below normal and the 45th coolest March since
records began in 1895. The two months together accomplished
a relatively rare feat of late, becoming first consecutive
months to finish below normal in Oklahoma since January
and February 2011. This March stands in stark contrast to last
year’s record-breaking version, which ended at 59.6 degrees,
9.4 degrees above normal. Thanks to a late-month taste of
spring storminess, the statewide average rainfall total climbed
to 1.5 inches for the month, which fell about 1.6 inches below
normal and ranked as the 33th driest on record. The first
three months of the year came out fairly close to normal for
both precipitation and temperature. The statewide average
January-March temperature finished at 42.8 degrees, a tenth
of a degree above normal, while the precipitation total of 6.44
inches was a tenth of an in above normal as well.
MARCH 2013
Oklahoma Monthly Climate Summary
March 2013 Statewide Extremes
Description Extreme Station Day
High Temperature 88ºF (Several) 15
Low Temperature 11ºF Alva 2
High Precipitation 6.10 in. Wister --
Low Precipitation 0.04 in. Tipton --
March 2013 Statewide Statistics
Temperature
Average Depart. Rank (1895-2013)
Month (March) 47.7ºF -2.5ºF 45th Coolest
Year-to-Date
(Jan-Mar)
42.8ºF 0.1ºF 51st Warmest
Precipitation
Average Depart. Rank (1895-2013)
Month (March) 1.54 in. -1.57 in. 33rd Driest
Year-to-Date
(Jan-Mar)
6.44 in. 0.12 in. 41st Wettest
Depart. = departure from 30-year normal
meaning 51 percent were rated as “short” or “very short.”
Subsoils have not fared quite so well given the long-term nature
of this drought. The subsoils were rated at 88 percent “short”
or “very short” and only 12 percent were rated as “adequate.”
State pasture and range conditions were rated 70 percent
“very poor” or “poor,” with only 25 percent rated as “fair”
and 5 percent rated as “good.” Approximately 10 percent of
the state was covered by Exceptional drought according to
the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, down from 35 percent
three months ago. The entire state has remained in at least
Moderate drought since July 2012. The Drought Monitor’s
intensity scale slides from Moderate-Severe-Extreme-
Exceptional, with exceptional being the worst category.
MARCH DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
MARCH 1-7: Teeter-tottering of daily temperatures appeared to
be the norm for the month of March. The highest maximum
temperatures fluctuated back and forth between the 50s,
60s, and 80s during the first week. The lowest maximum
temperatures were a little more persistent, measuring in the
30s and 40s from the first through the sixth. The seventh
was a bit of an oddball, however, as the lowest maximum
temperature was reported at 61 degrees in Westville.
Minimum temperatures were as cool as 11 degrees in Alva on
the second and as warm as 52 degrees in Hugo on the fourth.
Snow pack in northwest Oklahoma played a prevalent role in
keeping temperatures cool. Average wind speeds were fairly
gusty with an upper end of about 20 mph. Peak wind gusts
That late burst of springtime weather also came with a fair
amount of severe weather. Reports of hail from the size of
marbles to tennis balls came in from across the state on the
29th and 30th. Hail covered the ground and actually drifted in
some parts of the state. At least one tornado was confirmed
to have touched down late on the 30th in Sequoyah County
near Sallisaw, damaging a home and downing power poles.
More localized severe weather struck southern Oklahoma on
the ninth and northern Oklahoma saw up to 3 inches of snow
on the 24th.
The cooler than normal weather kept drought from spreading
or intensifying, although drought impacts continued to be
felt statewide. Data from the USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service indicate 49 percent of the state’s topsoils
were rated as either “adequate” or “surplus” for moisture,