August 2016 Climate and Hydrology Summary

August 2016 & Summer 2016

Tulsa: August 2016 was the 42nd warmest (83.0°F, tied 2002, 2005; since 1905) and the 53rd driest (2.31"; since 1888) August on record.

Fort Smith: August 2016 was the 46th warmest (82.6°F, tied 1952, 1926; since 1882) and the 37th wettest (3.88"; since 1882) August on record.

Fayetteville: August 2016 was the 32nd warmest (77.0°F, tied 1991, 1989, 1984; since 1949) and the 9th driest (1.09"; since 1949) August on record.

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for August 2016 ranged from around 0.25” to around 10”. A large portion of the area received 1”-3” of rain this month, with the greatest deficits over Okfuskee and Okmulgee Counties. This corresponds to 10% to near 300% of the normal August rain for most of eastern OK and northwest AR. However, most of the area saw below normal rainfall this month, with the above normal rainfall occurring over far southeast OK, west central AR, and isolated locations elsewhere.

August 2016 was a dry month for most of eastern OK and northwest AR despite rain occurring on many days this month. Temperatures were near normal on average, though the first and last parts of the month were above normal, while below normal temperatures prevailed mid-month.

According to the Drought Monitor from August 30, 2016, D2 (Severe Drought) had developed over eastern Wagoner County. D1 (Moderate Drought) conditions existed over portions of Rogers, Wagoner, Muskogee, Mayes, far western Cherokee, far southern Craig, far southern Nowata, and western Choctaw Counties in northeast OK. D0 (abnormally dry conditions but not in drought) were present across portions of eastern Osage, Creek, Tulsa, Washington (OK), Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, McIntosh, far southern Pittsburg, Delaware, Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah, western Pushmataha, and Choctaw Counties in OK. No drought or abnormally dry conditions were occurring in Arkansas.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, the 30-day period August 2-31, 2015 was the 17th wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 37th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 22nd driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For the 60-day period Jul 3-August 31, 2015, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 8th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 2nd wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 21st driest period. For the Water Year-to-date, October 1, 2014-August 31, 2015, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 10th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the record wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 12th wettest period.

Summer (June-July-August) 2016

Tulsa: Summer 2016 was the 11th warmest (83.6°F; since 1905) and the 25th driest (6.84"; since 1888) Summer on record.

Fort Smith: Summer 2016 was the 13th warmest (82.8°F; since 1882) and the 67th driest (9.44"; since 1882) Summer on record.

Fayetteville: Summer 2016 was the 20th warmest (77.2°F, tied 2005, 1983; since 1950) and the 28th driest (10.84"; since 1950) Summer on record.