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Powerful Pacific Storm to Continue Impacting Northern California; Heavy Snow in the Appalachians and Portions of the Northeast

A strong atmospheric river will continue to impact northern California with heavy rain and life-threatening flooding through Friday. Unsettled weather is expected across much of the Northeast and Great Lakes over the next few days, including the likelihood of heavy snow in the central Appalachians and higher elevations of northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. Read More >

 

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February 2013 & Winter 2012-13

  • Fort Smith: No daily records were set or tied this month.
  • Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for February 2013 ranged from 2” to around 5”, with the highest totals in east central OK and west central AR. Far southeast OK and far northwest AR still ended the month with only 50%-90% of the normal February rainfall, though a large portion of the area did receive 125% to around 200% of the normal this month.
  • No river flooding occurred this month.
  • According to the Drought Monitor from February 26, 2013, all of eastern OK and northwest AR was in Severe to Extreme drought, except for Carroll County in Moderate drought. The rain and snow at the end of February helped reduce the drought impacts across the HSA, and for the first time since the end of July 2012, exceptional (D4) drought was not affecting eastern OK or northwest AR. Extreme drought (D3) conditions were still affecting portions of Osage, Pawnee, Creek, western Tulsa, Washington, and western Nowata Counties in eastern OK. Severe (D2) drought was present across the remainder of the area, except for Carroll County, where Moderate (D1) conditions existed.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, January 30-February 28, 2013 was the 14th wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 23rd wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 26th wettest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921.
Winter (December - January - February) 2012-13
  • Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for Winter 2012-13 ranged from 4” to near 15” northwest to southeast across the area. Overall, most of the area was 50% to around 100% of normal rainfall for the winter time period, though a few areas ended the winter with above normal precipitation.
  • According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, Winter 2012-13 was the 33rd wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 40th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 44th driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921.
Outlook
  • The Climate Prediction Center CPC outlook for March 2013 (issued February 28, 2013) indicates equal chances for above, near, and below normal temperatures and equal chances for above, near, and below median precipitation across all of eastern OK and northwest AR. This outlook is based primarily on short-range computer models and recent snow, rain, and corresponding soil moisture impacts on temperatures in the short term.
  • For the 3-month period Mar-Apr-May 2013, CPC is forecasting a greatly enhanced chance for above normal temperatures and an equal chance for above, near, and below median precipitation across all of eastern OK and northwest AR (outlook issued February 21, 2013). This outlook is primarily based on dynamic computer model output, with some input from statistical forecast tools and long-term trends.
  • According to CPC, ENSO neutral conditions remained through February. ENSO neutral conditions are expected to continue well into Spring 2013, followed by uncertain conditions in the ENSO state beyond that time.