June 2011 Climate and Hydrology Summary

June 2011

Unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions prevailed during the month of June across all of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.

Tulsa: June 2011 was the 2nd warmest (84.4°F, since 1905) and the 10th driest (1.47"; since 1888) June on record.

Tulsa: Daily records set or tied this month include a record warm max temperature on 6/27/11; record warm min temperatures on 6/18/11, 6/26/11, and 6/27/11 (tied); and record warm mean temperatures on 6/1/11 (tied), 6/26/11 (tied), and 6/27/11.

Tulsa: Tulsa reached or exceeded 90 degrees on 29 out of 30 days in June 2011, which ties the record for the total number of 90 degree days in the month of June. Twenty-nine 90 degree days were also seen in June 1911 and 1934.

Fort Smith: June 2011 was the warmest (85.0°F) and the 3rd driest (0.44") June since records began in 1883. Fort Smith went from the 3rd wettest April and 4th wettest May on record to the 3rd driest June!

Fort Smith: Daily records set or tied this month include record warm max temperatures on 6/4/11 (tied), 6/5/11, and 6/27/11 (tied); record warm min temperatures on 6/20/11 and 6/27/11; and record warm mean temperatures on 6/5/11, 6/24/11 (tied), 6/27/11, 6/30/11 (tied).

Fort Smith: The record warm min temperature of 84°F set on 6/27/2011 is the warmest low temperature ever recorded in the month of June.

Fort Smith: Fort Smith reached or exceeded 90 degrees on all 30 days in June 2011, which sets the record for the total number of 90 degree days in the month of June. The streak of 90 degree days began on 5/31/11.

McAlester: Daily records set or tied this month include a record warm max temperature on 6/17/11; record warm min temperatures on 6/17/11, 6/18/11, 6/19/11, and 6/27/11; and record warm mean temperatures on 6/16/11, 6/17/11, 6/18/11, 6/19/11 (tied), and 6/27/11.

McAlester: The record warm min temperature of 82°F set on 6/19/2011 ties with 6/28/1980 as the warmest low temperature recorded in the month of June.

Fayetteville: Daily records set or tied this month include a record warm max temperature on 6/311 (tied); and record warm min temperatures on 6/18/11, 6/20/11 (tied), and 6/27/11.

Rainfall totals for June 2011 ranged from less than 0.10” to isolated areas of 4”-5”. This was significantly less than the normal rainfall for June. Most of eastern OK and northwest AR only received 10% to 50% of the normal June rainfall, though some areas of southeast and east central OK received less than 5%. The NWS COOP observer in Tuskahoma, OK and the OK Mesonet site in Talihina only measured 0.09” for the month. The OK Mesonet site in Stigler measured only 0.04” this month, while the OK Mesonet sites in Wilburton and Clayton recorded a measly 0.03” for the entire month of June.

An isolated supercell affected portions of Osage and Washington (OK) counties on the evening of the 18th. At least one tornado occurred in Osage County as a result of this supercell. No damage or injuries were caused by the tornado. This adds to the record annual tornado total for eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas that has been set already this year.

According to the Drought Monitor from June 28, 2011, moderate drought (D1) conditions expanded east across Osage, Washington, Rogers, Tulsa, Creek, Okmulgee, Okfuskee, McIntosh, and western Pittsburg Counties, while abnormally dry (D0) conditions existed across the remainder of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Despite the very wet April and May across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, a dry and very hot June has led to short-term dryness across the region.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) for June 2011, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 4th driest, east central Oklahoma ranked as the 3rd driest, and southeast Oklahoma ranked as the 4th driest June since records began in 1921. For the water year so far (October 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011), northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 14th driest, east central Oklahoma ranked as the 23rd driest, and southeast Oklahoma ranked as the 15th driest water year on record.

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for July 2011 (issued June 30, 2011) indicates an equal chance for above, near, and below average temperatures and precipitation across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.

For the 3-month period Jul-Aug-Sep 2011, CPC is forecasting an equal chance for above, near, and below average temperatures and equal chances for above, near, and below median precipitation across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas (outlook issued June 16, 2011).

According to CPC, ENSO neutral conditions were observed at mid June. While La Niña conditions no longer exist in the Pacific Ocean, residual soil moisture and atmospheric effects from La Niña may continue into July. Current computer models indicate ENSO-neutral conditions will continue through the remainder of 2011.