Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

Sweltering heat remains across the South-Central Plains, Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest this week with limited nighttime relief. Thunderstorms will bring heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding in portions of the Desert Southwest and central Plains. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the central Plains into the Northeast. Read More >

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May 2009

Tulsa ranked as the 29th coolest and 37th wettest May on record.

Tulsa ranked as the 48th coolest (59.8 deg F) and 22nd wettest (16.16") Spring on record.

Fort Smith ranked as the 43rd coolest and 10th wettest May on record.

Fort Smith ranked as the 59th coolest (61.0 deg F) and 21st wettest (17.33") Spring on record.

Tulsa set a daily rainfall record on May 1 with 3.01" (previous record was 2.10" in 1944).

May 1st: Pryor mesonet station had a record daily rainfall amount of 7.70" (over 5" came within 1 hour). The daily maximum rainfall record for Pryor had been 6.05" from May 10, 1943...and the record for the mesonet station had been 5.92" on May 5, 1998.

Tulsa recorded a record number of consecutive days with a trace or more of rainfall. The new record is 22 consecutive days; the old record was 13 consecutive days, which occurred in May 1935 and April 1957.

There were 16 river flood events this month.

The Neosho River near Commerce reached minor flood stage twice in June.

According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, southeast OK had the 9th wettest Spring on record and the 7th wettest April-May period.

ENSO neutral conditions are ongoing, but the Climate Prediction Center issued a El Nino watch (conditions favorable for development in the next few months).

TSA RSS Feed

Heat Persists in the South Central U.S. and Southwest; Heavy rains in the Desert Southwest and Central Plains

May 2009 Highlights