November 2017 Climate and Hydrology Summary

November & Autumn 2017

Tulsa: November 2017 was the 16th warmest (53.7°F; since 1905) and the 21st driest (0.64"; since 1888) November on record.

Tulsa: Daily records set or tied this month include a record warm maximum temperature.

Fort Smith: November 2017 was the 11th warmest (55.5°F; since 1882) and the 2nd driest (0.28"; since 1882) November on record.

Fort Smith: The high temperature of 87°F on 11/02/2017 ties 11/16/2016 as the warmest high temperature recorded in the month of November.

Fayetteville: November 2017 was the 9th warmest (51.3°F, tied 1964; since 1949) and the 12th driest (1.11"; since 1949) November on record.

Fayetteville: The high temperature of 83°F on 11/02/2017 ties 11/09/2006 as the warmest high temperature recorded in the month of November.

McAlester: The high temperature of 90°F on 11/05/2017 was the warmest high temperature recorded in the month of November. This breaks the previous records of 88°F on 11/02/2017 and 86°F on 11/04/2017, 11/16/2016, and 11/02/2012.

Muskogee: The high temperature of 87°F on 11/05/2017 was the warmest high temperature recorded in the month of November. The previous record was 86°F on 11/16/2016.

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for November 2017 ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to 3”. Most of southeast OK received less than 0.25” of rain this month. This corresponds to 60% to less than 5% of the normal November rainfall. Only far northeast OK, far northwest AR, and small portions of Osage and eastern Kay Counties had 25% to 60% of the normal November rainfall. A significant portion of eastern OK and west central AR received less than 5% of the normal November rainfall!

November 2017 was a very dry month across eastern OK and northwest AR, with a large portion of the area receiving less than 5% of the normal November rainfall.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor from November 28, 2017, drought increased significantly this month. Severe Drought (D2) developed over parts of Cherokee, Adair, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Haskell, Le Flore, Latimer, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, and Choctaw Counties in eastern OK and Benton, Carroll, Washington, Madison, Crawford, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties in northwest AR. Moderate (D1) drought conditions were present across portions of Delaware, Cherokee, Muskogee, McIntosh, Haskell, Pittsburg, and Latimer Counties in eastern OK and Carroll, Madison, Washington, and Benton Counties in northwest AR. Abnormally dry, but not in drought, (D0) conditions were occurring over portions of Ottawa, Delaware, Mayes, Wagoner, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Creek, Okfuskee, Muskogee, and McIntosh Counties in eastern Oklahoma.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (mesonet stations only), November 2017 was the 15th driest for northeast Oklahoma, the 3rd driest for east central Oklahoma, and the Record driest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For the Cool Growing Season September 1 - November 30, 2017, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 36th driest, east central Oklahoma was the 12th driest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 2nd driest period. For Year-to-Date 2017 (January 1-November 30, 2017), northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 11th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 15th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 49th wettest Year-to-Date.

Autumn (September-October-November) 2017

Tulsa: Autumn 2017 was the 27th warmest (64.0°F; since 1905) and the 58th wettest (9.60"; since 1888) Autumn on record.

Fort Smith: Autumn 2017 was the 17th warmest (65.3°F, tied 1922; since 1882) and the 3rd driest (3.57"; since 1882) Autumn on record.

Fayetteville: Autumn 2017 was the 19th warmest (59.6°F, tied 1999; since 1949) and the 12th driest (6.47", tied 2005; since 1949) Autumn on record.