November 2019 Climate and Hydrology Summary

Tulsa: November 2019 was the 33rd coldest (47.6°F, tied 1957, 1919; since 1905), the 23rd wettest (4.71"; since 1888), and the 29th snowiest (0.1"; since 1900) November on record.

Tulsa: Daily records set or tied this month include a record cold minimum temperature, a record cold mean temperature, and a record daily snowfall.

Fort Smith: November 2019 was the 36th coldest (48.6°F, tied 2002, 1937; since 1882), the 38th wettest (4.41"; since 1882), and the 18th snowiest (Trace, tied with 17 other years; since 1883) November on record.

Fort Smith: Daily records set or tied this month include a record daily rainfall.

Fayetteville: November 2019 was the 15th coldest (44.3°F; since 1949), the 24th wettest (4.52"; since 1949), and the 14th snowiest (0.2", tied 1969; since 1949) November on record.

Fayetteville: Daily records set or tied this month include a record cold maximum temperature, a record cold mean temperature, and a record daily rainfall.

McAlester: Daily records set or tied this month include a record cold maximum temperature, record cold minimum temperatures, a record cold mean temperature, and a record daily rainfall.

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for November 2019 ranged from 1” to around 7” generally northwest to southeast across eastern OK and northwest AR. These rainfall totals correspond to 50%-200% of the normal November rainfall across the area, with most of eastern OK and northwest Arkansas ±25% of normal.

November was several degrees below normal overall, with some light snow and a few rain events that caused flooding along the Illinois River, Polecat Creek, and the Poteau River.

The northeast OK area’s average January-November total was 61.65”, 21.33” above normal, setting a new rainfall record for the year, with a month still left to go. The previous record annual total was 57.82” from 1973. Miami, OK has measured 80.00” of rain (Mesonet station) so far this year, breaking its annual rainfall record of 66.85” measured by the NWS COOP station in 1973.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor from December 3, 2019, eastern OK and northwest AR were drought free.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (mesonet stations only), November 2019 was the 25th wettest for northeast Oklahoma, the 24th wettest for east central Oklahoma, and the 26th wettest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For Fall 2019 (September 1 - November 30), northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 12th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 9th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 6th wettest period. For Year-to-Date 2019 (January 1-November 30), northeast Oklahoma ranked as the Record wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 5th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 8th wettest Year-to-Date.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms moved through portions of eastern OK and northwest AR during the morning of the 6th. Showers and thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours in central OK and far northeast OK in response to an approaching upper-level jet. This activity increased in coverage and intensity during the evening hours, especially near a cold front as it was moving across the area. Light to moderate rain then continued overnight and through the early morning hours of the 7th across most of eastern OK and northwest AR. This activity then ended from northwest to southeast during the morning. A large portion of eastern OK and western AR received 1” to 3” of rain, with 3” to 5” falling in portions of northeast OK and near the MO border in northwest AR. Bella Vista 2E, AR measured 4.95” of rain in the 24 hours ending at 6 am on the 7th. This heavy rain resulted in minor to moderate river flooding along the Illinois River, minor flooding along Polecat Creek near Sapulpa, and minor flooding along the Poteau River near Panama.

A strong cold front moved through the region on the 11th. Scattered showers and thunderstorms initially developed ahead of the front in the early morning hours across southeast OK and northwest AR. By mid-morning, rain developed behind the front north of I-44 and progressed southeast through east central OK and northwest AR through early afternoon. Sleet was reported during this time as sub-freezing air infiltrated northeast OK and northwest AR. Patches of sleet, slight snow, and/or freezing drizzle occurred through early evening. Little to no frozen accumulation occurred, with most locations reporting around 0.25” or less of snow/sleet accumulation.

A cold front moved through eastern OK and northwest AR on the 21st, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms to the region during the afternoon and evening hours. The front stalled across southeast OK and west central AR during the evening, with rain continuing over this area through 2 am CST. As the main upper-level low pressure system moved into the Plains overnight, additional showers and isolated thunderstorms moved east across eastern OK and northwest AR during the early through mid-morning hours of the 22nd. All of eastern OK and northwest AR received rain from this storm system, with most locations seeing around 0.25” to around 1” of rain. Higher totals of 1” to 3” fell across southeast OK and west central AR.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms developed around noon on the 26th from southeast OK into northwest AR as a potent upper-level trof moved into the central Plains and interacted with an area of enhanced low-level moisture. As the corresponding surface low lifted northeast into KS, very strong winds developed over the area, with frequent wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. The initial showers and thunderstorms pushed east of the area by late afternoon, with some additional development occurring across eastern OK during the evening. This secondary line of storms quickly moved east and exited the area by late evening. The wind gusts increased during the evening as a strong cold front moved through, with gusts reaching 60 to 70 mph. Severe (≥58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gusts were measured at the Pawnee Mesonet station (58 mph), Bartlesville ASOS station (66 mph), Tulsa ASOS station (66 mph), Copan Mesonet station (63 mph), and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (Highfill) ASOS station (58 mph). Rainfall totals were generally less than 0.50”, though a portion of Sebastian, Franklin, and Madison Counties received 0.75” to near 2” of rain.

Scattered rain showers began to develop on the morning of the 29th in a zone of stronger isentropic lift and warm air advection ahead of a cold front and continued through the afternoon hours. Deeper low-level moisture surged north into the area by evening as a strong upper-level jet streak lifted into the Central Plains in association with larger scale upper low moving over the Intermountain West. Scattered thunderstorms affected locations along and north of I-40 through the evening hours. A few of these storms became severe, producing hail of 1.25” (half dollar size) - 2” (hen egg size) in northeast OK. These thunderstorms shifted east of the region by midnight. A line of showers and thunderstorms then developed across eastern OK during the overnight hours with the aid of a 60 knot southwesterly low-level jet and a potent mid-level low spinning over western Nebraska. At the surface, a warm front had surged northward to near I-40, and a Pacific cold front stretched across northeast OK into south-central OK. This line of rain continued to move east across eastern OK and northwest AR, exiting the area by mid-morning on the 30th as the cold front moved east through the region. Rainfall totals from both rounds of precipitation ranged from 0.10” to near 2.5”. The heaviest rain of 1.5”-2.5” fell over the Illinois River basin, resulting in minor flooding along the Illinois River.

By the end of November 2019, the northeast OK climate division had recorded its wettest 7-month (May-Nov, 48.77”), 8-month (Apr-Nov, 52.40”), 9-month (Mar-Nov, 55.37”), 10-month (Feb-Nov, 57.08”), 11-month/Year-to-Date (Jan-Nov, 60.77”), and 12-month (Dec 2018-Nov 2019, 64.20”) periods since records began in 1895. The January – November total of 60.77” is 6.08” significantly greater than the previous January – November record in 2008. The annual (calendar year) record of 57.82” from 1973 has also already been greatly surpassed, with a month still left in 2019.

By the end of November 2019, the northwest AR climate division had recorded its wettest 4-month (Aug-Nov, 27.19”), 5-month (Jul-Nov, 29.76”), 6-month (Jun-Nov, 37.25”), and 7-month (May-Nov, 46.58”) periods since records began in 1895.

Autumn (September-October-November) 2019

Tulsa: Autumn 2019 was the 51st warmest (62.2°F, tied 1920; since 1905) and the 20th wettest (14.53"; since 1888) Autumn on record.

Fort Smith: Autumn 2019 was the 39th warmest (64.0°F, tied 191971, 1934; since 1882) and the 15th wettest (16.56"; since 1882) Autumn on record.

Fayetteville: Autumn 2019 was the 25th warmest (58.8°F, tied 1989, 1981, 1958; since 1949) and the Record wettest (24.17", previous record 24.10" in 1996; since 1949) Autumn on record.