How Bad Is The Drought In Oklahoma?

David Payne

Enough already! If you've watch News 9 lately, and we hope you have, the drought seems to be the big story. Oklahoma is enduring a nearly three year long drought. Water rationing is now going on in Oklahoma City and Norman.

This is probably just the beginning unless things change in a big hurry. The graphic to the right called 'Drought Monitor' is the latest drought situation for Oklahoma. It's not good, at all. Over ninety percent of our state is either under extreme or exceptional drought. We have ended our driest period from May 2012 through January 2012 on record. That is amazing when you consider record keeping began in 1895.

Creeks, ponds and lakes are drying up. Big lakes in Oklahoma are setting record low water levels. This water, or liquid gold, is our most valuable resource. The graphic 'Lake Levels' shows some of our lakes and the number of feet they are below normal. Now, assume the drought rolls right into summer. Imagine then where well be.

Remember, droughts are almost always occurring somewhere on the planet. This just happens to be our turn. This graphic '9 Years Of Drought' shows Oklahoma City rainfall over the last nine years. Notice 2005-2006 were dry years and considered drought years. And then it ended. 2007-2009 were wet years. 2007 was the wettest year ever in Oklahoma City with 56.95" of rain! Then, it happened again beginning in 2010. The drought returned and continues today. The forecast for February and into March doesn't look very good either. The pattern will probably stay dry into spring.