Thunderstorms Across the Southeast U.S.; Elevated to Locally Critical Fire Weather in Colorado

A few strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible across the Southeast U.S. Friday. A Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) outlook has been issued. Strong winds and hail will be the main threats. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will persist across south-central Colorado today due to dry conditions and gusty winds. Read More >

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December & Year 2017

Tulsa: December 2017 was the 46th warmest (41.7°F, tied 1949, 1920; since 1905), the 60th driest (1.43", tied 1916; since 1888), and the 30th snowiest (2.0", tied 2014, 1989, 1961; since 1900) December on record.

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

Fort Smith: December 2017 was the 55th warmest (42.9°F, tied 1942; since 1882) and the 60th driest (2.28"; since 1882) December on record. Only a trace of snow fell in December.

Fort Smith: No daily records were set or tied this month.

Fayetteville: December 2017 was the 26th coldest (37.9°F, tied 1990; since 1949), the 25th driest (1.91"; since 1949), and the 28th snowiest (0.4", tied 1996; since 1949) December on record.

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

McAlester: Daily records set or tied this month include record warm maximum temperatures and record warm mean temperatures.

Using the radar-derived estimated observed precipitation from the RFCs, rainfall totals for December 2017 ranged from around 0.10” to around 5” from northwest to southeast across eastern OK and northwest AR. This corresponds to less than 5% to 125% of the normal December rainfall from northwest to southeast across eastern OK and northwest AR.

Despite very cold temperatures at the end of the month, December 2017 was above normal for temperatures and below normal rainfall.

No mainstem river flooding occurred during the month.

According to the Drought Monitor from January 2, 2018, Severe Drought (D2) impacted parts of Cherokee, Adair, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Haskell, Le Flore, Latimer, Pittsburg, McIntosh, and Okfuskee Counties in eastern OK and Washington, Madison, Crawford, Sebastian, and Franklin Counties in northwest AR. Moderate (D1) drought conditions were present across portions of Delaware, Mayes, Cherokee, Adair, Muskogee, Wagoner, Okmulgee, Creek, Okfuskee, Le Flore, Pushmataha, and Choctaw Counties in eastern OK and Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties in northwest AR. Abnormally dry, but not in drought, (D0) conditions were occurring over portions of Ottawa, Delaware, Craig, Mayes, Wagoner, Rogers, Nowata, Washington, Tulsa, Creek, Pawnee, and Osage Counties in eastern Oklahoma, and Benton County in northwest AR.

According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, December 2017 was the 24th driest for northeast Oklahoma, the 35th driest for east central Oklahoma, and the 38th wettest for southeast Oklahoma. Records go back to 1921. For the Year 2017, northeast Oklahoma ranked as the 14th wettest, east central Oklahoma was the 20th wettest, and southeast Oklahoma was the 49th wettest Year.

Year 2017

Tulsa: 2017 was the 9th warmest (63.0°F, tied 1990; since 1905), the 25th wettest (46.03"; since 1888), and the 22nd least snowy (2.2"; since 1900) Year on record.

Fort Smith: 2017 was the 3rd warmest (64.4°F, tied 2016, 2011; since 1883), the 31st wettest (47.96"; since 1882), and the 40th least snowy (2.0", tied 1996, 1932, 1888; since 1884) Year on record.

Fayetteville: 2017 was the 7th warmest (58.9°F; since 1950), the 18th wettest (51.22"; since 1950), and the 6th least snowy (1.1"; since 1950) Year on record.

Rainfall totals for the year 2017 ranged from around 35" to near 60", which is around 75% to around 125% of normal across eastern OK and northwest AR.

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Thunderstorms Across the Southeast U.S.; Elevated to Locally Critical Fire Weather in Colorado

December 2017 Climate and Hydrology Summary