Spring 2014 Highlights

Temperatures . . .

The following line graphs depict the mean temperature for the months of March - May (in blue) along with the expected mean temperature (in red) for Tulsa, OK, Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, AR.  The mean temperatures were taken from 1980 - 2010.

The spring months

Precipitation . . .

The following bar graphs depict the mean precipitation for the months of March - May (in blue) along with the expected mean precipitation (in red) for Tulsa, OK, Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, AR.  The mean precipitation amounts were taken from 1980 - 2010.

The spring months

The following bar graphs depict the mean snowfall for the months of March - May (in blue) along with the expected mean snowfall (in red) for Tulsa, OK, Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, AR.  The mean snowfall amounts were taken from 1980 - 2010.

The spring months

Drought Progression . . .

The following chart depicts the amount of precipitation that fell leading up to, and during the spring months of 2014, and how that impacted the current drought across the area.  The first image is the amount of rainfall that fell during the month (observed precipitation).  The second image is the percentage of expected rainfall that fell during the month (percent of normal).  The third image is the state of drought near the end of that month (drought progression).

	Observed Preciptation	Percent of Normal	Drought Progression
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014

At the end of winter 2014 season,

Averages and Records . . .

Below are tables for Tulsa, OK, Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, AR with their monthly averages and records for temperatures and precipitation for the spring months of March - May, along with the spring seasonal averages.  Below the tables are the daily temperature and precipitation records set this spring season.

Tulsa:

* May 5th, tied the highest maximum temperature record of 92 degrees (other record from 1952).

* May 5th, tied the highest mean temperature record of 80 degrees (other record from 1952).

* May 7th, tied the highest mean temperature record of 79 degrees (other record from 2002).

* No daily precipitation records were set or tied during the spring season in Tulsa, OK.

* April 14th, tied the daily snowfall record of a Trace (other record from 1943).

Fort Smith:

* May 4th, set a new highest maximum temperature record of 93 degrees (old record was 91 degrees from 1943, 1947, 1952, 1964).

* May 5th, set a new highest maximum temperature record of 93 degrees (old record was 92 degrees from 1952).

* May 13th, tied the lowest maximum temperature record of 62 degrees (other record from 1953).

* May 14th, set a new lowest maximum temperature record of 58 degrees (old record was 62 degrees from 1923).

* May 14th, set a new lowest mean temperature record of 52.0 degrees (old record was 57.0 degrees from 1973, 2011).

* May 17th, tied the lowest maximum temperature record of 61 degrees (other record from 1935).

* May 17th, tied the lowest mean temperature record of 56.5 degrees (other record from 1945).

* March 16, set a new daily precipitation record of 0.92" (old record was 0.67" from 1970).

* March 16, tied the daily snowfall record of a Trace (other records from 1915, 1928, 1970).

Fayetteville:

* April 15, tied the lowest minimum temperature record of 23 degrees (other record from 1983).

* April 15, set a new lowest mean temperature record of 39.5 degrees (old record was 40.0 degrees from 1983).

* April 30, set a new lowest mean temperature record of 46.0 degrees (old record was 47.5 degrees from 1963).

* May 5th, set a new highest mean temperature record of 77.0 degrees (old record was 75.5 degrees from 2007).

* May 7th, tied the highest mean temperature record of 74.5 degrees (other record from 2002).

* May 11th, tied the highest minimum temperature record of 70 degrees (other record from 1956).

* May 13th, tied the lowest maximum temperature record of 55 degrees (other record from 1953).

* May 14th, set a new lowest maximum temperature record of 53 degrees (old record was 55 degrees from 2011).

* May 14th, set a new lowest mean temperature record of 47.0 degrees (old record was 51.0 degrees from 2011).

* May 16th, set a new lowest minumum temperature record of 34 degrees (old record was 38 degrees from 1997).

* May 16th, set a new lowest mean temperature record of 49.5 degrees (old record was 55.5 degrees from 2011).

* May 17th, set a new lowest maximum temperature record of 60 degrees (old record was 66 degrees from 1968).

* May 17th, tied the lowest mean temperature record of 53.0 degrees (other record from 2011).

* March 2, set a new daily precipitation record of 1.34" (old record was 1.25" from 1988).

* March 15, set a new daily precipitation record of 0.54" (old record was 0.53" from 1974).

* March 16, set a new daily precipitation record of 2.15" (old record was 1.05" from 1970).

* No daily snowfall records were set or tied during the spring season in Fayetteville, AR.

Weather Highlights . . .

Here are a few of the more significant events of the spring season 2014, including severe weather, winter weather, heavy rain, and drought.

March:

In March ...

April:

April 3 Severe Weather Photo Credit: NWS Tulsa	April 13 Severe Weather Photo Credit: NWS Tulsa	April 27 Severe Weather Photo Credit: NWS Tulsa

In April ...

May:

In May ...

Summer 2014 Forecast . . .

Below is a chart with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for both temperatures and precipitation for the next three months (December - February), along with the Seasonal Drought Outlook for the late fall and winter months through February 28.  For temperatures (left), there is an increased chance (40%) of above normal temperatures across much of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.  This does not mean that there will not be any cold periods during this time frame, but that the temperatures averaged over the entire winter season has a 40% chance of being slightly warmer than average.  For precipitation (center), all of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas show an "equal chances" rating.  This means that there are no indications that the precipitation amounts will be either above or below normal, thus, normal precipitation, below normal, and above normal are all equally likely.  The third image depicts the drought outlook for the nation through the end of February.  All of our forecast area (eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas) is listed in the "no drought posted or predicted" indicating this area is not under a D1 or greater drought, and is not expected to develop drought conditions.

Summer 2014 Temperature Outlook	Summer 2014 Precipitation Outlook	Summer 2014 Drought Outlook

Updated: October 20, 2014