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July
July is Oklahoma’s hottest month and only the winter months
are drier, except in the panhandle which is in the midst of its
summer rainy season. Temperatures frequently exceeds 100 degrees
and hot, sultry weather broken only by isolated thunderstorms are
the rule across most of the state. |
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Daily
Facts |
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July
2001 |
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Heat represented
the most severe weather condition during the month. By month’s
end the summer’s heat-related death toll had reached seven, as
the unrelenting heat, especially evident in western Oklahoma, was accompanied
by typical mid-summer humidity. |
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July
1998 |
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The month stared
with a state burn-ban declaration in force in 13 western counties and
ended with 66 counties under a federally declared drought and heat
emergency. Fifteen people died from heat-related causes, raising the
total for the heat wave that started in late June to 17. Wild fires
of a magnitude unknown to Oklahoma plagued the heavily forested southeast.
According to the Forestry Services Division of the Oklahoma Department
of Agriculture, approximately 340 separate fires burned over 14, 000
acres of timberland during July. The worst previous July during the
last 25 years (1980) saw approximately 5, 000 acres destroyed by about
270 fires. Many of the fires crowned (i.e., the fire spread mainly
by way of the tops of the trees rather than through the underbrush
as is usual in Oklahoma forest fires) making them impossible to fight
from the ground. Unfortunately, it appears that many of the worst fires
were set intentionally and others were caused by human activities despite
the presence of a state-imposed ban on burning in the affected areas.
Summer-planted
crops also suffered greatly. Oklahoma is expected to harvest its smallest
cotton crop since 1895, although the irrigated fields (the only ones
likely to be harvested) are producing record yields. Peanuts, hay,
and other crops have been decimated in the drought-stricken areas,
Many producers are reducing their cattle herds and hay is being shipped
in to fee the remainder as pastures generally are unable to provide
adequate nutrients. Many communities imposed water rationing as demand,
frequently for lawn-watering, outstripped the abilities of the treatment
and distribution systems to provide supplies of fresh water. |
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July
1, 1998 |
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Local flooding
was reported in western Kay County and along the Neosho and Spring
rivers in Ottawa County. |
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July
1, 1997 |
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The month;s highest
temperatures were reported at Buffalo (Harper County) with 111 degrees
and the Oklahoma Mesonetwork sites near Alva (Woods) and Freedom (across
the Cimarron River in Woodward County) registered 110 degrees. |
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July
2, 1992 |
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A cold front moved
through the state bringing significant cooling to the northwest. A
tornado spawned by thunderstorms associated with the front struck Collinsville,
destroying seven homes and severely damaging 10 others. Another tornado
touched down briefly near Oologah. Substantial wind damage was reported
elsewhere in the eastern half of the state. |
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July
2-4, 1997 |
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Widespread showers
and thunderstorms heralded the onset of the 4th of July weekend. Heavy
rains in east central Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Beggs (both in Okmulgee County),
and Welty (Okfuskee) each reported over 3 inches of rain. |
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July
2-4, 1995 |
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Strong thunderstorms
rumbled through central and eastern Oklahoma. Large hail was reported
in several areas, the largest being baseball sized near Konawa (Seminole
County). Street flooding was reported in Pawhuska (Osage), Bartlesville
(Washington) and Ramona (Washington). Miami (Ottawa) lost power for
about 90 minutes due to high winds. Heavener (LeFlore) reported 4.60
inches of rain and Barnsdall and Foraker (both in Osage County) each
reported more than 3.5 inches of precipitation. |
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July
3-4, 1996 |
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Extreme eastern
portions of the state got some relief from the heat wave as thunderstorms
produced as much as 3.47 inches of rain in Spavinaw (Mayes). |
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July
4, 1995 |
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Thunderstorms
interrupted holiday festivities at several locations. Possible tornadoes
were reported in Johnson County near Rave and Mill Creek. Local flooding
occurred in Okmulgee, Wagoner and southern Tulsa counties. Wind damage
was reported at Lake Eucha (Delaware) and on Broken Bow Lake (McCurtain)
and the Oklahoma Mesonet station near Talihina (LeFlore) recorded 71
mile-per-hour winds. |
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July
5, 1994 |
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Thunderstorms
in southwestern Oklahoma introduced a two-week period during which
heavy rains over the eastern two-thirds of the state led to local flooding
in many areas. Small tornadoes were reported near Hominy and Foraker
in Osage County. Tragedy struck at Turner Falls (Murray County) when
a car was swept off a low-water crossing while evacuating a campground,
resulting in the drowning of two children. |
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July
5, 1990 |
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Officials in
Peggs (Cherokee County) reported thunderstorm winds of 75 miles per
hour with 2 inches of rain falling in less than 2 hours. |
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July
6, 1996 |
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July began with
Oklahoma in the throes of a heat wave typical of dry summers in the
southern plains. Triple-digit daytime temperatures were commonplace
during the first nine days of the month, even soaring past 110 degrees
at a number of locations. The official hot spot as Ponca City (Kay
County) where the temperature soared to 116 degrees on the 6th, a figure
matched by Oklahoma Mesonetwork sites at Medford (Grant), Pawnee (Pawnee)
and Wynona (Osage). Nighttime offered little comfort during the period
as overnight lows in many areas were in the upper 70s and lower 80s. |
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July
7, 1997 |
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Locally heavy
rain in northern Harmon County and southern Beckham County on the 7th
led to flood warnings along the North and Salt Fork of the Red River.
Up to a foot of rain reportedly fell in northern Harmon County. Official
reports included 6.43 inches near Vinson and 3.33 inches at Willow. |
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July
8, 1995 |
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Strong winds,
apparently along the outflow boundary produced by distant thunderstorms
damaged a marina on Lake Keystone (Pawnee). Daytime temperatures were
soaring in the west, exceeding 105 degrees at several locations. |
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July
10, 2001 |
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Lahoma Research
Station (Major) reported a daily maximum temperature of 112 degrees,
topping all other temperature reports during the month. |
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July
10, 1999 |
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Sporadic, locally
heavy rainstorms produced 4.96 inches of rain at Cleveland and 3.85
inches at Colony. Several other locations reported rainfall accumulations
in excess of 3 inches. |
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July
10, 1997 |
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Over 7 inches
of rain reportedly fell at Elgin (Comanche) leading to local flooding.
Muskogee (Muskogee County) reported 3.55 inches and the Acme Mesonet
site (Grady) noted 3.35 inches. |
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July
10-11, 1996 |
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Minco received
9.28 inches of precipitation over this two-day period. |
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July
11, 1993 |
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Thunderstorms
produced large hail and heavy rain east of Boise City, wind and hail
damage in Woods, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, and Osage Counties and highway
flooding north and east of Pawhuska, where 3.9 inches of rain were
reported. |
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July
11, 1991 |
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Cloudy skies in
northwest Oklahoma obscured the solar eclipse for many viewers. Winds
in excess of 60 miles per hour at Enid disrupted the annual Summerfest,
destroying several large tents. |
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July
11, 1990 |
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The hot air persisted
until a vigorous cold front through the state producing scattered thunderstorms
en route. Several stations reported daily rainfall in excess of 2 inches,
including Ashland with 2.9. The front brought with is considerably
cooler air which dominated the state for the next week. No stations
in the state reported triple-digit temperatures for seven days and
morning low temperatures in the 40s and 50s were common. |
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July
12-14, 1996 |
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Seminole (Seminole)
noted 9.10 inches of rain over three days. |
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July
13-14, 1988 |
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Temperatures rose
quickly to above normal following the departure of the trough and its
associated cloudiness. By the 13th, locations in all by southeastern
Oklahoma recorded 100 degree temperatures. The Heat Stress Index reached
114 degrees at Enid and Tinker Air Force Base, well into the danger
category. On the 14th, the National Weather Service issued a heat alert.
Oklahoma hospitals treated at least 10 heat exhaustion patients. High
temperatures in the upper 90s, a few degrees above normal, remained
Statewide for several days. |
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July
14, 2003 |
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Lahoma reached
109 degrees again on the 14th. Not to be outdone, Cherokee and Medford
topped the month’s high temperature charts with a sweltering
110 degrees on the same day. |
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July
14, 1992 |
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Hail “the
size of silver dollars” was reported in Choctaw County. |
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July
14-15, 2001 |
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Showers brought
a refreshing respite to a few areas, with the Wilburton Mesonet site
(Latimer) recording 1.72 inches of rain on the 14th and Hanna (McIntosh)
matching that with its report on the 15th. |
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July
14-22, 1997 |
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The primary weather
story of the month was the extremely heavy rains that persisted across
north central and northeastern Oklahoma. There were widespread thunderstorms
across northern and much of eastern Oklahoma, producing hail and strong
winds in many areas with localized flooding in Tulsa and Rogers counties.
Baseball-sized hail fell at Nardin (Kay) and widespread flooding was
reported elsewhere in Kay county.
Overall 19 reporting locations, either
National Weather Service or Oklahoma Mesonetwork reported accumulated
rainfall of more than 5 inches from the 17th through the 22nd. The
most prominent accumulations occurred in Kay, western Osage and northern
Pawnee counties, including Ralston (11.30 inches), Blackwell Mesonet
(Cay County, 8.65), Ponca City (8.26), and Burbank (Osage County, 8.13
inches). Additional 6 to 8 inch accumulations were noted at Red Rock
(Noble, 7.35 inches), Maramec (Pawnee, 6.97), Great Salt Plains Dam
(Alfalfa, 6.95), Helena (Alfalfa, 6.58), Stroud (Lincoln, 6.41) and
Oilton (Creek, 6.00). |
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July
16-17, 2001 |
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The greatest wind
speed reported by Mesonet stations during the thunderstorms was 62
miles per hour, recorded at Erick (Beckham) on the 16th and Hooker
(Texas) on the 17th. |
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July
16, 1985 |
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Two boys were
struck by lightning while playing baseball in Lawton. Only light precipitation
was reported from these storms. |
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July
17, 1994 |
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Hail and high
winds struck Bartlesville and Dewey (Washington County). In McCurtain
County, a lightning strike killed 18 cattle near Bethel and 7 inches
of rain was reported near Watson. |
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July
17-30, 1993 |
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The heat intensified
after the 17th and daytime high temperatures in the 80s and 90s were
replaced by temperatures in the upper 90s and 100s. Triple digit temperatures
appeared in the southeast in Wilburton, McCurtain and Poteau and spread
northeast. Readings of 105 or greater were first reported from Chattanooga
on the 23rd with several other stations including Buffalo and Wilburton
joining in on the 24th. The high temperature for the month was 109
degrees recorded at Buffalo on the 30th. At least two deaths were directly
attributable to the heat. |
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July
20, 1995 |
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Shortly after
midnight a wind gust of 83 miles per hour was reported by the Mesonet
site near Freedom (Woods). |
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July
21, 2000 |
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Twenty-three Mesonet
sites, led by a recorded 70-mile-per-hour peak wind at the May Ranch
site recorded severe winds on this day. |
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July
21, 1997 |
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Lightning killed
a man in Claremore (Rogers) and rain contributed to two traffic deaths
elsewhere. |
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July
22, 2000 |
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The Freedom site
recorded 87 mile-per-hour winds associated with thunderstorms. Wind
damage to power lines in central Oklahoma caused power loss to an estimated
65,000 homes. |
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July
22, 1997 |
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An apparent microburst
caused extensive damage in Krebs (Pittsburg). |
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July
22-23, 1989 |
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A strong cluster
of thunderstorms developed in north central Oklahoma. Hail and 70-mph
winds accompanied storms in the Enid area. On the following morning,
the storms produced over 2” of rain in Norman where streets flooded
with up to 2 feet of water. |
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July
23-24, 2002 |
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Storms formed
along the stalled front on the afternoon of the 23rd, bringing 0.75-inch
hail and 75 mph winds to Poteau (Le Flore), shattering a window in
the city’s pet store. The front lingered into the 24th, and
yet another batch of severe storms formed along the surface boundary.
Numerous reports of strong winds were reported across central Oklahoma,
including winds estimated at 75 miles per hour at Oklahoma City (Oklahoma)
and Dale (Pottawatomie). Severe winds blew the tops off of several
trees and destroyed numerous car-ports between Moyers and Antlers
in Pushmataha County. |
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July
24, 1995 |
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After midnight,
strong thunderstorm winds struck the Oklahoma City’s western
suburbs and moved across the metropolitan area, snapping power poles
and creating a major power outage. Instruments at Will Rogers Airport
recorded a gust of 97 miles per hour, with sustained winds of over
70 miles per hour and a few minutes later a gust of 96 miles per hour
was recorded across town at Tinker Air Force Base. Wind damage from
the storm system was reported from Hennessey (Kingfisher) all the way
to Arkansas. Officials estimated that the damage in Oklahoma was in
the millions of dollars and that as many as 175, 000 people were without
power, some of them for several days. Cox City (Grady) reported 4.35
inches of precipitation. |
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July
24, 1994 |
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In Seminole County,
an apparent microburst damage a mobile home north of Alva in Woods
County and lightning started a grass fire in Caddo County near Apache. |
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July
24, 1988 |
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An upper level
disturbance triggered another strong thunderstorm near Tulsa. The storm
produced 60-70 mph winds, golfball-sized hail, street flooding and
downburst winds which severely damaged a shopping area. |
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July
26-29, 2001 |
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Substantial rainfalls
finally broke the oppressive heat, mostly in the eastern half of the
state. Notable accumulations included 3.50 inches at Pawhuska (Osage),
3.25 inches at Chandler (Lincoln), and 2.82 inches at Tecumseh (Pottawatomie),
all reported on the 29th, and 3.18 inches at Carnasaw Tower (McCurtain)
reported on the 26th. The Vinita Mesonet site (Craig) recorded 2.74
inches of rain on the 28th. |
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July
27, 1994 |
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A significant
cold front moved through, dropping overnight low temperatures into
the 50s in many locations and to a July station record low of 48 degrees
at Fort Supply (Woodward County). Temperatures remained below the century
mark statewide for the remainder of the month. |
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July
29-31, 1997 |
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Heavy rains reached
the Panhandle, which had generally been getting less than its typical
July rainfall. Hooker Mesonet (Texas) received 3.61 inches on the 29th
and Guymon (Texas) noted a total of 4.84 inches in reports from the
29th through the 31st. |
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July
30, 2003 |
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Norman was
hit particularly hard by a microburst that produced a wind gust of
79 mph. The winds flipped planes moored at the Norman airport, and
flipped tractor-trailer rigs on the interstate in that area. Over
20,000 residences and business lost power due to downed power lines,
and a swath of large hail accompanied the storms. Rainfall amounts
of nearly three inches were reported in localized areas, and temperatures
dropped into the 80s and 90s in the storm’s aftermath. |
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July
30, 1999 |
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Hollis, Hobart,
Freedom, and Buffalo each recorded a daily maximum temperature of 109
degrees. |
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July
30-31, 1992 |
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Stormy weather
continued for the remainder of the month. An unusual strong mid-summer
cold front entered the state on the 30th, leading to another round
of strong thunderstorms. A tornado was reported one mile east of Jay.
Large hail and wind damage were reported in southwestern, central,
and northeastern portions of the state. Several stations reported precipitation
in excess of two inches for the 24 hours ending on the morning of the
31st led by 3.92 inches at Broken Bow. |
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July
31, 1993 |
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Among the state’s
reporting stations, only Jay Tower at 98 and Kansas at 99 remained
below 100 degrees. |
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July
31, 1989 |
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Cloud cover and
rain associated with Hurricane Chantel’s remnants kept temperatures
several degrees lower in the east. Chantel-related rainfall amounts
included Quapaw 3.75", Miami 3.91", Muskogee 1.90" and
Jay Tower 1.54". |
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Thanks to Howard
Johnson, Associate State Climatologist for Service (Retired) and Gary
McManus, Climatologist, for the daily facts! |
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