Oklahoma, 2012

Drought in Oklahoma, December 1 to 31, 2012

December 1 to 31, 2012 · NWS OUN · 48 events in 48 counties and zones

Very few rainfall events occurred during the month of December over Oklahoma. This allowed drought conditions to persist or even worsen in some areas.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 48 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
48

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

Very few rainfall events occurred during the month of December over Oklahoma. This allowed drought conditions to persist or even worsen in some areas.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 10:45 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 10:45 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1045 PM CST FRI NOV 30 2012

.AVIATION...
STRATUS AND GOD IS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. ON ONE HAND... THE MODEL GUIDANCE IS A
BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC WITH SOME OF THE WESTERN SITES REMAINING VFR.
HOWEVER... WITH THE CURRENT MOISTURE ADVECTION STILL BELIEVE THAT
SOME LOWER CIGS AND VSBYS ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE WINDS VEER AROUND AT
THE WESTERN SITES AND BRING DRIER AIR. AND ALTHOUGH NOT A TAF
SITE... KAVK IS ALREADY DOWN TO 2 1/2 SM IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA.
THE TIMING OF THE BIG INCREASE IN MOISTURE ADVECTION VS THE
EXPECTED VEERING WINDS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE CLOSE AT
KCSM AND KHBR. HAVE MADE THE TAFS A BIT MORE PESSIMISTIC THAN THE
MODEL GUIDANCE IN GENERAL GIVEN THE CURRENT TRENDS... BUT MAYBE A
TOUCH MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN THE 00Z TAFS.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1010 PM CST FRI NOV 30 2012/

UPDATE...
SOUTH WINDS CONTINUE TO RESULT IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION
LATE THIS EVENING. SOME STRATUS HAS DEVELOPED EAST OF I35
TONIGHT. TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS WERE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY UPWARD TO
ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT TRENDS. PATCHY FOG WILL LIKELY DEVELOP CLOSER
TO SUNRISE HAS WIND SPEEDS DROP OFF A BIT...BUT SOME PASSING
CIRRUS MAY INHIBIT RADIATIONAL COOLING AFFECTS. THEREFORE...DENSE
FOG APPEARS UNLIKELY AT THIS TIME ALTHOUGH AREAS OF FOG CANNOT BE
RULED OUT ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN OK WHERE SFC
WIND SPEEDS MAY BRIEFLY DECREASE TO BELOW 10 KT BEFORE SUNRISE.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  56  74  52  77 /   0   0   0   0
HOBART OK         48  75  43  76 /   0   0   0   0
WICHITA FALLS TX  55  80  55  79 /   0   0   0   0
GAGE OK           36  76  38  75 /   0   0   0   0
PONCA CITY OK     54  72  47  76 /   0   0   0   0
DURANT OK         58  76  60  78 /   0  10  10  10

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...NONE.
TX...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 30, 10:20 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1020 PM CST FRI NOV 30 2012

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-020430-
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-
ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-BECKHAM-
WASHITA-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-
COMANCHE-STEPHENS-GARVIN-MURRAY-PONTOTOC-COAL-COTTON-JEFFERSON-
CARTER-JOHNSTON-ATOKA-LOVE-MARSHALL-BRYAN-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-
WICHITA-KNOX-BAYLOR-ARCHER-CLAY-
1020 PM CST FRI NOV 30 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

DISCUSSION...
ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS INCREASED ACROSS THE REGION
TONIGHT...THERE ARE NO FEATURES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT
LIFT FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CST SATURDAY DEC 1.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...ZERO PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
PATCHY FOG WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW
MORNING. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LOW LYING FOG.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL FORCE A COLD
FRONT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING. IN RESPONSE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH EASTERN
AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. SEVERE STORMS ARE
NOT EXPECTED.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
THE COMBINATION OF EXTREME TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT...NEAR RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND INCREASED WINDS
FROM 15 TO 25 MPH WILL RESULT IN NEAR CRITICAL TO CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF
WESTERN OKLAHOMA.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED BY
5 AM SATURDAY.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

48 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Alfalfa

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.731, -98.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Alfalfa County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Atoka

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Atoka forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.374, -96.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Atoka County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Beckham

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Beckham forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.269, -99.682 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Beckham County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Blaine

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Blaine forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.875, -98.433 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Blaine County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Bryan

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Bryan forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.962, -96.260 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Bryan County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Caddo

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Caddo forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Caddo County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Canadian

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Canadian forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Canadian County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Carter

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Carter forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.251, -97.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Carter County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Cleveland

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cleveland forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Cleveland County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Coal

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Coal forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.588, -96.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Coal County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Comanche

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Comanche forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Comanche County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Cotton

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cotton forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.290, -98.372 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Cotton County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Custer

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Custer County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Dewey

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Dewey forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.988, -99.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Dewey County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Ellis

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Ellis forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.218, -99.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Ellis County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Garfield

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Garfield forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Garfield County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Garvin

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Garvin forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Garvin County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Grady

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Grady forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.017, -97.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Grady County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Grant

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Grant County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Greer

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Greer forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Greer County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Harmon

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Harmon forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.744, -99.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Harmon County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Harper

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Harper forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.789, -99.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Harper County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Hughes

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hughes forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.048, -96.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Hughes County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Jackson

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.588, -99.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Jackson County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Jefferson

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Jefferson County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Johnston

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Johnston forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.317, -96.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Johnston County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Kay

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kay forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Kay County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Kingfisher

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kingfisher forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Kingfisher County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Kiowa

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Kiowa forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Kiowa County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Lincoln

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.703, -96.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D2 (severe) drought conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Lincoln County, but had worsened to D3 (extreme) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Logan

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Logan forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Logan County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Love

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Love forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
33.950, -97.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D2 (severe) drought conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Love County, but had worsened to D3 (extreme) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Major

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Major forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.312, -98.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Major County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Marshall

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.025, -96.769 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Marshall County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, McClain

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
McClain forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.009, -97.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in McClain County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Murray

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Murray forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.482, -97.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Murray County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Noble

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Noble forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Noble County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Oklahoma

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D2 (severe) drought continued through the month in Oklahoma County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Payne

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Payne forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.077, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Payne County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Pontotoc

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.728, -96.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Pontotoc County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Pottawatomie

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.207, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Pottawatomie County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Roger Mills

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Roger Mills forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.688, -99.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Roger Mills County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Seminole

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Seminole forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Seminole County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Stephens

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Stephens forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D3 (extreme) drought continued through the month in Stephens County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Tillman

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Tillman forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Tillman County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Washita

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Washita forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
35.290, -98.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Washita County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Woods

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Woods forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.767, -98.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Woods County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Woodward

When
December 1, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Woodward forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
36.423, -99.265 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

D4 (exceptional) drought continued through the month in Woodward County with persistent dry conditions.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, December 2012

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 419653, 419654, 419655, 419656, 419659, 419660, 419661, 419662, 419663, 419664, 419665, 419666, 419667, 419668, 419669, 419670, 419671, 419672, 419673, 419674, 419675, 419676, 419677, 419678, 419679, 419680, 419681, 419682, 419683, 419684, 419685, 419686, 419687, 419688, 419689, 419690, 419691, 419692, 419693, 419694, and more.