Drought in Oklahoma, October 1 to 31, 2012

Name: Drought in Oklahoma, October 1 to 31, 2012
Start: 2012-10-01T00:00
End: 2012-10-31T23:59
Location: Oklahoma

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

With lack of any appreciable rainfall during the month of October, drought conditions persisted and/or worsened during the month.

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.

With lack of any appreciable rainfall during the month of October, drought conditions persisted and/or worsened during the month.

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 Sep 30, 10:11 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 30, 10:11 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1111 PM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

.AVIATION...
01/06Z TAFS...FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE FORECAST WE WILL GO WITH VFR
CONDITIONS. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 15Z TOMORROW
AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION. WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES
AT MOST LOCATIONS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW MORNING...ALONG
WITH A WET GROUND AND LIGHT WIND...WE WILL GO AHEAD AND FORECAST
AT LEAST TEMPO BR-FG AT ALL BUT FAR NORTHERN OKLAHOMA TERMINALS.
DRIER AIR AND SOME UNCERTAINTY TO WIND SPEED INCREASE TOWARD
DAYBREAK WILL KEEP US FROM ADDING FOG AT KGAG-KWWR-KPNC. CURRENTLY
EXPECT STORMS TO STAY NORTH AND WEST OF TERMINALS LATE TONIGHT BUT
WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  54  81  55  78 /  10   0  10  10
HOBART OK         55  79  54  80 /  10  20  10  10
WICHITA FALLS TX  56  83  57  83 /  10  20  10  10
GAGE OK           52  78  47  81 /  20  20   0  10
PONCA CITY OK     54  82  52  78 /  10   0  10  10
DURANT OK         57  81  58  82 /  10   0  10  10

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...NONE.
TX...NONE.
&&

84/11/11

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 30, 7:46 PM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
846 PM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-011200-
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-
846 PM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

DISCUSSION...
THE UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL HAS MOVED EAST
OF THE AREA...PROMPTING AND END TO SHOWER ACTIVITY ACROSS THE REGION.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TONIGHT CROSS PARTS OF THE TEXAS
AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. THIS ACTIVITY WILL GENERALLY REMAIN WEST OF
OUR AREA...BUT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS MAY MOVE FAR ENOUGH EAST
TO REACH FAR WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND PERHAPS WESTERN NORTH TEXAS LATE
TONIGHT. WITH VERY LITTLE SURFACE MOISTURE AND WEAK INSTABILITY...
SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER... BRIEF GUSTY WINDS OF 40
TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH ANY STRONG STORMS THAT MANAGE TO MAKE IT INTO FAR WESTERN PARTS
OF OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT MONDAY OCT 1.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...20 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...LESS THAN 5 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY ACROSS PARTS
OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SWINGS
THROUGH THE AREA...THEREAFTER...COOL AND DRY FALL LIKE WEATHER IS
EXPECTED.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

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

KURTZ/AUSTIN

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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Atoka County, but had improved slightly to D2 (severe) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Beckham

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Caddo

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Carter County, but had improved slightly to D2 (severe) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Coal

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Coal County, but had improved slightly to D2 (severe) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Comanche

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 conditions were present at the beginning of the month in Cotton County, but had improved slightly to D2 (severe) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Cleveland

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Custer

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Dewey

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Ellis

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Harper

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Jackson

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 conditions were present in Johnston County at the beginning of the month, but had improved slightly to D2 (severe) drought by the end of the month.

Drought, Kay

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Lincoln

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 continued through the month in Lincoln County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Logan

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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 continued through the month in Love County with persistent dry conditions.

Drought, Major

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, McClain

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Noble

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Pottawatomie

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Roger Mills

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Seminole

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Stephens

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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)

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

Drought, Woods

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 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

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, October 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: 414481, 414482, 414483, 414484, 414485, 414486, 414487, 414488, 414489, 414490, 414491, 414492, 414493, 414495, 414496, 414497, 414498, 414499, 414501, 414502, 414503, 414504, 414506, 414507, 414508, 414509, 414510, 414511, 414512, 414513, 414514, 414515, 414516, 414517, 414518, 414519, 414520, 414521, 414522, 414523, and more.