Drought in Oklahoma, June 1 to 30, 2020

Name: Drought in Oklahoma, June 1 to 30, 2020
Start: 2020-06-01T00:00
End: 2020-06-30T23:59
Location: Oklahoma

June 1 to 30, 2020 · NWS OUN · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

A sudden end to rains during May led to the rapid expansion of drought during the month over much of northwestern Oklahoma.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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: 14

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.

A sudden end to rains during May led to the rapid expansion of drought during the month over much of northwestern Oklahoma.

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 May 31, 9:40 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 9:40 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
1040 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 1231 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

Little change is expected as the upper high pressure continues
over Oklahoma through Monday. South winds will continue and clear
skies. Monday may be a few degrees hotter in central and northern
Oklahoma while some high clouds may enter southern Oklahoma.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday night through next Saturday)
Issued at 220 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

A small, relatively weak, disorganized mid/upper-level
circulation will move from west Texas across Oklahoma on
Wednesday. Ahead of this feature, increasing moisture and
instability will lead to a low chance of thunderstorms near the
Red River. Then, as the disturbance passes over Oklahoma, the
(still low) chance for storms will shift mainly into central and
eastern Oklahoma. With minimal vertical wind shear and relatively
weak instability, severe weather is not expected.

Models are coming into better agreement on the development of a
tropical cyclone in the western Gulf of Mexico toward the end of
the forecast period. There are, however, still large differences
in timing and placement of the feature by that time. Later shifts
may need to add chances for showers/thunderstorms for parts of
next week, most likely over our eastern counties.

Otherwise, temperatures are expected to continue to rise each day
under an upper-level ridge. Daily high temperatures will level
off around midweek, ranging from the lower 90s F in the east to
the upper 90s F in the west.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1039 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

Mid-upper level clouds will continue to increase overnight and
tomorrow. VFR conditions expected with mainly light southeast
winds most terminals, although southerly gusts 20-25KT likely far
western Oklahoma. Rain late in the forecast period expected to
stay south of KSPS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  61  85  65  87 /   0   0   0   0
Hobart OK         62  87  65  89 /   0  10   0   0
Wichita Falls TX  63  87  67  88 /   0   0   0  10
Gage OK           60  90  63  93 /   0   0   0   0
Ponca City OK     62  87  65  89 /   0   0   0   0
Durant OK         61  84  65  86 /   0  10   0  20

&&

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

SHORT TERM...09
LONG TERM....23
AVIATION...11

Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 5:39 PM CST, 6 hours 21 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
639 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-012345-
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-
639 PM CDT Sun May 31 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Through tonight...

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday...

.Thunderstorms...
Low chances for thunderstorms will arrive Tuesday near the Red
River, and continue Wednesday for portions of the eastern two
thirds of Oklahoma. Severe weather is not expected.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Ellis

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 36.218, -99.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Roger Mills

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Roger Mills forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.688, -99.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dewey

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dewey forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.988, -99.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Custer

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Custer forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Blaine

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Blaine forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.875, -98.433 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Major

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Major forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 36.312, -98.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Garfield

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kingfisher

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kingfisher forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Logan

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Noble

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Noble forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Beckham

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Beckham forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.269, -99.682 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Greer

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greer forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Washita

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Washita forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.290, -98.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kiowa

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kiowa forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, June 2020

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: 901440, 901442, 901443, 901445, 901446, 901447, 901448, 901449, 901450, 901451, 901452, 901453, 901454, 901455.