Drought in Oklahoma, September 15 to 30, 2021

Name: Drought in Oklahoma, September 15 to 30, 2021
Start: 2021-09-15T00:00
End: 2021-09-30T23:59
Location: Oklahoma

September 15 to 30, 2021 · NWS OUN · 43 events in 42 counties and zones

Drought rapidly expanded across the area during the month of September, with moderate drought increasing from 7% coverage at the beginning of the month to 70% by month's end.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 43 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: 43

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.

Drought rapidly expanded across the area during the month of September, with moderate drought increasing from 7% coverage at the beginning of the month to 70% by month's end.

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 14, 9:59 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 14, 9:59 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
1059 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

...New AVIATION...

.UPDATE...
Issued at 854 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

Kansas storms have been staying north of the border, with any
approaching showers quickly dissipating before crossing.
Meanwhile, convection in southeast Colorado and eastern New Mexico
has been thus far underwhelming. Latest HRRR runs concur with this
trend, being much less aggressive in bring storms into our area.
Therefore, have reduced PoPs through the morning hours.

Day

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 248 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

The cold front in Kansas will shift toward the Oklahoma border this
evening. There are some building cumulus in northwestern
Oklahoma, but most of the development has been elevated and
farther north in Kansas so far.

The timing trends continue to slow the storm timing for our forecast
area. There may be some convection hovering near or just north of
the Oklahoma-Kansas border this evening near the surface front,
but much of this may stay north of the border. Higher chances of
storms will be with storms rolling off the High Plains of Colorado
this evening and moving east-southeast toward northwestern
Oklahoma. The convective-allowing models have differing ideas of
the evolutions of these storms with the HRRR being the most
aggressive in bringing these into northwestern Oklahoma tonight
with the GFS also showing some QPF into the area, but most of the
models dissipate the convection before moving into the area. So
have delayed the precipitation chances in the area and reduced the
POPs somewhat in general with these model trends.

There will be some elevated instability this evening, so there will
be a window in time for some strong or marginally severe storms this
evening, but the potential will decrease in the early morning hours
with decreasing instability.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday night through next Monday)
Issued at 228 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

The long term should be dry through the remainder of the week and
into the weekend. Mid-level ridging will set in over the Southern
Plains, and warmer temperatures will accompany it. High
temperatures should gradually rise into the mid 90s this weekend.
Early next week, a strong mid-level trough will move across the
Central/High Plains. An attendant cold front will sweep through
Tuesday afternoon and overnight. Showers and thunderstorms are
possible along this cold front as it moves through OK, but
confidence in coverage and timing is low at this time.
Temperatures early next week behind the front could cool down
substantially relative to this weekend's temperatures, where
highs could be in the lower 80s across the area.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1040 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

Outflow from the Kansas storms should bring a brief north /
northeasterly wind shift to northern TAF sites. A few isolated
storms may impact northwestern Oklahoma overnight. Otherwise, VFR
conditions and light (somewhat variable) winds should continue
outside of any convection.

Day

&&

.UPPER AIR...
Issued at 228 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

No Upper Air flights are planned at this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  89  67  88  66 /   0  10  10   0
Hobart OK         91  65  90  65 /   0  10  10   0
Wichita Falls TX  90  65  90  66 /   0  10   0   0
Gage OK           92  64  88  65 /   0  20  10   0
Ponca City OK     92  66  87  66 /  10  20  10   0
Durant OK         88  65  89  66 /  10  10  10   0

&&

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

SHORT TERM...26
LONG TERM....13
AVIATION...14

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 14, 9:54 PM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
1054 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-151000-
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-
1054 PM CDT Tue Sep 14 2021

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight...

Thunderstorms...
Scattered thunderstorms will be possible across northern and
western portions of Oklahoma during the overnight hours. Gusty
wind and brief heavy rain will occur with the stronger storms, but
severe weather is unlikely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday...

Thunderstorms...
Isolated non-severe thunderstorms will be possible across central
and southeast Oklahoma on Wednesday.

.Heat...
Heat indices are forecast to increase Friday through next Monday.
Values in the 100 to 105 range appear possible.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

43 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Atoka

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Beckham

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Blaine

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Bryan

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Caddo

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Canadian

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Carter

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Cleveland

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Coal

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Comanche

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Cotton

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Custer

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Dewey

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Garfield

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Garvin

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Garvin

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Grady

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Grant

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Greer

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Harmon

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Hughes

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Jackson

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Jefferson

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Johnston

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Kay

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Kingfisher

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Kiowa

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Lincoln

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Logan

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Love

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Marshall

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, McClain

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Murray

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Noble

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Oklahoma

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Payne

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Pontotoc

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Pottawatomie

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Roger Mills

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Seminole

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Stephens

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Tillman

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

Drought, Washita

When: September 15, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 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)

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 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, September 2021

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: 985897, 985898, 985899, 985900, 985901, 985902, 985903, 985904, 985905, 985906, 985907, 985908, 985909, 985910, 985911, 985912, 985913, 985914, 985915, 985916, 985917, 985918, 985919, 985920, 985921, 985922, 985923, 985924, 985925, 985926, 985927, 985928, 985929, 985930, 985931, 985932, 985933, 985934, 985935, 985936, and more.