Oklahoma, 2023

Drought in Oklahoma, October 1 to 31, 2023

October 1 to 31, 2023 · NWS TSA · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Despite a couple rounds of locally heavy rainfall across eastern Oklahoma during October, much of the area received below average rainfall for the month. Generally, much of the region received between three and five inches of rain, with some areas receiving from six to eight inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 TSA wrote it up.

Despite a couple rounds of locally heavy rainfall across eastern Oklahoma during October, much of the area received below average rainfall for the month. Generally, much of the region received between three and five inches of rain, with some areas receiving from six to eight inches. However, there were large areas of northeastern Oklahoma that received less than three inches of rain during the month. As a result of the rainfall pattern this month, some areas of eastern Oklahoma received up to 200 percent of normal average rainfall, while areas of northeastern Oklahoma received from 25 to 50 percent of normal average rainfall. The long-term drought conditions improved across much of southeastern Oklahoma from extreme (D3) drought conditions to severe (D2) drought conditions, and much of the extreme (D3) drought conditions across portions of Osage and Washington Counties improved to severe (D2) drought conditions. Severe (D2) drought conditions also persisted across portions of Nowata and Pawnee Counties. Monetary damage estimates as a result of the drought were not available.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Pushmataha

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pushmataha forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
34.416, -95.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Choctaw

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Choctaw forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
34.027, -95.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Osage

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Osage forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations

Drought, Washington

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
36.715, -95.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Nowata

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Nowata forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
36.799, -95.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pawnee

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pawnee forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
36.317, -96.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pittsburg

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 24, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pittsburg forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
34.924, -95.748 (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

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, October 2023

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1142140, 1142141, 1142142, 1142143, 1142144, 1142145, 1142146.