Gary McManus

Tornado records topped during May

June 8, 2023 Gary McManus

Central Oklahoma has often been characterized as a haven for tornadoes, with some of that perception based in reality – and myth. There has been nothing mythical about that reputation in 2023, however. At least 11 tornadoes touched down in central Oklahoma on May 11, adding to persistent tornadic activity in that region during the…

April brings tornados and drought relief

May 4, 2023 Gary McManus

Drought relief and severe weather topped April’s weather headlines with a parched northwest Oklahoma seeing its first significant moisture in months and central Oklahoma enduring a tornado outbreak. Eighteen tornadoes touched down on April 19, a day when severe weather was thought to be limited by a warm atmospheric lid above the surface. High temperatures…

OK Rainfall Divide

April 6, 2023 Gary McManus

Oklahoma’s oddly persistent caste-like rainfall pattern—with those to the north and west of Interstate 44 seeing near-record dryness and those to the south and east experiencing abundance—continued during March. Rainfall totals to the northwest of I-44 were generally a half-inch or less, while amounts of 5-8 inches were quite common to the southeast. Ten Oklahoma…

Historic February Tornado Outbreak Strikes Oklahoma; drought lessening

March 9, 2023 Gary McManus

A potent storm system—labeled by forecasters as “historic” and “unprecedented” for February — struck Oklahoma on Feb. 26 with the full fury and power of a classic springtime severe weather outbreak. At least 10 tornadoes were confirmed during the event, with that total almost guaranteed to creep higher with further investigation by National Weather Service…