Oklahoma Weather Discussion - February/March 2013

[Roger S]

Deke Arndt of the National Climatic Data Center, addressing the group over a video link from Washington, D.C., said drought is a natural part of the climate cycle. But the cycle, he said, “is more vigorous” in a period of changing climate.

So is he saying that the planet has had a static climate until now? This is why I can't take the "man-made climate change" scientists seriously.

[venture]

So is he saying that the planet has had a static climate until now? This is why I can't take the "man-made climate change" scientists seriously.

I wouldn't say static, but I would say more predictable. We can only go off of the data we have. Ice cores provide a decent amount of data going back 10-12 thousand years, but still not far enough to really measure accurate ice age/warm period cycles. The latest research does suggest over the last 100 years, we have warmed faster than previously discovered (so far). Does that mean man-made climate charge is real? Who knows. However, I think if we take a look at what causes a planet to warm and see what the contributors are, there has to be at least a very small link. Our population has exploded and we do produce more carbon. However, we also need to look at vegetation trends over the time as well. If there is less coverage, and its occurring naturally, then that has just as much to play (if not more) in this whole thing.

[Plutonic Panda]

This is great news! Looks like a wet, mild summer is ahead!

Ahhhh, I see what you did there.

[Plutonic Panda]

What a beautiful day it was.

[Roger S]

What a beautiful day it was.

It was a horrible day. Not a single drop of rain fell.

[Plutonic Panda]

It was a horrible day. Not a single drop of rain fell.

[Anonymous.]

Slight chance of rain Sunday evening. Better chances mid-week.

Long-term GFS showing a winter event for the last week of March. Looks like snow at this time.

[Of Sound Mind]

Long-term GFS showing a winter event for the last week of March. Looks like snow at this time.

NO! I forbid it!

[venture]

Don't worry too much. The snowfall prediction has only shown up on 3 of the last 10 GFS runs. So definitely nothing written in stone. The latest 12Z run doesn't have anything. It does have a system come through next Friday that pulls temps back below normal some. Looks like most of the moisture though is pushed east before any chance of change over. Cold air should move out in 3-4 days though after getting here.

Upcoming storm chances...

Saturday - Mainly East/South (very slim at that)
Thursday 21st - Western and Central OK during Afternoon/Evening, East after dark
Friday 29th - Western/NW OK
Saturday 30th - Central/Southern OK

[kelroy55]

I know it will rain soon... I cleaned up the jeep and dropped the top.

[OKCTalker]

The Wall Street Journal - Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News & Video - Wall Street Journal - Wsj.com

OK weather geeks. Above is a link to a book review in the Wall Street Journal; the title is "Storm Kings" and the author is Gerard Helferich, and the review's title is "The Twister Tale." It goes into historical detail about the discovery of tornadoes by early 19th century pioneers and settlers. A couple of fun passages:

"He even examines, in amusing detail, L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The children's author had never seen a tornado, and Mr. Sandlin writes that his description "does not suggest that Baum had any idea what a tornado looked like or how it behaved." As for the magical land's name, Baum's "gaze fell on his filing cabinet, where there were two drawers. One was labeled A-N, and the other, O-Z."

Then a story about damage to Tinker AFB inflicted during a March 1948 outbreak, and the base commander charging two forecasters, Robert C. Miller and E.J. Fawbush, "with devising a method of predicting the storms." Over three days' of research they confirmed the origin of tornadoes, and on the morning they presented their findings, predicted another outbreak for that afternoon between five and six o'clock. They became heroes when storms hit exactly as predicted (sometimes you get lucky).

It looks like fun reading for the wx nerds who post and read on these weather threads.

[Plutonic Panda]

Boy I sure hope winter is done. I planted my Banana trees out and moved a few of my tropicals outside. :/

[venture]

Boy I sure hope winter is done. I planted my Banana trees out and moved a few of my tropicals outside. :/

Gambler I see. :-P

[Plutonic Panda]

Gambler I see. :-P

Yeah, I did this year lol. . .

[Bunty]

Boy I sure hope winter is done. I planted my Banana trees out and moved a few of my tropicals outside. :/

I gather you did the same thing last March, and it never got below freezing. So why not gamble doing that again this year?

[Plutonic Panda]

I gather you did the same thing last March, and it never got below freezing. So why not gamble doing that again this year?

I did, but it was at the end of March. Around 30th. I've had some of my tropicals survive below freezing before 28˚ minimum. My Bananas are usually pretty tolerant but not for prolonged exposure and I usually throw a tarp over them with a heater if it gets too cold. I do have a few plants that lose leaves and might even die if it gets below 40˚ though.

[BG918]

Why are you planting tropical plants in Oklahoma?

[venture]

Why are you planting tropical plants in Oklahoma?

Probably a better question. I only plant drought hardy plants that aren't going to die during a drought or from a quick cold snap. I can understand the attraction to some of the other plants, but in the end it is a waste of money (unless you have it to burn) and a waste of water (which we can't waste right now).

[bandnerd]

Probably a better question. I only plant drought hardy plants that aren't going to die during a drought or from a quick cold snap. I can understand the attraction to some of the other plants, but in the end it is a waste of money (unless you have it to burn) and a waste of water (which we can't waste right now).

Seems like planting a cactus would be a better use of the gardening budget these days.

[Plutonic Panda]

Why are you planting tropical plants in Oklahoma?

Long story, short, it's because I want to. I actually have a small portion of my yard that has around 7-10 Banana trees and Elephant ears scattered around in that area. I have about 35 tropical plants in pots that a bring out each year. For the most part, my yard is mostly filled with native plants, though. It's a hobby really.

[Plutonic Panda]

Seems like planting a cactus would be a better use of the gardening budget these days.

I do have a few cacti scattered around. I just bought a Prickly Pear cactus last year at TLC and it's been going along quite well.

[ShiroiHikari]

Figures that the day after I plant some seeds and bring home some new plants, we get a cold, gray day.

[Plutonic Panda]

Figures that the day after I plant some seeds and bring home some new plants, we get a cold, gray day.

EXACTLY!!!!! lol

[venture]

Don't expect it to change. There will be a few bumps back into the 60s here and there, but fairly cool for the rest of the month it appears on the 12Z GFS.

Upcoming Precip Chances
- Thurs 21st through AM Friday 22nd: Mostly all rain, maybe a mix far north.
- Monday 25th: All rain, though GFS indicates change over to snow before it pulls out.
- Friday 29th through Sunday 31st: All rain, maybe some storms.

[kelroy55]

ugh... time to go put the top back up on the jeep