2003 Weather and Climate Review

2003 Was a Dry Year for Oklahoma and Western North Texas

Several things come to mind when thinking about this past year's weather events. Many people will remember how dry it was or how they were affected by the May 8th and 9th tornado events. The year of 2003 ends up as the 11th driest for Oklahoma City with a deficit of 13.22 inches of rainfall. At Wichita Falls, the moisture deficit is 7.72 inches, leaving it the 13th driest year on record. Despite an active spring with respect to tornadic activity, no tornadoes occurred over Oklahoma, or western north Texas, after May 16. If no tornadoes occur through January 10, 2004, the state of Oklahoma will see the longest "tornado-less" period on record (based on tornado records dating back to 1950.)

Broken down by month, here are some 2003 weather highlights for Oklahoma and western north Texas.

January

Although the monthly average temperatures were near normal, a dry year began with a vengeance. This was the second driest January for the state of Oklahoma as a whole, the third driest at Oklahoma City, and the seventh driest at Wichita Falls, Texas.

February

The month of February took on a more wintry personality, with average to above average precipitation and below normal temperatures. After a few warm days to start the month, the first in a series of winter storms moved into the Southern Plains. The difference of just a few days and about 130 miles shows how much the weather can change in Oklahoma. On February 2nd, Altus broke state records with a high temperature of 87 degrees, and then on the 8th, Fort Supply recorded a low temperature of 6 degrees below zero. There was plenty of snow during the month, with winter storms occurring on the 9th and 10th, 23rd and 24th, and the 26th, with north central and southeast parts of Oklahoma the hardest hit. The highest storm total snowfall occurred at Kildare in Kay County, where 18 inches of snow fell on the 23rd.

March

The month of March was highlighted by a return to drier conditions and Oklahoma's first tornado of the year. Even though the month started off with some flooding rainfalls, most locations across Oklahoma and western north Texas ended the month at least 1 inch below normal for rainfall and near normal with respect to monthly average temperatures. The first three tornadoes of the year occurred on March 17th near Gotebo and Pumpkin Center in southwest Oklahoma.

April

Slightly above normal temperatures and much below normal precipitation were experienced at most locales during the month of April. The driest locations included central and southern Oklahoma. There were periodic bouts of severe weather, yielding an average number of tornadoes for the NWS Norman County Warning Area. The strongest tornado, rated an F2, occurred on the 15th near the town of Williams in far northern Hardeman County, Texas.

May

May 2003 was another reminder that weather across the Southern Plains can be very dangerous. Although there were several severe weather episodes during the month of May, the strong and violent tornadoes that ripped through the area on May 8th and 9th drew the most attention. Beginning during the early morning hours, strong tornadoes struck extreme south central Oklahoma near Cornish, Overbrook, and Antioch. Later in the day, another round of thunderstorms produced a violent tornado that affected Moore, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, and Choctaw. This tornado took on a path very similar to the May 3, 1999 devastating tornado. On the next day, numerous tornadoes plagued central Oklahoma again, affecting areas a little further north, through the Binger, Union City, Bethany and north Oklahoma City areas. During the two day tornado onslaught, 47 injuries were reported, but thankfully, no deaths.

Temperatures ended up near normal for the month at most locations, and precipitation varied greatly. Although it was a drier than normal month for the region, portions of western north Texas received above normal precipitation amounts. Wichita Falls ended the month with 4.42 inches of rainfall, 0.50 inches above normal. This trend continued into June.

June

Cooler and wetter conditions prevailed to start the summer season. For the state of Oklahoma as a whole, June ended up being the 8th coolest. For Oklahoma City, it was the ninth coolest, and for Wichita Falls, Texas, the fifth coolest. A big relief to the drought conditions was felt at most locations, especially over southwest parts of Oklahoma and much of western north Texas. Wichita Falls ended the month with a monthly rainfall surplus of over 3 inches! It was the ninth wettest June on record for Wichita Falls. There were no tornadoes reported during the month, which makes it only the second June on record without any tornadic activity!

July

July brought a return to very dry conditions and above normal temperatures. It was the fourth driest July on record for the state of Oklahoma, and conditions were not any better for western north Texas. No rainfall was measured during the entire month at Wichita Falls, making it the driest July on record there.

Outside of the very dry conditions, there was a notable severe weather episode toward the end of the month. During the early morning hours on the 30th, high winds and large hail moved through northern portions of Norman. Measured winds of 79 mph and golf ball size hail resulted in widespread damage. Nearly 20,000 people lost power due to the storm.

August

The above normal temperatures of July continued through a good part of August, as triple digit readings were common through much of the month. Although this heat wave was temporarily interrupted around the middle of the month, a more pronounced cooling trend and wet period commenced toward the end of August. This relief came in the form of remnants from tropical storm grace. One to three-inch rainfall amounts were received from this system, allowing both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls to end the month with above normal precipitation amounts.

September

Following the wet month of August, it was back to dry conditions for September. A majority of Oklahoma and western north Texas saw monthly averages of rainfall at least one to two inches below normal, which offset much of the benefit of the August rains. Temperatures remained below normal, as it was the eighth coolest September on record for the state of Oklahoma. This was only the third September since 1891 that Oklahoma City did not reach a daytime high of at least 90 degrees.

October

Dry conditions persisted into October at most locations. Although there were localized heavy rain events during the month, monthly rainfall deficits of 2 to 3 inches were common. For example, during a two day period of the 8th and 9th, portions of Logan, Payne, and Lincoln counties accumulated between 4 and 7 inches of rainfall, While Oklahoma City recorded 0.73 inches. During the same event, Wichita Falls only reported a trace of rain.

Temperatures warmed back up after a cooler than normal September. Monthly average temperatures were anywhere from one to three degrees above normal, primarily due to a well above normal temperature period during the middle of the month.

November

Relatively warm and dry conditions continued through November, which appears to be the main theme this year. The driest conditions were seen over mainly north central through western Oklahoma, and areas west of Wichita Falls in western north Texas. Eastern parts of Oklahoma, down through Wichita Falls, Texas, fared well with precipitation accumulations near or above normal.

December

The year ended much as it started with below normal precipitation occurring in the month of December. Wichita Falls recorded only 0.11 inches of rainfall for the month, which is the eighth driest December on record. Although Oklahoma City saw a little more rainfall, 1.11 inches for the month, it was still over three quarters of an inch below normal. The weather in December was warmer than normal as average temperatures for the month generally ranged from 3 to 5 degrees above normal.

However, a the northern half of Oklahoma received beneficial precipitation in the form of snow as two winter weather systems moved through the area on 9th and 10th, and the 12th and 13th. The second storm dumped heavy snow on north central Oklahoma and some locations in Grant County saw snowfall totals as high as 12 inches.