Rains Bring Drought Relief to Much of Oklahoma

• Joe Wertz
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  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

U.S. Drought Monitor

Recent rains have dramatically improved statewide drought conditions, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show.

Slightly more than half the state is experiencing some form of drought, which is a big improvement from the 75 percent reported on July 23.

Conditions in areas suffering from the most extreme drought classifications — “exceptional” and “extreme” — have improved significantly, but high levels of drought remain in west and southwest Oklahoma, data show.

Rainfall has been widespread, but not even, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officials noted in their weekly weather and crop bulletin:

… parts of  western Oklahoma and the Panhandle received less than half an inch, while places in central and eastern Oklahoma received upwards of six inches.

All of the rainfall resulted in improvements in condition ratings for most row crops, as well as pasture conditions and provided run-off for livestock water sources.