According to the latest Drought Monitor for Oklahoma released July fourth, while Oklahoma remains free of extreme or exceptional drought as we begin July- recent weeks have seen a rapid spread of Abnormally Dry or worse conditions in all but southeastern Oklahoma.
The coverage area of just Abnormally Dry has grown by forty percent in a single week- and now covers all of the western half of the state and much of northeastern Oklahoma as well.
Severe drought has increased to 3.78% of the state- mainly covering some of Major County, all of Blaine County as well as parts of Beckham, Caddo, Custer, Greer and Washita counties. Last week-1.03% of the state was in severe drought.
Moderate drought or worse rose 2 percentage points- from 20.48% to 22.3% from last week to this week. North Central into West Central parts of the state are the driest and where we are finding Moderate drought conditions.
Abnormally dry or worse ratings have jumped from 53.12% of the state to 67.12% of Oklahoma colored yellow in the graphic above. While that is still not as bad as early July 2023- it is getting close as the Abnormally dry or worse number a year ago was 73.77%.