From staff reports As the midway point of 2024 arrived at the end of June- there was a world of worry when it came to drought concerns across Oklahoma- just over 20% of the state was(and is) in drought and a lot more was slipping closer to drought with the abnormally dry category on the rise.
Right at the end of June- heavy rains up along the Kansas border dumped several inches of rain up in Woods, Cherokee and Grant Counties (not reflected in the map above).
July first arrived- and the heat continued for a few more days but rains started rolling in over the moderate to severe drought areas in west central Oklahoma- and the result - a temporary reprieve to the extremely dry conditions in some areas that had missed most of the rain since start of June.
The map above is the rainfall amounts here in July across the state. Hobart, Kingfisher and Erick have topped the charts with all over five inches- add another half dozen Mesonet stations with more than three inches since July first- and you have liquid gold delivered to spring planted crops in many locations- as well as much needed moisture for pasture and ranges.
The rest of July and August await usbut some mighty dry areas did get a nice drink of water.
One disappointment for Oklahoma this weekend was the track of Berylthe tropical storm spun back up as a Category One Hurricane on Sunday night- back on the Fourth of July- it looked like it might make landfall around the US- Mexican border- which could have resulted in a rain making tropical depression for a significant part of eastern Oklahoma- but little if any of Beryl impact will be seen in our state- it's track will take it between Texarkana and Shreveport and right over Little Rock after battering Houston and Galveston.
In fact the Houston area is in the middle of being hit by Beryl. As of 3:30 AM- Beryl has made landfall as an 80 MPH Category 1 Hurricane.