KOCO 5 meteorologists report that Oklahoma’s drought situation has worsened dramatically over the past month. After a historically dry August that delivered only 0.18 inches of rain to Oklahoma City, the state entered September with a severe rainfall deficit and soaring temperatures.
All of Oklahoma now under drought alert
At the beginning of August, roughly 60 percent of the state was classified as experiencing drought at level 1 or higher. By September 10, that figure rose to 100 percent, meaning every county now faces at least the mildest drought designation.
Extreme drought – level 3 on the U.S. Drought Monitor – has also expanded. One week ago, 41 percent of Oklahoma was under extreme drought. After a record‑setting eight days of 100‑degree or hotter weather in Oklahoma City, the extreme‑drought footprint grew to 52 percent of the state.
Exceptional drought climbs
The most severe category, exceptional drought (level 4), was virtually absent in early August, affecting only 2 percent of the state. As of September 10, that share increased to 13 percent, signaling a notable jump in the most critical water‑shortage conditions.
Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane of KOCO 5 noted, “Our rainfall deficit for the year now stands at 12.60 inches. Even with the summer’s dry spell, we fell behind on our annual totals as early as May.”
What it would take to end the drought
According to the station’s weather team, central Oklahoma would need roughly 19 inches of rain before the end of September to erase the current deficit. If the goal is to eliminate the drought by year‑end, the region would require more than 21 inches of additional rainfall over the next four months.
“Breaking the drought isn’t a matter of a single storm,” said meteorologist Mikayla Smith. “It would take a sustained period of heavy rain to bring the soil moisture back to normal levels.”
Why flash droughts develop quickly
A flash drought forms when a combination of low rainfall, extreme heat, and reduced humidity accelerates the loss of moisture from soil and vegetation. Clear skies and intense sunshine further intensify the drying process, allowing drought conditions to establish within weeks rather than months.
The recent heat wave, with multiple days exceeding 100 °F, has amplified evaporation rates, pulling even more moisture from the ground and pushing the drought forward at an accelerated pace.
Community impact and response
Local farmers, ranchers, and residents are already feeling the strain. Water restrictions have been tightened in several municipalities, and agricultural producers are adjusting planting schedules to conserve soil moisture.
KOCO 5’s First Alert Weather Team, recognized by WeatheRate for fourteen consecutive years as Oklahoma City’s most accurate forecaster, continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as new data become available.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed through local weather broadcasts and to practice water‑saving measures while authorities assess long‑term mitigation strategies.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
