State Climate Update for
August 2005
August,
at the heart of the monsoon season across
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
PDSI |
CD1 |
64.0% |
83.8% (0) |
96.4% |
CD2 |
28.8% |
76.6% (0) |
88.3% |
CD3 |
52.3% |
70.3% (0) |
90.1% |
CD4 |
36.9% |
55.0% (0) |
71.2% |
CD5 |
73.9% |
90.1% (0) |
99.1% |
CD6 |
66.7% |
82.9% (0) |
91.9% |
CD7 |
34.2% |
72.1% (0) |
46.9% |
1-month percentiles of temperature, precipitation (with
drought category), and Palmer Drought Severity Index for the 7
June 2005 – August 2005
Three-month
precipitation values that represent the traditional summer season (monsoon
season is approximately July through September) indicate above-average precipitation
across western and south-central
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
71.2% |
81.1% (0) |
CD2 |
52.3% |
47.8% (0) |
CD3 |
67.6% |
55.9% (0) |
CD4 |
57.7% |
42.3% (0) |
CD5 |
79.3% |
86.5% (0) |
CD6 |
87.4% |
73.0% (0) |
CD7 |
85.6% |
23.4% (2) |
3-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
March 2005 – August 2005
Six-month
precipitation values indicate evidence of drought conditions in southeastern
(CD 7; moderate drought) and east-central (CD 4; abnormally dry)
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
72.1% |
65.8% (0) |
CD2 |
67.6% |
46.8% (0) |
CD3 |
73.0% |
45.1% (0) |
CD4 |
70.3% |
35.1% (1) |
CD5 |
75.7% |
73.9% (0) |
CD6 |
82.0% |
53.2% (0) |
CD7 |
82.9% |
18.9% (2) |
6-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
September 2004 – August 2005
There
is no evidence of drought conditions within the state when examining 12-month
precipitation values. Most regions were characterized by well above normal
precipitation, including totals in the 90th percentile for 6 of the
7 regions, and the wettest September-August period on record for 2 of the
regions (CDs 2 and 3). The relatively drier area continues to be across the
southeast (CD 7; 69th percentile). Still, the 12-month precipitation
total in that region was above the long-term median. Temperatures across the
state were above normal for the past 12-month period, but again, the values
were not near unprecedented levels.
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
77.3% |
99.1% (0) |
CD2 |
82.7% |
100% (0) |
CD3 |
77.3% |
100% (0) |
CD4 |
78.2% |
91.8% (0) |
CD5 |
73.6% |
99.1% (0) |
CD6 |
83.6% |
95.5% (0) |
CD7 |
67.3% |
69.1% (0) |
12-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
September 2003 – August 2005
Twenty-four
month precipitation values continue to indicate rather wet conditions across
the state, as all regions but the southeast (CD 7) were comfortably above the
long-term median value, and well above across the western portion of the state.
The 2-year precipitation total was near average across southeastern
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
83.5% |
92.7% (0) |
CD2 |
89.9% |
83.5% (0) |
CD3 |
90.8% |
88.1% (0) |
CD4 |
95.4% |
67.9% (0) |
CD5 |
89.9% |
96.3% (0) |
CD6 |
89.9% |
85.3% (0) |
CD7 |
82.6% |
52.3% (0) |
24-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
September 2002 – August 2005
Precipitation
totals for the longer 3-year period indicate conditions that are not as wet
when considering the past two years, as a portion of the very dry year of 2002
enters the timeframe. Relatively dry conditions are evident across the
southeastern portion of the state (CD 7; 25th percentile), where the
total precipitation for the period is suggestive of “abnormally” conditions.
Elsewhere, precipitation was either at or above the long-term median for the
3-year period. Temperatures for the period were well above the historical
median; however, the longer 3-year time period likely illustrates the more
general climatic changes of the past several decades rather than shorter term
anomalies.
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
86.1% |
89.8% (0) |
CD2 |
91.7% |
75.9% (0) |
CD3 |
93.5% |
85.2% (0) |
CD4 |
97.2% |
50.0% (0) |
CD5 |
92.6% |
93.5% (0) |
CD6 |
93.5% |
79.6% (0) |
CD7 |
87.0% |
25.9% (1) |
36-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
September 2001 – August 2005
Forty
eight-month precipitation values indicate the presence of longer-term drought
conditions across two areas of the state, with abnormally dry conditions across
another three areas. All regions within the state, except for the southwest (CD
5), have been characterized by less than average precipitation over the 4-year
period. Precipitation totals for the period indicate “abnormally dry”
conditions across the northeastern (CD 2), west-central (CD 3), and south-central
(CD 6) portions of the state. Long-term conditions suggestive of “severe
drought” exist across southeastern (CD 7) and east-central (CD 4)
|
Temperature |
Precipitation |
CD1 |
88.8% |
46.7% (0) |
CD2 |
92.5% |
39.3% (1) |
CD3 |
97.2% |
36.5% (1) |
CD4 |
98.1% |
9.4% (3) |
CD5 |
92.5% |
76.6% (0) |
CD6 |
96.3% |
34.6% (1) |
CD7 |
96.3% |
10.3% (3) |
48-month percentiles of temperature, and precipitation (with
drought category) for the 7
Summary
Corresponding
with the heart of the monsoon season, August 2005 was characterized by rather wet
conditions across the state, and the wet fall and winter conditions of 2004-05 were
still reflected in high (wet) Palmer Drought Index Values. Problematic was the
re-emergence of dry conditions across southeastern