Stillwater leads Oklahoma for most rainfall

Stillwater has received more than 14 inches during the past 30 days and more than 22 inches during the past 60 days, according to Oklahoma Mesonet data.

The Oklahoma Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations designed and implemented by scientists at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. More than 115 sites report weather and soil information from every county in the state.

“Looking at all the Mesonet stations, Stillwater is in ‘first place’ for rainfall for the last 30-day and 60-day periods, and trails only Minco by 0.16 of an inch for rainfall during the last 90-day period,” said J.D. Carlson, OSU Mesonet researcher and meteorologist with the department of biosystems and agricultural engineering.

Stillwater stands – or floats – at 31.71 inches of total rainfall for the 2007 calendar year, according to data available through June 20.  From 1971-2000, the average annual rainfall for Stillwater was 36.71 inches.

“To put that in perspective, if Stillwater were to experience its current level of rainfall to date over the whole year, local residents would be dealing with more than 63 inches of precipitation,” Carlson said.

Monthly rainfall totals to date for Stillwater are: January, 1.34 inches; February, 0.42 inches; March, 5.46 inches; April, 4.15 inches; May, 10.43 inches; and June, 9.91 inches as of June 20.

The Payne County Extension Office has been fielding lots of lawn-and-garden questions from homeowners about fungus on plants, algae problems in lawns from standing water, swarming insects, and similar inquiries.

“People are coming in all the time, plants in hand, and asking, ‘what’s wrong with my plant?’” said Kelsey McCollom, Payne County Extension horticulture educator. “In many cases, it’s just too much water and the plant will look better once it dries out.”

As for county agricultural production, wheat harvest has effectively stalled.

“If we’re lucky, Payne County has 20 percent of the wheat out,” said Nathan Anderson, Payne County Extension director and agricultural educator. “We’ve got some producers who haven’t been able to cut a stalk. Test weights are dropping every time it rains, and are currently averaging in the mid 40s, with the best in the low 50s.”

Forage is likewise being affected in a negative manner.

“We have an abundance of forage but can’t get it put up and stored,” Anderson said. “I know producers who are still laying it down just because we get some sunny days. As soon as they lay it down, here comes a hot, 90-degree day that boils up another storm and we get hit again with all the rain.”

According to Mesonet data, there have been 23 sites that have received more rain in the first six and a half months of 2007 than all of last year; three of those sites are in Payne County.

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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
Interim ACS Director/News and Media Relations Manager
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating.  Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.