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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District News

Tulsa District Reservoir Drought Update - May 6

Published May 6, 2015
As of April 28, approximately 37 percent of the lower 48 states remained in some level of drought. Tulsa District varied from normal conditions in some eastern areas to the exceptional drought level in western portions.

As of April 28, approximately 37 percent of the lower 48 states remained in some level of drought. Tulsa District varied from normal conditions in some eastern areas to the exceptional drought level in western portions.

DROUGHT UPDATE:  As of April 28, approximately 37 percent of the lower 48 states remained in some level of drought. Tulsa District, which includes the Red River and Arkansas River watersheds, varied from normal conditions in some eastern areas to the exceptional drought level in western portions. This will change significantly by the week of May 11, but most of the western projects in the district will remain low. The Waurika Lake watershed picked up about 2.5 inches and Skiatook picked up about 1.5 inches. Some runoff is showing up, but it is too early to see lake effects. Canton received less rain and little runoff has been observed.

WEATHER UPDATE:  The Tulsa District received significant widespread rain May 5 and 6 with more to come.  The heaviest bands of 2-4 inches fell in the Texas Panhandle and in central portions of the District.  The ongoing rain is weakening and will move off northeast of our area late on May 6.  Additional rain and storms are likely May 6-11. The best chances are in the night of May 8 through May 9 timeframe as well as May 10. The 5-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) shows 2-4 inches over about the eastern half of the district, dropping to about 1 inch in the middle of the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Locally heavier amounts of 7 inches have been mentioned so localized flooding is possible, especially in urban areas. Remember Turn Around, Don’t Drown. 

A drought index link is:

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Canadian River Basin

Lake

Conservation Pool

Drought Level

Canton

29

2

 

Red River Basin

Lake

Conservation Pool

Drought Level

Waurika

 27

4

 

 Verdigris River Basin

Lake 

Conservation Pool

Drought Level

Skiatook

 53

 2

Drought Level changes from previous week:

Canton Lake dropped from Drought Level 3 to 2.

PROJECTS ABOVE 25 PERCENT FULL (FLOOD CONTROL POOL) OR FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE 25 PERCENT FULL

Little River:

Broken Bow is 609.8 (30 percent of the flood control pool) and falling.  Releases are 8,000 cfs.