Climate Matters•May 7, 2015

Oklahoma City Deluge

Oklahoma City Deluge
oklahoma city rain

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In addition to the tornadoes that raked Oklahoma Wednesday night, a phenomenal amount of rain fell in Oklahoma City. We've fielded many questions regarding the level of rain and the extremity of this flooding event.

Additional stats:

  • 7.10" of rain fell during the calendar day (May 6).

  • The 7.10" of rain is the amount normally received from the beginning of the year through April 12.

  • In this one day, they received 71.4% of normal year-to-date rainfall. Normal year-to-date rainfall is 9.95".

  • Wednesday brought the 3rd-highest rainfall on record for any day in Oklahoma City. Records go back to 1891. The two higher values were 7.53” (Sept. 22, 1970) and 7.62” (June 14, 2010).

  • The two-day rainfall total ending Wednesday (9.09”) was the second-highest on record (10.43” on Oct. 19-20, 1983).

  • Even if no more rain falls the rest of May (currently standing at 9.09”), Oklahoma City will have its 16th-wettest May on record (wettest: 14.66” in June 1989).