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Climatologists: Drought May Return to Oklahoma

Logan Layden
/
StateImpact Oklahoma

Two years ago Oklahoma was experiencing a devastating drought. Then came 2015. Last year was the wettest year ever in Oklahoma. And the rain keeps coming. The state has breathed a collective sigh of relief since the drought’s end. But many climate scientists are now saying “not so fast,” reports StateImpact.Conditions seem to be pointing to a return of drought to the state.

Climatologist Gary McManus says it appears La Niña will follow close on the heels of EL Niño. La Niña is El Niño’s opposite. McManus explains: With La Niña there will be “an increased chance of below normal precipitation and possibly above normal temperatures as we go through the next cool season.”

That could mean less rain—a lot less. Scientists are confident La Niña is coming. They simply don’t know how strong it will be, or how long it will last.  But for now, it’s still raining.