Southern Plains Climate and Drought Update: October 2024

Drought developed or worsened across Oklahoma over the summer. In September, Extreme Drought (D3) expanded over southwest Oklahoma, northwest Texas, and southern Kansas. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlooks predict increased chances for warmer- and drier-than-normal conditions through the end of the year across the Southern Plains and into adjacent states. In fact, parts of eastern Texas that experienced flooding in early summer are now likely to develop drought by mid-fall. 

With the rapid development of drought likely across the Southern Plains, and beyond, this webinar looked at current conditions and the climate outlooks through winter.

View a summary and recording of this webinar.

Speakers and Presentations:

• Drought Conditions in Texas: John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist
• Drought Conditions in Oklahoma: Gary McManus, Oklahoma State Climatologist
• Drought Conditions in Kansas: Matthew Sittel, Kansas Assistant State Climatologist
• Forecasts and Outlooks: Adam Hartman, NOAA's National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center

For more information, please contact Joel Lisonbee (joel.lisonbee@noaa.gov).