State
6 small earthquakes recorded in central Oklahoma
Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 01 September 2010 20:36
JONES, Okla. (AP) - Six small earthquakes have been recorded in the Luther and Jones areas in central Oklahoma. The quakes range from a preliminary 1.8 magnitude recorded by the Oklahoma Geological Survey at 1:48 a.m. Wednesday to a magnitude 3.1 recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey at 7:46 p.m. Tuesday.
No damage or injuries have been reported - but several people reported on the Oklahoma Geological Survey website that they heard a rumbling sound, felt shaking and saw small items shaking on shelves. The earthquakes were clustered in an area about 30 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The most recent was a 2.5 magnitude quake recorded at 4:17 a.m. Wednesday. Researchers say quakes of 2.5 to 3.0 magnitude quakes are typically the smallest felt by humans.
Storms damage buildings in SW Oklahoma
Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 01 September 2010 19:47
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Authorities say several buildings, including a school, were damaged and electricity was knocked out to more than 8,000 homes and businesses as severe weather moved across Oklahoma. There were no reports of injuries with the thunderstorms that bubbled up across the state Tuesday afternoon. A storm that moved through Cyril in southwestern Oklahoma ripped part of the metal roof off the building that houses the middle school and the high school.
Superintendent Jamie Mitchell says classes were in session at the time, but no one was hurt. Mitchell says at least a half-dozen classrooms and one of the offices sustained water damage. He says classes were canceled for Wednesday and may not resume this week. Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported more than 8,250 outages at the height of the storms.
Climatologist says part Oklahoma now in mild drought
Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 27 August 2010 19:01
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Following nearly a month-and-a-half of searing temperatures across Oklahoma, about half of the state is now in a mild drought.
The Oklahoma Climatological Survey in Norman said Thursday that the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the southeastern half of Oklahoma in a "flash drought." The OCS says a flash drought occurs when abnormally dry weather combines with very hot temperatures in a short period of time. The OCS says rainfall is 60 to 80 percent below normal in the region since July 12.
It says recent cooler weather is helping ease the progression of the drought - but rain is needed to offset the dryness. The Drought Monitor works with several agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
6 dead in house fire in east-central Oklahoma
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 16 August 2010 17:22
WELEETKA, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say at least six people were killed in a house fire in the town of Weleetka. Medical Examiner's office spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said Monday two adults and four children were killed in the early morning blaze. Ballard says the children's ages range from one to 11.A dispatcher at the Weleetka Police Department confirmed the deadly fire but didn't release any other details. She said officials remained on the scene late Monday morning. Weleetka is about 70 miles south of Tulsa in east-central Oklahoma.
Heat Alerts lifted in Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Written by Dick Pryor Thursday, 05 August 2010 18:28
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - With less oppressive heat forecast in Oklahoma officials have lifted Heat Alerts in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Temperatures remain in the upper 90s in the areas - but a cool front that moved through parts of the state early Thursday has helped bring the humidity down. Heat advisories and warnings remain in effect in the southeastern corner of the state where temperatures are expected above 100 degrees. National Weather Service forecaster Daryl Williams in Norman calls the slightly cooler temperatures a "brief respite." Williams says highs are expected in the upper 90s again Friday and are to again reach 100 degrees or more by Sunday.
