Event narrative (NOAA)
Drought conditions persisted and expanded across the area into the first month of the new year. Drought levels ranged from severe to exceptional (D2-D4), with the driest conditions in southeast Oklahoma. Some precipitation did fall during the month, mainly in the form of snow, which did not do much to alleviate the dry conditions over the area. The new year started off with a bang with a major wildfire event occurring across the area on New Year's Day due to strong winds, some gusting over 50 mph, and low humidities. The biggest fire occurred in Kingfisher county where more than 31,360 across were burned. Another large fire occurred on January 1st in the Arbuckle Mountains of Murray county where 18,000 acres were scorched. Many federal, state, tribal, and local assets along with assistance
Other notable drought events in Oklahoma
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.