Local
Oklahoma downpours refill ponds and lift Lake Hefner, but recovery is far off
Rainfall approaching a foot in some areas last week raised lake levels and refilled farm ponds across parts of Oklahoma. Lake Hefner remains five feet below normal, and the state needs several more inches of rain to recover from drought.
Heavy rain brought a sharp but incomplete reprieve from drought in Oklahoma last week, filling farm ponds and boosting lake levels across central and western parts of the state.
Some areas received nearly a foot of rain. In Edmond, a pond that had been nearly dry just weeks earlier rose enough that KOCO meteorologist Michael Armstrong said he would now need a boat or swimsuit to reach its middle.
Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City also rebounded after falling nearly eight feet below normal since July. Its recovery reflects both the recent rainfall and a water release from Canton Lake. Even so, Hefner remained five feet below normal as of Monday, Oct. 19.
The rain has not ended the drought. Canton Lake remains low, and significant additional precipitation is needed to replenish reservoirs, aquifers and agricultural land across much of Oklahoma. Armstrong said the state will need several more inches of rain for a fuller recovery.
Meteorologists were expected to issue another drought update later in the week. The recent gains offer relief for local water supplies and recreation, but lake levels show how much ground remains to make up after months of little to no rain.