Winter Storms Impact Statewide Drought

From Oklahoma County going west, nearly the entire state is in a drought.

Some counties are in more of a severe drought than others, but most are thankful for the snow we have received and the snow we are expecting.

"Put it in the ground and wait on God to give it back," Wheat farmer Karen Krehbiel said.

Krehbiel's own Farmer's Almanac is little more positive this week.

"It's not in the ditch; it's actually in the farmland where it could help the wheat," Krehbiel said.

Unlikely to drift, farmers prefer the more compact snow best for snowballs and snowmen. During a drought, the farmers would really take anything.

"We will absolutely take what we get and be thankful for what we get," Krehbiel added.

Western Oklahoma farmers may be a little more thankful. Those farms haven't seen a strong spring time rain for nearly three years.

"It's not a drought ender, and in some cases not even a drought denter," State Climatologist Gary McManus said.

McManus said he sees this strand of snowfall having that dent affect in the drought.

"Snow is great to replace soil moisture, which is one of the worst impacts of a drought," McManus said.

For Krehbiel, nothing replaces a steady rain storm.

"It will help, not as much as an inch of rain would help," Krehbiel said.

To compare, one inch of snow equals one tenth of an inch of rain. For moisture in February, timing is everything.

"You can't put a price on that," Krehbiel added.

When the 9-day weather outlook predicts this much precipitation, Krehbiel knows it's just part of the job.

"There is headache as far as getting around and dealing with cold temperatures, but it's part of being a farmer," Krehbiel said.

McManus also mentioned that the real impact on the drought will come in late February into March with those strong spring time storms.