Oklahoma Mesonet // Press Releases

• University of Oklahoma Presents Meteorological Recommendations to the Republic of Croatia (6/18/2009)
• Two Oklahoma Educators Honored with Public Service Award from State Climate Agency (5/5/2009)
• First-of-its-kind Weather Observing Network Located in Oklahoma City Unveiled Today During the National Weather Festival (11/11/2008)
• University of Oklahoma Awarded $3.8 Million NOAA-funded Project For Climate, Drought Assessments, Planning Tools (10/8/2008)
• Oklahoma Panhandle Drought Labeled "Exceptional" (6/19/2008)
• University of Oklahoma Meteorology Team to Visit Croatia for Needs Assessment (6/18/2008)
• Climate Change Statement for Oklahoma: An Official Statement of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (10/29/2007)
• OCS Climatologist to Speak at National Convention (10/3/2007)
• Can Parts of Oklahoma Still Be Dry? (7/30/2007)
• 14 Percent Less Tan (6/20/2007)
• June 2007 Now Wettest on Record Statewide (6/29/2007)
• It was the Wettest of Times... (6/20/2007)
• First 90-degree day in Oklahoma City (6/8/2007)
• Drought Ends in Oklahoma (sort of) (4/5/2007)
• El Niño Fizzles...Does Drought Return? (2/6/2007)
• Drought Picture in Oklahoma Mixed (12/14/2006)
• Drought Improvements (mostly) Not Warranted (12/7/2006)
• Oklahoma Dodges a Bullet (12/4/2006)
• Drought Remains Severe in Northwest Oklahoma (11/9/2006)
• Crimson and, Um, Orange? OU shares Norman campus with OSU (10/26/2006)
• Halloween Weather (10/23/2006)
• Early Freeze for Oklahoma? (10/10/2006)
• The Migration of Royalty (10/9/2006)
• El Niño and Oklahoma Drought: Friend or Foe? (9/19/2006)
• Drought in Southern Oklahoma Deemed "Exceptional" (8/30/2006)
• July 2006 Far From Warmest For Oklahoma (7/25/2006)
• Summer May Be Just Getting Started (7/25/2006)
• Weekend Rain OK (6/19/2006)
• Norman Meteorologist Travels to China (6/6/2006)
• Out With a BANG? (5/3/2006)
• Just A Drop in the Bucket (3/9/2006)
• March 1 Record Temperatures (3/2/2006)
• La Niña's Return May Spell Doom for Drought Relief (2/20/2006)
• Oklahoma Drought Update (2/10/2006)
• Drought: Oklahoma's Costliest Weather Hazard (1/27/2006)
• Rain Helps Some But Drought Far From Over (1/23/2006)
• January Burn Conditions Set Records (1/19/2006)
• It's Not Always Warm In Oklahoma (1/12/2006)
• Dryness Lingers On for Much of State (6/17/2004)
• May 2004 Likely To Be State's Driest (6/1/2004)
• Nebraska Snows and Oklahoma's Woes (2/16/2004)
• November: Feast or Famine (12/02/2003)
• Monthly Climate of Oklahoma - October (10/09/2003)
• Royal Wind Vanes Visit Oklahoma (9/11/2003)
• Monthly Climate of Oklahoma - September (9/10/2003)
• Monthly Climate of Oklahoma - August (7/31/2003)
• Monthly Climate of Oklahoma - July (7/7/2003)
• Rain, Rain, Go Away (6/11/2003)
• Oklahoma Springtime Dangers (6/8/2003)

The Migration of Royalty
October 9, 2006

The Migration of Royalty.doc

The Migration of Royalty.pdf

The Migration of Royalty
By Derek Arndt
Senior Climatologist
The Oklahoma Climatological Survey
10/9/2006

NORMAN - You may have noticed the increasing presence of Monarch butterflies over the past few days. This is no accident, for two reasons:

1. Early October is the peak autumn migration time through this part of the country. Monarchs are programmed to get out of colder climates and into Mexico and California during the weeks surrounding the autumnal equinox.

2. These kings and queens of the butterfly world are also programmed to use wind currents to their advantage. And that's where we get interested!

During southerly wind regimes (like the one that brought us warm weather last week), they abandon long-distance travel and flutter about near the ground, collecting vital fuel from nature's dwindling food supplies. Think about it: on what kind of fall day do you picture butterflies in the garden? Pleasant-to-warm days, right? These are usually associated with southerly winds.

With this week's coming cold air invasion, winds will shift to a northerly flow. The monarchs will soar upon the currents, using very little precious energy while the atmosphere does all the work.

So, after the cold front passes, look upward instead of downward. Chances are that you'll eventually see at least one squadron of the Lepidopteran Royal Air Force at cruising altitude.

Media Contact:

Cerry Leffler
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2900
Norman, OK 73072-7305
405-325-2541
405-325-2550 (fax)
cerry@ou.edu

For Additional Information:

Derek Arndt
Senior Climatologist
120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2900
Norman, OK 73072-7305
405-325-2541
405-325-2550 (fax)
darndt@ou.edu