The beginning of 2009 brought no signs of relief as Oklahoma continued to be in a moderate drought from 2008. Impacts of the drought included wildfires and extremely low creek levels. Several streams across southern Oklahoma, such as Buffalo and Antelope Springs, were completely dry to start the year.

Both New Year's Day 2005 and 2006 set warm temperature records in Oklahoma City. On January 1, 2006, a record high of 77 degrees occurred. One year earlier, the temperature only fell to 56 degrees, which set a record for the warmest low.

On January 1st and 2nd of 1993, an intense storm system brought accumulations of sleet and freezing rain to much of the region. The icy weather caused numerous traffic accidents, including a 35-car pile-up in Oklahoma City shortly after midnight. The ice also caused havoc with area airport operations. Two passenger jets slid off icy runways at Will Rogers World Airport.

January 2, 2004, was a warm day across western north Texas as the mercury soared to 80 degrees at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. This high temperature broke a 17-year record by 1 degree for the warmest temperature for that date.

In 1996, the new year was brought in on a snowy note. On the 1st and 2nd, a strong storm system dumped up to 6 inches of snow over a large part of southern, through northeast Oklahoma. The hardest hit areas extended from near Durant and Ada, northeast toward Tulsa. Over central Oklahoma, down into western north Texas, a glaze of ice was seen, with several accidents reported in the Oklahoma City area.

The coldest Oklahoma temperature of 2019 occurred on this day in the Oklahoma Panhandle near Guymon. The temperature bottomed out at minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit. With a gusty north wind, the wind chill dropped to minus 17.

The oldest known weather records in Oklahoma began at Fort Gibson in January 1824, in what is now Muskogee County. The records included data on temperatures and rainy days, but not on precipitation amounts. True rainfall records did not begin until July 1836. The earliest records were kept not by any type of weather organization, but by the U.S. Army Medical Department. After the start of weather record keeping by Fort Gibson, other forts soon began keeping their own records. Fort Towson, now in Choctaw County in January 1833, Fort Arbuckle in 1850, Fort Sill in 1870, Fort Supply in 1873, and Fort Reno in 1883.

Wichita Falls recorded one of their coldest weeks in history during the first week of January in 1947. In fact, the morning low temperatures of January second through fifth, remain record low temperatures for the dates. The cold spell climaxed on the 4th, when Wichita Falls plunged to its all-time record low temperature of 12 degrees below zero. The remaining three days were little better with low temperatures of 7, minus 6, and minus 7 degrees, respectively.

A series of storm systems brought heavy snow and bitterly cold arctic air to the southern plains during the week of January 4th through 11th, in 1988. A large portion of Oklahoma received at least 10 inches of snow, with North Texas receiving up to 3 inches. Some locations across western Oklahoma measured 16-to-18-inch total amounts over the period, with snow drifts reaching 4 feet. Oklahoma City totaled 12.1 inches of snow over a three-day period, from the 5th to the 7th, which is Oklahoma City's second highest storm total accumulation. Accompanying the heavy snow were record-breaking cold temperatures. The mercury dropped below the freezing mark on the 4th in Oklahoma City, and stayed there until the afternoon of the 11th. The lowest temperature in Oklahoma City during the period came on the morning of the 8th, when a low of 4 below zero was reached.

Ice, snow, and cold temperatures covered much of the area from January 4th through 7th, back in 1973. A layer of ice was covered by as much as 9 inches of snow. Even walking became dangerous, as several hundred injuries throughout the area were attributed to traffic accidents and slips on the ice. Over central Oklahoma, temperatures stayed below freezing for as much as 10 consecutive days. Due to the extreme length of below freezing temperatures, some locations kept at least 1 inch of snow on the ground for 14 days.

On January 7, 2008, a series of powerful storms tracked across the area during the late afternoon and evening hours. The storms were triggered by a powerful cold front ahead of an unseasonably moist and unstable airmass. Numerous hail reports occurred, with the largest being 1-inch in diameter. Storm wind gusts reached 70 mph and two F0 tornadoes were reported across eastern Oklahoma. Fortunately, no injuries or significant damages were reported.

Cold weather was seen on this day in 2017, with extremely cold temperatures and wind chills over the Oklahoma Panhandle. Early in the day, the temperature dropped to a frigid 19 degrees below zero at Kenton, which was the coldest temperature recorded in the state of Oklahoma that year. On the same day, winds created wind chill values of 28 degrees below zero in Hooker, just east of Kenton.

January 7th, 1944, marks the third-greatest calendar day snowfall at Oklahoma City. The 9 inches that accumulated are surpassed only by the 13.5 inches that occurred on December 24th of 2009, and 11.3 inches that occurred on March 19th of 1924.

A severe two-day ice and snow storm began in northern Texas on this day in 1977. A layer of ice was quickly covered by several inches of snow. Areas around Wichita Falls reported snow drifts of up to 2 feet.

Record high temperatures were set today in 2009 when the mercury reached 75 degrees in Oklahoma City. This temperature broke the previous record of 73 degrees set in 2002. High winds also occurred on this day in Comanche and Tillman Counties when a strong cold front pushed through the area. Wind gusts were measured up to 59 mph, but fortunately no damage was reported.

January 9th, 1977, was a cold day for the region, especially for northern Texas. At Wichita Falls, the high temperature of 12 degrees occurred at midnight, making this the third lowest high temperature ever in Wichita Falls. To make matters worse, two inches of snow fell to bring a two-day storm total to 5 inches.

An ice storm on January 8th through the 10th, back in 1968, covered much of southeast Oklahoma with a thick layer of ice. As much as 1/2 inch accumulated on many roadways in parts of McCurtain, Atoka, Pittsburg, and Coal Counties. Traffic problems were numerous, including a 40-car pile-up on highway 69 between Atoka and Kiowa.

After an early morning low temperature of 7 below zero, the afternoon high on January 11th, back in 1918, warmed to just 2 above zero, giving Oklahoma City its coldest high temperature ever recorded.

A strong cold front moved into the region on this date in 2017, dropping temperatures 20 to 30 degrees in a very short amount of time. In Arnett, just southwest of Woodward in northwest Oklahoma, the temperature fell from 67 degrees to 37 degrees in just one hour. With strong northerly winds to make the 37 degrees feel even colder, these events can go from a nice day to dangerous cold if you are not prepared.

Back in 1963, bitter cold and high winds swept through Oklahoma and northern Texas on January 10th through 14th. Subzero temperatures would eventually cover the northwestern three-quarters of Oklahoma, with much of northern Texas only slightly above zero. In the Oklahoma Panhandle, Boise City plummeted to a low temperature of 17 below zero. Wind chill readings dropped to between twenty and forty degrees below zero.

On January 13th and 14th back in 1989, a storm system dropped a narrow band of heavy snow across southwest and central Oklahoma. The heaviest snow band was located from Lawton, to Norman, to Chandler. The highest snowfall total was in Norman, where 8.5 inches was measured.

Two consecutive days of very strong northerly winds were seen across the region on January 14th and 15th, 2021. Nearly persistent winds of 40 to 50 mph were seen for two days, with some areas of western Oklahoma experiencing occasional gusts around 60 mph. This resulted in areas of blowing dust and a few wildfires due to power line arcing. What was somewhat unusual for this event in January was that the winds were not associated with arctic air. While the north winds brought in colder air, the temperatures did not deviate far from average for the first part of January.

On this date in 1960, it seemed more like April than January, when an intense line of thunderstorms raced through the region. Winds up to 75 mph brought widespread damage to roofs and utilities. A funnel cloud was followed for 3.5 miles over the western edge of Oklahoma City, while a tornado damaged three farmsteads southeast of Fitzhugh, in Pontotoc County. The winds were not finished however, as an intense low-pressure system roared through later in the day. Again, winds of 75 mph blew out plate glass windows in Lawton, Purcell, Yukon, and Oklahoma City.

On January 15th and 16th back in 1964, a strong winter storm system dumped 5 to 9 inches of snow along the Red River Valley of south-central and southeast Oklahoma. The heaviest total was in Choctaw County, where Boswell reported 9 inches.

On this day in 1996, widespread freezing drizzle and freezing rain occurred over much of southeast Oklahoma. Numerous car accidents, including one fatality wreck near Fittstown, were reported.

Arctic air surged over the Southern Plains on this day in 2018. With widespread temperatures well below freezing, the strong northerly winds produced wind chills well below zero! Over the Oklahoma panhandle near Guymon and Boise City, wind chill values dipped as low as 22 degrees below zero.

On January 16th through 18th back in 1987, a winter storm brought heavy snow to much of western and northwest Oklahoma. Accumulations as high as 14 inches were reported. Southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas experienced a significant ice storm, where as much as 2 inches of ice combined with several inches of snow to cause numerous traffic accidents and downed power lines.

Arctic air surged over the Southern Plains on the 16th and 17th of January 2018. Along with wind chill values below zero for much of the day on the 16th, low temperatures on the morning of the 17th also dipped below zero. The lowest temperature in Oklahoma was negative 7.6 degrees at Miami, in far northeast Oklahoma.

On this date back in 1925, Wichita Falls reported 9.8 inches of snow, making it their snowiest calendar day ever.

Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s, combined with very dry air and strong southwest winds, created extreme wildfire conditions across Oklahoma and northern Texas on this date in 2015. Most of the wildfires that occurred were seen just east of Guthrie, near Chickasha, and just east of Sulphur. Structures were destroyed east of Guthrie, near the town of Meridian.

The record for Oklahoma City's coldest January temperature is now over 100 years old. On January 19th back in 1892, the morning low temperature dropped to 11 degrees below zero.

The coldest month on record in Oklahoma City, and much of Oklahoma for that matter, dates back to January, 1930. The month started fairly mild with highs in the 50s and 60s. Then, the bottom dropped out as an arctic front blasted through the area on the 6th. The bitterly cold air was then reinforced by even colder air several times throughout the month. In fact, the low temperatures in Oklahoma City would dip below zero five times over a two-week span during the middle of the month. The coldest temperatures over the area were seen on the mornings of the 17th and 18th, when the mercury in Oklahoma City plunged to 9 degrees below zero. This is warm compared to the incredibly cold readings in northeast Oklahoma, where Watts recorded a low of minus 27 degrees on the morning of the 18th.

On January 21, 2005, Oklahomans and North-Texans kept their coats in the closet, as an unseasonably warm airmass allowed afternoon temperatures to climb into the 70s. A 37-year-old record was broken at Oklahoma City, as the temperature soared to 77 degrees, breaking the 1967 record by 6 degrees.

On this date in 1966, much of southwest and south-central Oklahoma was hit with heavy snow for the second time in two days. Snowfall totals on this day were in the 4-to-6-inch range along the Red River, from near Hollis, to Altus, to Waurika. Similar totals occurred in these areas two days earlier, on the 19th. Snow totals for both storms included 11 inches at Waurika and 10.4 inches at Altus.

While January 1930 was the coldest on record in Oklahoma City, the warmest January on record occurred in 1923. Every day in the month had above average temperatures. Overall, 16 of the 31 days had afternoon high temperatures at or above 60 degrees, with three days topping 70. The warmest temperature of the month came on the 13th, when the mercury soared to a balmy 72, after a morning low of 47. The coldest temperature all month was only 24 degrees.

On this date in 1919, Wichita Falls recorded its wettest January day ever, as a total of 2.25 inches of precipitation fell.

The lowest temperature recorded in the state of Oklahoma for the year of 1906 was recorded on this date at Okmulgee, as the mercury dropped to minus 15 degrees. Despite being cold, the temperature was not a record.

It did not feel like January on the 23rd and 24th back in 1943. On both days the afternoon high temperature in Wichita Falls climbed to 89 degrees, marking the warmest temperatures ever felt in the city during the month of January.

The coldest month ever in Wichita Falls, and the fifth coldest January in Oklahoma City, was January 1978. An arctic front swept through Oklahoma and north Texas during the day on the 7th. Surges of even colder air would continue to plunge southward well into February. In fact, in Oklahoma City, the average daily temperatures would stay below average until the 24th of February, one of the longer such periods in Oklahoma City history.

A severe dust storm swept across the southern High Plains into Oklahoma on this date in 1965. Visibility dropped to near zero in parts of west Texas and western Oklahoma. Winds gusted to 55 mph in Oklahoma City, and 75 mph in Lubbock. The blowing dust eventually spread as far east as Pennsylvania.

The snowiest January in Oklahoma City was back in 1949, when a record 17.3 inches fell. The snowiest January ever in Wichita Falls was in 1966, when 11.9 inches was recorded for the month.

On January 27th and 28th back in 2009, a significant sleet storm tracked over western north Texas, up through southern and central Oklahoma. Most of this sleet affected areas near and southeast of Interstate-44, from near Wichita Falls, Texas, up through Duncan, Chickasha, Purcell, Shawnee, Seminole, and Holdenville. Up to 4 inches of sleet accumulated on top of a quarter-inch of ice.

A powerful winter storm struck Oklahoma and northern Texas on January 28th and 29th of 2010. Much of Oklahoma and western north Texas saw heavy amounts of snow, ice, sleet, or a combination of the three. Although snow totals of 6 inches to a foot were seen over the Oklahoma Panhandle and northern portions of Oklahoma, the greatest impact was the severe ice accumulations. The greatest amounts of ice were seen from the Red River Valley of southwest Oklahoma, up into central Oklahoma. This had significant impacts from Quanah and Altus, up through Lawton, Hobart, and Fort Cobb, where over an inch of ice accumulation was seen. In addition to widespread tree devastation, damage and recovery costs easily exceeded $15 million.

It was mild and dry across the region in January 2013. A reminder of the warm weather is the record temperatures at Wichita Falls on January 28th. Wichita Falls set a record warm-minimum temperature for the day at 58 degrees and a record maximum temperature of 81 degrees. The average low and high for Wichita Falls on January 28th are 30 degrees and 55 degrees, respectively.

One of the coldest Januarys on record in the southern plains came during the year 1977. In Oklahoma City, the temperature plunged to 9 degrees by midnight on the 9th, and was well on its way to a record 2 below zero later that morning. In fact, record low temperatures were set in both Wichita Falls and Oklahoma City on the mornings of the 9th and 10th. On the 10th, Oklahoma City bottomed out at minus 3. At Wichita Falls, the mercury dropped to 4 degrees on the 9th, and minus 1 on the 10th.

January 1986 marks the driest January in the recorded weather history of Oklahoma City. Not even a trace of precipitation fell during the entire month. The dry spell lasted longer than just the one month, as no measurable precipitation fell in Oklahoma City from the 13th of December until the 2nd of February. There is only one other month on record at Oklahoma City in which not even a trace of precipitation fell. That month is August, back in the year 2000.

A significant ice storm commenced on this date in 2002, resulting in over $300 million in damages, and widespread power outages. The hardest hit areas extended from near Ponca City, Perry, and Stillwater, south and west through Enid, Kingfisher, Guthrie, Binger, and Weatherford. Some of the smaller towns and rural residents were without power for weeks.

For all but far southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas, the month of January in 2019 was one of the wetter Januarys in recent memory. A majority of the precipitation fell in the first two weeks of the month, and mainly near and east of Interstate 35. While western Oklahoma and western north Texas saw precipitation amounts slightly below average, parts of northeast and central Oklahoma saw more than double the normal amount. A big snow storm on January 3rd blanketed much of the region with 2 to 4 inches of snow, with respectable rain amounts where snow did not occur.

The warmest temperature ever felt in the month of January in Oklahoma occurred on January 31st 1911. On that afternoon, temperatures over the area soared into the 80s at many locations. Oklahoma City set its all-time January high with a reading of 83. Temperatures were even warmer in western Oklahoma, where Weatherford and Cloud Chief topped out at 89 degrees.

On this date in 2011, blizzard-like conditions occurred across a large part of central and eastern Oklahoma. Strong winds, gusting over 55 mph at times, made snowfall measurements very difficult. Areas from Oklahoma City to Tulsa reported 10 to 15 inches of snowfall. Oklahoma City reported a record for the date with a total of 11.8 inches, which also turns out to be the second highest snow total for any day in Oklahoma City.

On this date in 2014, which happened to be Groundhog's Day, a significant winter storm impacted parts of Oklahoma and northern Texas. Much of southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas picked up the greatest amounts of snow with totals averaging around 6 inches. Locations from around Crowell, Truscott, and Chillicothe, Texas, reported between 8 inches and a foot of snow. Locations farther north and east toward Clinton and the Oklahoma City metro generally saw 2 to 4 inches. Northern Oklahoma missed out on any snow accumulations. A glaze of ice fell over southeastern Oklahoma before sleet and snow began to fall, resulting in totals of a couple of inches. Significant icing was not reported.

On this date in 1985, residents of Wichita Falls experienced the second coldest day ever, and the coldest in the month of February. The mercury plunged to a frigid 8 degrees below zero during the early morning hours.

Weather can change quickly in Oklahoma. On February 2, 2003, the city of Altus broke state records as the mercury soared to 87 degrees. Six days later, in Fort Supply, the mercury plunged to a reading of 6 degrees below zero.

On this date in 1982, an intense winter storm dropped heavy snow over portions of northwest Oklahoma. The heaviest accumulation was reported in Woods County, where the observer at Waynoka recorded 18 inches.

A strong winter storm moved over the Southern Plains back on February 3rd and 4th, 2010. Before departing, over 6 inches of snow covered much of the Oklahoma Panhandle, with lesser amounts over the northwest-quarter of Oklahoma. No significant problems occurred, but a fresh blanket of snow covered the melting snow that occurred with the significant winter storm of January 28th and 29th.

On this date in 1972, a snow and ice storm dumped up to 3 inches of wintry precipitation over Oklahoma. Many schools were closed, and numerous traffic accidents were reported. In northwest Oklahoma, some Ellis County residents were left without power.

After a strong winter storm affected southern Oklahoma and northern Texas with heavy snow just two days earlier, another storm followed on this date in 2014, bringing heavy snows to northern parts of Oklahoma. Although the heaviest snows were seen north of the Kansas-Oklahoma border, several places across northern and western Oklahoma reported up to 8 inches of snow. Farther south, less snow was reported with little to no snow accumulation south of Interstate-40. Once the storm system vacated the area, a bitterly cold airmass swept in, bringing record cold temperatures and wind chills well below zero to the region.

A strong winter storm struck mainly northern parts of Oklahoma on this day in 2004. Snowfall totals reached six to seven inches over areas from Alva and Orienta, to Medford and Wakita. Other snow totals included five inches in Woodward and Waynoka, and four inches in Watonga, Cherokee, and Arapaho. Rain and sleet were the primary form of precipitation over central and southern parts of Oklahoma, but Oklahoma City, Duncan, Ardmore, and Ada were able to receive at least a trace of snow.

A winter storm brought snow to much of Oklahoma on this date in 1983. The heaviest accumulations were in Sayre, where 6.5 inches fell, and in Ada, where 5 inches was reported. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches were reported as far east as Tulsa and McAlester, and as far south as Lawton and Sulphur.

On this date in 1988, an intense storm system brought heavy snow to the western parts of north Texas. In Baylor County, the city of Seymour received 6 inches of snow, while most of the rest of the area reported 4 to 5 inches.

A quick moving winter storm brought a period of light to moderate snow to the northern half of Oklahoma during the morning of the 6th in 2003. Areas north of Interstate 40 received an average of 1 to 2 inches of snow. However, a narrow band of 4-to-6-inch accumulations affected northwest and west-central Oklahoma. Thomas, in Custer County, received 6 inches, while Fargo, in Ellis County, received 5.5 inches.

On this date in 2020, Oklahoma saw the coldest temperatures for that year. As arctic air spread over the region in the days prior, clear skies and light winds on the early morning hours of the 6th brought widespread single and teen readings. The coldest site was Tipton, in southwest Oklahoma, where the low temperatures fell to 1 degree above zero Fahrenheit.

On February 7th 1986, 6.5 inches of snow accumulated during the day in Oklahoma City. This ranks second for the greatest calendar day snowfall total during the month of February for Oklahoma City.

On February 8th and 9th back in 1994, one of the more significant ice storms in recent memory struck Oklahoma. Freezing rain and sleet covered much of the eastern two-thirds of the state with a significant ice accumulation. The hardest hit areas were in south-central and southeast Oklahoma, where ice accumulations of nearly an inch were reported. The icy roads caused major traffic problems. In the Oklahoma City metro area alone, there were over 300 vehicle accidents.

Tornadoes can occur any time of the year, even in mid-winter. Duncan was hit by a tornado on this date in 1966. Two people were injured when a church wall collapsed at 14th and Main, crushing their car.

Fresh on the heels of a record-setting blizzard that occurred from January 31st to February 1st of the same year, another significant winter storm affected the Southern Plains on this date in 2011. Snowfall totals reached a foot or more over north-central and northeast Oklahoma, with widespread totals of 4 to 8 inches over at least the northern two-thirds of the state. Spavinaw, in far northeast Oklahoma, recorded an all-time greatest 24-hr snowfall total for the state of Oklahoma when they recorded 27 inches. Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City managed almost 6 inches of snow. Farther south, across the Red River Valley and northern Texas, snow totals of 1 to 4 inches were seen.

The lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in Oklahoma City occurred on February 9th, 1960. The sea level pressure dropped to an incredibly low 28.81 inches of mercury. Winds of 60 to 70 mph accompanied the deep low-pressure center, causing widespread damage across much of Oklahoma, and northern and western Texas. Blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in western Oklahoma.

On February 10th, 2009, a deadly tornado struck Jefferson, Love, and Carter Counties in southern Oklahoma. The tornado appeared to reach its maximum width and intensity as it approached and moved through the town of Lone Grove. Eight people were killed by this tornado, and 46 were injured. Six of the fatalities occurred in mobile homes; one occurred in a well-built home that sustained EF4 damage, and one person died in a vehicle. At least 114 homes were damaged or destroyed, with at least 3500 losing power in and around Carter County. Debris from this tornado was picked up as far away as Sulphur. The EF4 tornado went on record as the deadliest tornado in February for the state of Oklahoma and the deadliest day for the United States for 2009.

A deep snow pack, combined with clear skies and light winds can lead to very cold overnight temperatures. Keeping with the theme of extremes during the 2011 winter, the low temperatures on the 10th were nothing short of frigid, with numerous low temperature records set, some of them all-time record lows. Before midnight on the 9th, some locations across far northern Oklahoma reported temperatures colder than minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. By 7:30 AM on the 10th, a wide area of minus 10 to minus 15-degree temperatures were reported over the northern-third of Oklahoma. A few of those sites were colder than minus 20 degrees. Nowata broke the all-time low record for the state of Oklahoma, falling to minus 31 degrees. The second best was Pryor and Bartlesville, falling to minus 28 degrees. Blackwell and Medford were not far behind at minus 27 degrees. Oklahoma City saw the temperature fall to minus 5 degrees, breaking their daily record by 9 degrees. Wichita Falls, Texas reached their record low temperature, although they remained slightly above zero. The temperature of 3 degrees broke the previous record of 5 degrees.

On this date back in 1999, widespread dense fog, from western north Texas through central Oklahoma, resulted in numerous traffic accidents. With some visibilities down to just several feet, multiple car pile-ups occurred in the Wichita Falls and Lawton areas.

The first part of February 2017 was quite warm across Oklahoma and adjacent parts of Texas. On this date in 2017, widespread temperatures in the 70s and 80s were reported, with some 90s across southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas. The Oklahoma Mesonet observation site near Mangum, in southwest Oklahoma north of Altus, recorded a high temperature of 99 degrees. This tied for the highest wintertime temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma.

After a relatively warm and dry January across Oklahoma and western north Texas, the first significant winter storm of 2013 began affecting the region on the evening of February 11. By sunrise on the 12th, moderate and heavy snow was falling across most of western Oklahoma. Most of the snow was seen near and west of Interstate-44 in Oklahoma, where snow totals were one inch or greater. Widespread amounts greater than four inches occurred across far western Oklahoma, with the highest totals near the Texas border west of Elk City and Mangum, where as much as nine inches were measured.

Wichita Falls, Texas eclipsed its all-time seasonal snowfall record on February 11, 2010 when 5.5 inches of snow was measured, bringing the 2009-2010 seasonal total to 14.8 inches. On average, Wichita Falls receives 5.5 inches of snow every winter.

On February 10th and 11th in the year 1972, a snowstorm blanketed much of Oklahoma with up to 6 inches of snow.

On this date in 1899, the all-time record low for Oklahoma City was set. The mercury plunged to a frigid 17 degrees below zero and broke the previous record low of 12 below zero, which was set on the previous day.

The highest pressure ever recorded in Oklahoma City during the month of February, is 31.00 inches. This occurred on February 12th, 1899, which also was the day in which Oklahoma City saw its coldest temperature in recorded history.

On this date in 1905, very cold temperatures were recorded over the state of Oklahoma. The low temperature at Vinita plummeted to 27 degrees below zero. This temperature would later be tied in the city of Watts in January, 1930, and at Blackwell and Medford in February, 2011. The negative 27-degree reading is low enough to be the 2nd lowest temperature on record in Oklahoma. The coldest is negative 31 degrees, recorded at Nowata on February 10th, 2011.

On this date in 2017, Mangum, Oklahoma reached a high of 99 degrees. This temperature tied the highest reading ever recorded during the month of February or winter in Oklahoma. It tied the 99-degree record that occurred at Arapaho way back on February 24, 1918.

On this day in 2004, a record-breaking snow storm hit southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Wichita Falls set a daily record for snowfall with a total of 5.5 inches. By the time the storm ended, a total of 8 inches accumulated in southeast Oklahoma near Durant.

A bitterly cold arctic airmass moved over the region on February 8th, 2020 and colder air just kept flowing into the region over the next several days. In addition, storm systems passed through and blanketed much of the region with at least half a foot of snow. As skies began to clear and winds diminish, a very cold few days was forecast for the 14th and 15th. On the 15th that year, the overall statewide average temperature (all the highs and lows averaged together) fell down to -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit to beat the December 22nd, 1989 average of 1.9 degrees as the coldest day in state history. Even if you combine the 14th and 15th from 2020, you still get the second lowest two-day average temperature of 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit, just shy of the all-time coldest two-day average of 2.7 degrees set on December 22nd and 23rd in 1989.

Periods of freezing rain fell across much of southern and southwest Oklahoma from late evening of the 14th through mid-morning of the 16th in 2002, with many areas receiving one to two tenths of an inch of ice. As a result, a 30-car pileup occurred near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Interstate 44 in Oklahoma County, resulting in 2 fatalities. Numerous other accidents resulted in 3 additional fatalities across the area before the freezing rain ended.

The arctic intrusion during the middle portion of February 2021 broke numerous records, making it one of the coldest periods in Oklahoma and northern Texas history. On this date that year, numerous locations across the region broke record low temperatures, most below zero. At Lawton, the low temperature was minus12 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the all-time record low temperature for that location. It broke the previous all-time record cold temperature of minus 11 degrees, set in 1930. At Oklahoma City, the temperature dropped to minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the second coldest temperature recorded for Oklahoma City. The official coldest temperature recorded for Oklahoma City is minus 17 degrees, set in 1899.

February of 1913 was the 6th snowiest month ever in Oklahoma City when a total of 12.9 inches of snow fell on the city. However, it is the 2nd snowiest February in Oklahoma City, behind 2011 when 18.9 inches of snow accumulated.

On this date in 2021, the high temperature at Oklahoma City official climbed above 20 degrees Fahrenheit, to reach 22 degrees, for the first time since the 8th of the month. The 8 consecutive days of temperatures at or below 20 degrees was a record stretch for Oklahoma City. It broke the record of 5 consecutive days back in December of 1983.

On this date in 2011, numerous record high temperatures were measured across the region. Oklahoma City made it up to 80 degrees, while Wichita Falls saw the mercury rise to 84 degrees. While these are definitely not the warmest temperatures we have seen ever seen in February, they were very different than the temperatures seen just a week earlier, when both locations set record low temperatures of minus 5 and 3 degrees, respectively. Nowata, Oklahoma reached 79 degrees, which was a 110-degree swing in temperature over record lows seen on the 10th.

On this date back in 2016, very warm temperatures, southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph, and very dry air fueled a large wildfire just northwest of Buffalo, in far northwest Oklahoma. The fire started just west of Buffalo near Doby Springs and spread quickly northeast. The wildfire burned approximately 17,280 acres in Oklahoma before moving into Kansas.

February 1905 in Wichita Falls marks one of the snowiest months ever for that city. The month began with a snowfall of 3 inches on the 1st. It was followed a week later with 8 inches on the 7th, then as much as 9 inches on the 18th. All three of these snow totals still stand as record daily snowfalls for Wichita Falls area, and the 9 inches on the 18th still stands as the all-time calendar day snowfall for the entire month of February.

On February 19, 1954, a severe windstorm raced through much of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and into southwest Oklahoma. The windstorm, packing winds of 60 to 85 mph, began in the western parts of the Oklahoma Panhandle shortly after midnight. The storm then raced to the southeast, reaching southwest Oklahoma by afternoon. Considerable damage was done to small buildings and pane windows. Power and communication lines were blown down in many communities and several traffic accidents occurred in the blinding dust picked up during the storms rampage.

Today marks the anniversary of the beginning of one of the most significant winter storms in Oklahoma history. The blizzard of 1971 began on the evening of February 20th, over northwest Oklahoma, and would go on to produce a state-record storm total snowfall of 36 inches in Buffalo. Other storm totals for this extraordinary event, which left drifts up to 20 feet high, include 25 inches at Gage, 18 inches in Enid, 17 inches in Woodward, and 10 inches in Ponca City. The rest of Oklahoma fared much better, with only 4.9 inches in Oklahoma City, 2.7 inches in Tulsa, and 1 inch in McAlester. Even the western panhandle missed the brunt of this storm. Boise City picked up only a little over 3 inches, and Kenton only 2 inches.

On this date in 2012, severe thunderstorms moved over Oklahoma during the afternoon hours. Hail to the size of golf balls and damaging wind gusts affected areas from Enid down into the Oklahoma City metro. Several power and light poles were blown over in Edmond, and a construction crane was blown into the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, damaging some of the glass panes. No injuries were reported with these storms. Unfortunately, as the storms built down into southern Oklahoma, an intense microburst occurred just east of Ada, destroying a mobile home and killing one of its occupants.

On February 20, 1987, a severe winter storm struck portions of North Texas. The worst of the storm was felt across Montague and Jack Counties, where up to 8 inches of snow was reported.

From February 20th to 22nd of 1971, one of the worst snowstorms in Oklahoma history dumped up to 3 feet of snow on northwest Oklahoma. By the time the snow ended on the 22nd, the city of Buffalo had 36 inches of snow on the ground, setting the state record for storm-total snowfall. Winds of 30 to 50 mph caused snowdrifts up to 20 feet high. Many roads were closed, leaving travelers stranded for up to a day and a half. The Air National Guard airlifted 300 tons of hay to stranded cattle. Nevertheless, the loss of about 15,000 livestock accounted for much of the $2 million in damages.

Multiple waves of snow, sleet, and rain affected Oklahoma and western north Texas from just after midnight on February 20th, through the 21st, back in 2013. Moderate and heavy snow affected the northern-half of Oklahoma, with mainly rain and sleet farther south. Although spotty totals of almost six inches were measured around Ponca City and just east of Norman, most of the snow accumulations outside of northwest Oklahoma averaged around two inches. The greatest snow totals were reported around Alva, where as much as 14 inches were measured.

On February 22, 1996, all-time record high temperatures for the month of February were established at both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. The high temperatures that day were 92 and 93 degrees, respectively.

On this date in 1975, severe thunderstorms produced extensive wind and hail damage across southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas, with six tornadoes also reported. Hail drifts up to three feet deep were reported in Duncan. Burkburnett, Texas, had hail as large as golf balls, while Wichita Falls reported wind gusts of 75 mph.

Severe weather struck much of southern and eastern Oklahoma on February 23, 1985. During the early morning hours, a significant tornado raced through the small communities of Bentley and Harmony. Four homes were destroyed, injuring three people. Damaging thunderstorm winds also hit portions of Pushmataha and Choctaw Counties. Along with the severe thunderstorms, came heavy rain to much of the area. Over the three-day period from February 22nd through the 24th, storm total amounts of 5 to 7 inches were reported, quickly sending creeks and streams over their banks. Many roads and bridges were washed out, while others were submerged under flood waters for several days.

On this day in 2011, Will Rogers Airport broke a daily rainfall record as it received 1.31 inches. Keeping this rainfall amount in perspective with respect to a developing drought, the total was greater than all of the moisture seen in the previous three months, combined.

On February 24th, 1956, a cold front brought winds of 70 to 95 mph, severe blowing dust, and widespread destruction to Oklahoma during the evening hours and into the early morning hours of the 25th. Four people were killed and six injured during the event.

For the third consecutive week, after winter weather events on the 12th and 21st of February 2013, another major winter storm affected the region the 24th through the 26th. By early afternoon on February 25th, moderate to heavy snow moved over most of western and northern Oklahoma. Very heavy snow bands and occasional thunder snow led to significant snow accumulations over a large part of northwest Oklahoma. Several areas saw snowfall in excess of 15 inches, and when combined with the snow that was already present from the winter storm a few days before, snow depths of up to 25 inches were reported near Woodward and Alva. Strong and gusty winds led to snow drifts up to eight feet in depth, shutting down many highways and secondary roads across western and northern Oklahoma. The heavy and wet nature of the snow caused some structural damage at Alva, Cherokee, and Woodward. Widespread power outages were reported due to snow-covered power lines and downed trees.

On this date in 1982, a winter storm dumped several inches of snow over portions of western and northern Texas. Snowfall totals of 3 to 4 inches were reported from just northwest of Abilene into the Wichita Falls area.

An intense squall line raced through much of Oklahoma on this date in 1936. Hail up to 2 inches in diameter fell over the Fort Reno area, and stayed on the ground until 9 AM the next morning. The thunderstorms then struck Oklahoma City, where one-inch diameter hail was reported.

It was a very warm day across much of southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas on this date in 2011. At Wichita Falls, a record high temperature for the date was set when the temperature rose to 91 degrees. This is just two degrees shy of the all-time highest temperature for the month of February, which was set back in 1996.

On February 27th, 1987, severe thunderstorms caused considerable damage to portions of southeast Oklahoma. Baseball-size hail fell for 30 minutes just north of Stringtown, in Atoka County.

February of 2011, in Oklahoma City, had extremes of both cold and warm weather. With a snowy start to the month, 18.9 inches of snowfall was measured. This amount stands as the 2nd highest all-time monthly snowfall total for Oklahoma City.

With a multi-year drought continuing over much of the region, it was a dry start to 2014. Through the months of January and February, only 0.43 inches of moisture had been recorded at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. This made it the 4th driest two-month start to any year. It wasn't any better in Wichita Falls, where only 0.35 inches of moisture was measured, making it the 7th driest start.

Despite having an extra day, the leap year February of 1996 ended as the driest February on record in the state of Oklahoma. Statewide average precipitation for the month was only 0.20 inches. Oklahoma City recorded a mere 0.02 inches of moisture, tying the mark with 1947 as the driest February.

A large wildfire greatly affected Lincoln and Stephens Counties on March 1, 2006. Strong winds, coupled with very dry air and record temperatures in the 90s, allowed wildfires to spread quickly, especially around the towns of Duncan and Chandler. Many residents were evacuated and property damage reached $15 million with $250,000 in crop damage. In its wake, several firefighters were injured and unfortunately one firefighter died from extensive burns.

A winter storm commenced on this day in 2002 as an arctic cold front plunged into Oklahoma and north Texas. Precipitation started shortly after the front came through, beginning as freezing rain and sleet, before tapering off to snow across northern and central Oklahoma.

On the heels of another surge of arctic air, which was a fairly common occurrence in the winter of 2013-2014, a strong upper-level storm approached the region. With temperatures primarily in the teens, a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain spread over Oklahoma and northern Texas on this date in 2014. Because there was a layer of relatively warm and moist air just above the arctic air, scattered thunderstorms also developed. Although most of the storms produced moderate to heavy sleet, a few actually produced hail, with hail 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter observed just south and east of Norman. Thunderstorms are not that rare in early March, but having thunderstorms with surface temperatures in the teens is very rare. A majority of the sleet and freezing rain accumulations were on the light side but northern parts of Oklahoma received 3 to 5 inches of snow.

An upper-level storm system and associated cold front affected much of northwest Oklahoma on this day back in 2008. Several supercell thunderstorms developed along a dry line ahead of the cold front, while an additional line of storms developed along the cold front. One small tornado, rated F0, touched down in Blaine County and 4.25-inch hail was reported in the town of Buffalo, in Harper County.

On its second day to affect the region, a winter storm continued on this day in 2002. During the early morning hours, freezing rain turned to snow over a large part of Oklahoma. The highest amounts of snow were seen over northern Oklahoma, where the freezing rain changed to snow quicker. Up to 5 inches of snow was reported in the Enid area, with just a couple of inches reported over central Oklahoma, southward to the Red River Valley.

The cold front that brought severe weather the previous day, brought much cooler air to the region in 2008. The accompanying upper-level storm system blanketed parts of Oklahoma with as much as 5 inches of snow, with the highest totals reported in Atoka and Bryan Counties.

A strong cold front that passed through Oklahoma on March 3rd, 1966, brought very strong winds that lasted through the 5th. Grass fires, aided by the strong winds, burned more than 3,000 acres near McAlester, and destroyed homes at Seminole and near Stillwater. Peak wind gusts included 70 mph at Stillwater, 63 mph at Gage, 60 mph at Oklahoma City, 55 mph at Ardmore, and 46 mph at Hobart.

A winter storm that started as sleet and freezing rain, and later changed to snow across western north Texas and southeast Oklahoma, occurred on March 4th and 5th, 1989. Near blizzard conditions occurred the morning of the 5th, when strong winds blew and drifted the already deep snow. The axis of heaviest snow extended from Healdton, in south-central Oklahoma, to Pauls Valley and Chandler. Sixteen inches of snow fell in Pauls Valley, and drifts of three to six feet were common. Over western north Texas, a band of snow 9 to 11 inches deep stretched from Coleman to Wichita Falls. The 9.7-inch snowfall on the 5th at Wichita Falls set their record for greatest snowfall for any one day in the month of March. This all occurred after the high temperature at Wichita Falls reached 83 just two days earlier.

Near blizzard conditions occurred over northern and central Oklahoma during a winter storm on March 5, 1959. Up to 7 inches of snow accumulated, and winds up to 50 mph created snow drifts four to eight feet deep. In Edmond, a bus slid off the road into a ditch and overturned, injuring 16 people.

Although spring begins in March, the month is known for its infrequent, but significant snowstorms. This often leads to some impressive snow totals for the month. In Oklahoma City, three of the five greatest monthly snowfalls ever recorded were in March. The March 1924 amount of 20.7 inches is the greatest monthly snowfall ever recorded in Oklahoma City.

On this day in 2000, a line of severe storms moved out of the Texas panhandle into western Oklahoma and western north Texas during the late afternoon. Widespread structural damage from severe winds, one brief tornado, and large hail accompanied this line of storms. Most of the damage occurred over western Oklahoma and western north Texas before the storms weakened across central Oklahoma during the evening.

An early season severe thunderstorm event occurred across Oklahoma and western north Texas on this date in 2010. Although there was some sporadic wind damage across Baylor and Wichita Counties in Texas, two tornadoes occurred over far west-central Oklahoma. These tornadoes tracked on the south side of Hammon, in Roger Mills County, and just north of Butler, in Custer County. One tornado destroyed a mobile home just south of Hammon. Two people inside the home escaped injury-free as they sought shelter in an underground storm cellar.

A cold front initiated severe thunderstorms over much of northern Texas, and southern and central Oklahoma, on this date in 1992. Four minor tornadoes occurred, along with widespread large hail. Softball size hail fell just east of Ratliff City in Carter County. High winds and hail destroyed several buildings in the Ardmore area, and across western north Texas, three-inch diameter hail fell just south of Holliday, in Archer County.

Large temperature contrasts across Oklahoma are not too unusual in the early spring. This can result in part of the state experiencing severe winter weather, while the rest of the state has to deal with hail and high winds from severe thunderstorms. This was the case on March 8th and 9th, 1994, as central and northern parts of Oklahoma were covered with heavy snow, while southern Oklahoma had severe thunderstorms. Snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches were common across the northern half of the state.

The 8.1-inch snowfall in Oklahoma City on March 10, 1948, was the eighth greatest 24-hour snowfall total for the city.

March 11, 1948, was a nippy day across the Southern Plains. Both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls set new record lows for the month of March, with 1 degree at Oklahoma City and 6 degrees at Wichita Falls. The high of only 16 degrees at Oklahoma City was also the coldest daily maximum temperature ever recorded in March.

A late season snowstorm affected most of Oklahoma on March 11th and 12th, 1968. Snow accumulations from southwest to central Oklahoma averaged 4 to 8 inches, while 12-to-16-inch amounts covered the northeast part of the state. The heavy snow was blown into 4-foot drifts by winds gusting 30 to 50 mph.

On this day in 2019, an intense storm system moved out of the southern Rocky Mountains into the Central Plains, resulting in an extensive area of very strong winds. Damaging wind gusts occurred over eastern New Mexico and southeast Colorado, eastward across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, into western Oklahoma and western Kansas. Across Oklahoma, all but far eastern parts of the state saw wind gusts over 50 mph. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were recorded from Woodward and Gage, down to Clinton and Weatherford. The highest recorded wind gusts during the event were seen in the Texas Panhandle, with the top spot being Fritch, Texas, where a wind gust of 84 mph was measured at the West Texas Mesonet.

Tornado season started early in 1990. Sixty tornadoes occurred across the central and southern plains states on March 14th that year. Ten of the tornadoes were in Oklahoma, along with widespread large hail and high winds. One tornado touched down near Bradley, then struck the Noble area, just south of Norman. The stadiums press box at Noble High School was destroyed, as was the scoreboard. A second tornado overturned a five-ton crane near Ratliff City, in Carter County.

Hail and wind damage was extensive across parts of western north Texas, beginning just before midnight on March 13, 1982. Several million dollars in damage occurred from Electra to Burkburnett. Golf ball-size hail fell for 15 minutes in Electra, completely covering the ground.

On this date back in 1999, much of northern Oklahoma dug out of one of the more significant snowstorms in recent Oklahoma history. Snow accumulations of over a foot were recorded across much of north-central and northeast Oklahoma, with a maximum storm total of 20 inches in Pond Creek, north of Enid. A snow burst, accompanied by lightning and thunder, may have contributed to a 30-car pile-up on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County.

An F3 tornado hit the city of Ada on March 15, 1982, killing one person and injuring 36 at a mobile home park. Sixty-eight trailers were damaged or destroyed, with damages totaling $2 million.

On March 16, 1965, a fast-moving tornado touched down several times across Grant and Kay Counties in northern Oklahoma, causing widespread damage. The tornado first touched down southwest of Nash, destroying a church, a parsonage, and a steel granary. Five farmsteads were heavily damaged and one person was injured near Medford. In the Deer Creek area, six farmsteads were destroyed, and a 262-foot microwave tower was downed north of Braman.

Although March 2013 was not an exceptionally warm month for Wichita Falls, there was one record high temperature set. On this date in 2013, a record high temperature was set for the day when the Sheppard Air Force Base weather station reported a high of 88 degrees.

Winter was not quite over yet on March 16th and 17th, 1988. A snowstorm left more than 4 inches of wet snow across much of northwest and north-central Oklahoma. A few locations in northwest Oklahoma received as much as 15 inches of snow.

March 1907 was quite warm in Oklahoma City. Nine daily records remain, including three daily high temperature records and six daily records for warmest low temperature. March 1907 also holds the records for the hottest temperature ever recorded in March, 97 degrees, and the warmest low temperature ever recorded in March, 68 degrees. Overall, the month ranked as the second warmest March ever, with an average temperature of 59.5 degrees, slightly more than nine degrees above average.

March 19th is known both for record heat and record snowfall. On March 19, 1907, the highest March temperature in Oklahoma City was set when the temperature soared to 97 degrees, while March 19, 1924, brought the third highest daily snowfall total to Oklahoma City with 11.3 inches.

A powerful tornado struck Tinker Air Force Base on March 20, 1948. The storm destroyed 54 aircraft, including 17 transport planes valued at $500,000 apiece. Total damage amounted to more than $10 million, a record for the state that stood until the massive tornado outbreak of May 3, 1999. The tornado prompted the first attempt at tornado forecasting. Five days later, forecasters at Tinker believed conditions were again favorable for tornadoes, and issued the first recorded tornado forecast. A tornado did in fact strike the base later that day.

A late winter storm tracked along the Red River on this date in 2010. Widespread snow fell, with the greatest accumulations across north-central into northeast Oklahoma, where four to seven inches accumulated. Farther south though the Oklahoma City metro and portions of south-central Oklahoma, most snow accumulation averages ranged from two to four slushy inches.

Severe thunderstorms produced 11 tornadoes across central and eastern Oklahoma on March 21, 1991. The city of Ada was hardest hit when two tornadoes struck within five minutes. Six homes were destroyed, 131 were damaged, and three mobile homes were destroyed. Despite the destruction, only two people were slightly injured. A third tornado occurred near the town of Caney, in Atoka County. A freight train was derailed, with 31 of its cars overturned.

The first tornado to be recorded in Oklahoma City came on March 22, 1893. It destroyed 14 buildings and injured four people as it passed through the center of town. There was minor damage to the Weather Bureau office, then located at Grand and Robinson in south Oklahoma City. The Weather Bureau was a precursor to the National Weather Service.

With very warm temperatures combining with strong winds and very dry air, a large wildfire began just north and east of Freedom, in Woods County of northwest Oklahoma on this date back in 2016. The fire spread quickly northeast into southern Kansas. Thankfully, no human lives were lost. Over 300,000 acres of rangeland burned, and at least 25 structures and several hundred livestock were lost.

Up until the year 2006, March 23rd had stood as the only day in March that Oklahoma City had not seen measurable snowfall. In 2006, 1.6 inches of snow was measured.

On this day in 2002, several supercell thunderstorms developed during the evening hours, along and just behind a strong cold front. Very large hail and damaging wind gusts accompanied the storms, with some hail the size of baseballs. The hardest hit areas were central parts of Oklahoma, especially the towns of Tuttle and Shawnee.

A series of severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes across central and southern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening hours of March 25, 2015 and early morning hours of March 26th. One supercell thunderstorm tracked through parts of Canadian, Oklahoma, and Cleveland Counties, producing a small, weak anticyclonic tornado near Yukon. The storm later produced an embedded, intermittent, and small EF2 tornado within a larger area of damaging winds that affected parts southwest Oklahoma City and Moore. Some of hail reported during this severe weather event reached baseball size. A wind gust of 73 mph occurred at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.

A late cold snap in March 2013 dropped temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average for the middle part of the month. A low temperature record was broken at Wichita Falls, Texas when the March 25th morning low temperature dropped to 23 degrees.

On March 25, 1995, severe thunderstorms developed over western portions of Oklahoma during the morning hours. Hail, equal to or larger than golf balls, was reported from Laverne, down to near Altus.

On March 26, 1991, severe thunderstorms across much of north-central and northwest Oklahoma produced a total of five tornadoes. Four of the tornadoes were weak, but the fifth was much stronger. That tornado traversed a 67-mile-long path from just northeast of Nash, in Grant County, northeastward into southern Kansas.

Record setting snow accumulations were seen on this day in 2009 across parts of northwest Oklahoma as a late season snow storm hit. A powerful cold front swept through the area dropping temperatures in the 20s and 30s, with winds gusting over 40 mph. Snowfall rates were impressive, with areas across northwest Oklahoma receiving 2 inches of accumulating snow per hour. The snow ended on the 28th with a record 26 inches of snow in Woodward and Freedom, with a foot of snow more common. Roads were impassable and businesses were shut down as roofs collapsed from the weight of the snow.

On March 26, 2004, a widespread severe weather outbreak occurred across western and central Oklahoma. Baseball-size hail was reported on highway 183 near Clinton, and a few tornadoes occurred near Sharon, in Woodward County, where a car was blown off of the road and some livestock was killed. Several structures across the affected areas were damaged from severe hail and strong winds. When the event ended just before 10 PM, the Norman Forecast Office had issued a total of 66 severe weather warnings.

On March 27, 1971, the temperature climbed to 100 degrees at Wichita Falls. This set the records for earliest occurrence in the year of 100 degrees, and the warmest day ever in March.

Grapefruit-size hail fell on the southern part of Oklahoma City during the late afternoon of March 28, 1988. The hail, along with winds gusting to 70 mph, destroyed 1,500 new cars at the General Motors plant. Total damage around the city came to about $35 million. Other severe thunderstorms that day produced three weak tornadoes and baseball-size hail over other parts of central and southern Oklahoma. Hail damage in Stephens County exceeded $18 million.

Widespread severe weather across Oklahoma and western north Texas caused extensive damage on March 29th and 30th, 1993. In Oklahoma, baseball-size hail, flash flooding, and high winds caused $1 million to $2 million in damage in Waurika. Several weak tornadoes also caused damage in Lincoln and McClain Counties. Over western north Texas, hail larger than baseballs fell at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, and baseball-size hail fell in Crowell.

Back in 1991, the month of March was historic, with respect to tornadoes. Seventeen tornadoes occurred during the month, setting an all-time record. Oklahoma experiences about 4 tornadoes during an average month of March.

There were two rounds of severe thunderstorms that impacted the region over the weekend of the March 30th and 31st, 2013. The first round of severe weather developed in the evening of the 30th across southwest and central Oklahoma, with the strongest storms affecting the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and western Lawton with very large hail. Hail sizes reached 2.3 inches in diameter at Cache. The second round of storms was focused primarily along a strong cold front that surged southward across Oklahoma and northern Texas early Sunday morning, the 31st. The storms formed over northwest Oklahoma and quickly intensified and moved toward central Oklahoma, arriving in the OKC metro around 3 AM. Winds along this line were estimated to be near 60 mph, with reports of quarter-sized hail in Oklahoma City. There were also numerous reports of golf ball-sized hail in Norman, and quarter-sized hail farther south through Sulphur, Ardmore, Roff, and Stringtown.

The winter and spring months of the year 2011 were very dry. In the midst of a historical drought, March 2011 ended up being the 2nd driest March in Oklahoma City history and the 4th driest at Wichita Falls, Texas.

On March 31, 2008, a powerful low-pressure system developed over northwest Oklahoma, with a dry line extending south from the low. As a result, numerous severe thunderstorms developed across western Oklahoma during the late afternoon hours and moved into central Oklahoma during the evening. Hail larger than the size of baseballs and winds gusting to 60 mph were frequently reported as the storms advanced eastward. A few tornadoes were also reported, one of which affected the Oklahoma City area, with several homes and businesses damaged.

A round of severe storms on March 31, 1959, caused damage across much of Oklahoma. In Noble and Pawnee Counties, tornadoes caused damage to farms, while in Shawnee, a golf ball-sized hailstone knocked one person unconscious. Baseball-size hail fell in Thackerville, with some stones as large as 11 to 12 inches in circumference. This created holes in roofs, windshields, and even produced craters in the ground.

On April 1, 1983, high winds behind a cold front brought widespread damage to the area. Winds measured at 65 to 85 mph, blew down power lines and trees, and blew the roofs off several homes. One man drowned in Arbuckle Reservoir when his boat capsized. The wind destroyed a commuter airplane in Lawton worth more than $1 million, while blowing cars, trucks, and motor homes off area roadways.

Baseball-size hail fell on parts of western north Texas on April 2, 1991. The severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage, especially in Iowa Park and Burkburnett, just west and north of Wichita Falls.

On this date in 1936, Oklahoma City's morning low temperature of 20 degrees set the all-time coldest April temperature in the city. This record was later tied on April 13, 1957.

A violent tornado struck Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base on the afternoon of April 3, 1964, killing 7 people and injuring over 100. Damage estimates exceeded $15 million. At least 225 homes were destroyed on the north side of town. This tornado is one of the first tornadoes ever to be shown on live television. Severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 3-inches in diameter and at least 8 other tornadoes across central and southern Oklahoma on this same day, including one that struck Catfish Bay Marina and Lake Texoma State Park during the early morning. Damage from this tornado approached $250,000.

The coldest April temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls occurred on April 3, 1975. That morning, the temperature fell to a chilly 24 degrees.

The first week of April, way back in 1893, was one of the warmest weeks ever during April in Oklahoma City. From the 3rd through the 7th, the high temperature averaged an incredible 94 degrees. In fact, each of the daily high temperatures over that five-day period remains a record more than 100 years later. Despite the week of heat, April 1893 does not rank as one of the top ten warmest Aprils on record in Oklahoma City.

On April 4th and 5th back in 1921, heavy rains resulted in widespread flash flooding in the Clinton area. This resulted in the drowning of several hundred cattle.

With very strong winds and drought conditions in place, arcing power lines just north of Woodward started a wildfire that burned a large part of northern Woodward County on this date in 2016. The fire spread northward and narrowly missed Alabaster Caverns and the town of Freedom. Close to 60,000 acres burned.

On this date in 1978, three tornadoes touched down in southwest Oklahoma. The strongest began southwest of Pumpkin Center, and moved northeast for 10 miles, damaging or destroying 21 homes, five mobile homes, and 21 barns and outbuildings. The storm was accompanied by hail up to three inches in diameter. The only injury was to a boy, who was slightly injured, when a hailstone hit him on the head.

On this date in 2011, Wichita Falls set a record high of 100 degrees. Not only is this a record for the date, it is also the second earliest day of the year that Wichita Falls has reached the century mark. The earliest is March 27, back in 1971.

In addition to severe thunderstorms, an intense area of low pressure created very strong winds on this date back in 2001. Sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph, with some gusts to 60 mph, affected much of western Oklahoma and western north Texas.

On April 6th and 7th back in 1927, heavy rain added to already high stream flow, producing a devastating flood along the Arkansas River, below the mouth of the Neosho River. The flooding lasted through the 19th, inundating 165,000 acres of land, with losses totaling $4 million, in 1927 dollars.

On April 7th and 8th, 1973, a late season snowstorm left deep snow over much of the Southern Plains. While central Oklahoma received only a trace, parts of northwest Oklahoma were buried under 10 inches of wet snow. The greatest snowfall report was from Fargo, in Ellis County, where 14 inches of snow was measured. People in Fargo were still better off than many residents of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, where near blizzard conditions occurred.

Damaging severe weather was seen across far northern Oklahoma on this date back in 2011. Numerous supercell thunderstorms produced hail the size of golf balls to baseballs from Cherokee, eastward toward Medford, Billings, Enid, and Ponca City. A particularly strong supercell produced a measured 94 mph wind gust at the Ponca City airport. This resulted in significant damage to numerous buildings on and near the airport grounds.

It began to snow over central Oklahoma during the evening of April 7, 1938, and continued to snow well into the following day. In Oklahoma City, several snowfall records for the month soon fell to the storm, including the record for most total snowfall during the month of April. The Oklahoma City snowfall totals of 0.8 inches on the 7th, and 3.3 inches on the 8th, remain daily records. In fact, the 3.3-inch snowfall on the 8th is the most ever to fall on any single April day. The 4.1-inch total for the month continues as the greatest April monthly snowfall total.

Tornadoes struck Archer City and Wichita Falls, Texas, on this date back in 1961. The Archer City tornado moved northeast through the center of town shortly after 3 PM, causing extensive damage to several homes and businesses. The Wichita Falls tornado began near Kamay, and moved northeast across Wichita Valley Airport and Sheppard Air Force Base, where wind gusts were estimated at 100 mph.

During the evening of April 9, 1947, the deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history tore through the northwest part of the state. A vast majority of the destruction and loss of life was in Woodward, where 108 people perished, and more than 700 others were injured. Overall, in Oklahoma, the tornado killed 116 people and injured more than 1,400. The tornado first touched down near the community of White Deer, in the Texas Panhandle, crossed through the northwest Oklahoma Counties of Ellis, Woodward, and Woods, and finally dissipated near Saint Leo, Kansas. The tornado was up to one and one-half miles wide as it clipped along at more than 40 mph, and its path was 221 miles long through the three states.

Numerous wildfires spread across central Oklahoma on this day in 2009. The event began as a fairly strong surface low-pressure system moved through northern Oklahoma, with an associated dry line positioned over central Oklahoma. Extremely dry air, combined with westerly winds gusting well over 50 mph, created conditions that allowed wildfires to grow out of control. Many homes and structures were burned, primarily in and near Midwest City. Luckily, no one was killed as a result of the fires.

The date of April 10, 1979, is fixed in the minds of many residents of Wichita Falls. On that date, one of the strongest tornadoes of recent memory ripped through the town, killing 45 people and injuring at least 1,700 in a matter of minutes. The worst tragedy was the fact that many deaths were easily preventable. Twenty-five people were killed when they got into their cars and tried to drive out of the tornado's path. Sixteen of the 25 left homes that were not even damaged. Besides the terrible human costs, 3,100 homes were destroyed, with an estimated 20,000 people were left homeless. The total damage in Wichita Falls was around $400 million. The Wichita Falls tornado was not the first massive tornado that day in the western parts of north Texas. An earlier tornado killed 10 people in Vernon and 1 in Lockett.

Freezing rain events are not all that uncommon across Oklahoma and north Texas, especially during the late winter and early spring months. However, the late nature of an event on April 9th and 10th, 2013 stands out as one of the latest for Oklahoma. Looking at past events, the latest freezing rain event that resulted in ice accumulation in Oklahoma City occurred back on April 17th and 18th, 1953. Northwest Oklahoma, which tends to have a greater frequency of winter weather events, had its latest freezing rain event on April 29th, 1994 at Gage. As far as the 2013 freezing rain event, freezing rain began late on April 9th and continued through the afternoon of the 10th. Most of western Oklahoma and western north Texas saw at least some light ice accumulations. Fortunately, ground temperatures were relatively warm thanks to several days of temperatures in the 70s and 80s preceding this event, preventing ice from sticking to roadways. However, ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-half inch occurred on trees and power lines, resulting in sporadic power outages. Substantial tree damage also occurred, especially to soft wood trees with developed leaf canopies due to the recent warm temperatures.

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake shook parts of central Oklahoma on the evening of April 11, 1952. This tremor, centered in southeastern Canadian County, might be considered an aftershock to the magnitude 5.0 quake that shook the same area two days earlier. Two additional 3.8 aftershocks would hit the same area four days later, on the night of April 15th.

April, 2018 was a busy fire weather month across the drought-stricken Southern Plains. Vegetation that had seen abundant growth during 2017 lay very dry and dormant in the early spring of 2018 due to a dry winter and early spring period. From April 12th through the 17th, very warm and dry air combined with the dormant fuels and strong winds to produce fire weather conditions labeled “historic”. Although there were many fires, the two largest began near each other in northwest Oklahoma. The Rhea Fire ignited southwest of Leedey in Dewey County and would go on to consume over 286,000 acres. The 34 Complex Fire began as three separate fires in Woodward and Harper Counties that merged into one, eventually burning over 60,000 acres north and east of Woodward. In all, nearly 400,000 acres burned across the state of Oklahoma, burning dozens of homes and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage. The small town of Martha in Jackson County lost at least 15 homes and over $20 million in cotton and cotton seed alone. Twenty fire-related injuries were reported by area hospitals, mostly due to smoke inhalation. The fires claimed two lives, a 61-year-old man died in Roger Mills County fighting a small fire that began near Leedey, and a woman died in her vehicle near Seiling.

On April 12, 1972, the temperature climbed to 100 degrees in Oklahoma City. That is the earliest date in the year that a temperature of at least 100 has ever occurred in the city. The 100-degree high also set a record as the warmest temperature ever observed in April for Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, Wichita Falls also set an April high temperature that day, with a reading of 102 degrees.

The 2nd latest winter-spring date OKC has experienced measurable snowfall is April 12. This occurred back in 1957 when seven tenths of an inch were recorded. The latest date is actually April 14, which was experienced in 1953 with eight tenths of an inch were recorded.

At least a dozen tornadoes affect southwest into central Oklahoma on this date in 2012. It was Friday the 13th when the first tornado of the day touched down just southwest of Norman at 3:59 PM. The tornado moved east-northeast through the heart of the city shortly after 4:00 PM. This tornado was eventually rated an EF1 as it damaged many businesses and homes, and took down numerous trees and power lines. No fatalities were reported with this rush hour tornado, but 20 injuries were reported. The same parent supercell thunderstorm that produced the Norman tornado also spawned a brief, weak tornado in Pottawatomie County 6 miles northwest of Shawnee.

A two-day period of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain across Oklahoma ended on the early morning of April 13th, 1967. This allowed residents along Okmulgee Creek to return home after 4 to 8 inches of rain in east central Oklahoma forced the creek out of its banks. From the night of the 11th, through the morning of the 13th, tornadoes struck Geary and Walters, as well as in rural areas east of Ponca City, and over McCurtain County. Damage was minor, and only one injury was reported. Thunderstorm winds caused additional damage in a swath from Elk City and Sayre, northeast to Fairview, Helena, and Enid. Unlike many Southern Plains severe weather outbreaks, no hail was reported with any of these storms. All of the damage was due to winds or flooding.

The day after an EF1 tornado struck Norman, several tornadoes affected northwest Oklahoma on April 14th in 2012. Most of the tornadoes occurred from around 4 PM well through the evening around Waynoka, Alva, and Cherokee. The last in a series of tornadic supercells developed southwest of Woodward just before midnight and tracked toward Woodward. The Woodward tornado began around 11:50 PM 3 miles northeast of Arnett and moved into the southwest city limits of Woodward around 12:18 AM on Sunday, April 15th. The tornado finally exited the northwest side of Woodward around 12:23 AM. Sadly, 6 people were killed in and near Woodward with the EF3 tornado.

On this day back in 2011, several tornadic supercells developed over eastern and southeast Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening hours. Along with at least 5 tornadoes, at least one being rated as an EF3, very large and damaging hail occurred. Hail up to the size of baseballs and softballs were reported. The EF3 tornado, which struck Tushka in Atoka County, resulted in two fatalities.

The morning low temperature in Wichita Falls on April 15, 1983, was a chilly 32 degrees. Up until the spring of 2013, this was the latest spring freeze on record at the Falls.

An interesting oddity occurred near Wichita Falls on April 16, 1977. A weak tornado not only developed from a weak shower, as no lightning or thunder was noticed, but the tornado then proceeded to move toward the west, though most tornadoes move toward the east. The tornado was accompanied by a loud roar as it moved through largely uninhabited areas just west of Wichita Falls.

Severe weather and flash flooding affected a small part of western north Texas, into southwest and central Oklahoma on this date in 2013. At least five weak, short-lived tornadoes occurred from around Odell and Harrold, Texas, up toward Grandfield and Lawton, Oklahoma. Minor damage was reported with the tornadoes, but thankfully, no one was hurt. Numerous reports of damaging wind and hail, along with very heavy rain were also received across southwest and central Oklahoma. The largest hail and strongest winds were seen from Snyder and Cache, to Rush Springs and Chickasha. Significant flash flooding was also seen around Medicine Park, Meers, Chickasha, and Newcastle, where four to seven inches of rain fell in a short period of time.

Very strong thunderstorm winds raked across Oklahoma and north Texas on April 16th and 17th, 1990. The Oklahoma City metro area took the brunt of the storms. Winds of 90 to 100 mph severely damaged roofs of several schools and apartment buildings. At the Oklahoma City Post Office, many Federal Income Tax returns, which were waiting to be loaded into a transport truck, were swept away by the winds.

On this date back in 1959, a severe thunderstorm moved southeast across the Chattanooga area, dumping 4 inches of rain in 30 minutes, along with hail up to an inch in diameter, which piled up over a foot deep in bar ditches. Hail up to one and one-half inches in diameter also caused roof damage across south Oklahoma City.

Late afternoon and evening severe weather, in the form of hail to the size of softballs and at least 5 tornadoes, affected southeast Oklahoma on this day in 2011. Stringtown, in Atoka County, received hail the size of softballs, while numerous tornadoes moved through the Kiamichi Mountains of far southeast Oklahoma. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries.

After three days of very heavy rain, from April 17th to 19th, 1970, areas around Medford, Jefferson, Lamont, and Blackwell were struck by extensive flooding. The town of Jefferson was completely inundated. Only nine homes escaped damage, with a few buildings reporting as much as two feet of water in them. In Blackwell, 40 city blocks and 200 homes were flooded when the Chikaskia River crested at six and one-half feet above flood stage.

A severe hailstorm struck the Munday and Goree areas of Knox County, Texas, on this date in 1967. Damage was estimated at $1 million to property, and $500,000 to crops. Hailstones, some as large as golf balls, accumulated up to six inches deep. Some hail piles, drifted by the rain, were 2 to 3 feet deep. These same communities dodged a bullet the next day. A tornado touched down in open country 3 miles north of Munday, during the early afternoon, causing no damage.

A tornado struck 5 miles north of Cyril on this day in 1967. A pickup truck, driving along State Highway 8, stalled because of the wind, then was lifted by the tornado, turned around to face the opposite direction, and set down again, without damage. The driver, who described the funnel as being full of mud, was uninjured.

On April 20, 1972, severe thunderstorms struck the western parts of north Texas. Near Bonita, in Montague County, flat hailstones, four to five inches in diameter, and one-inch thick, did extensive damage to autos, roofs, and windows.

The north Texas mini-heat wave of 1925 ended on April 21, 1925. In Wichita Falls, the daily high temperatures from the 18th through the 21st still stand as records for their dates. On each of the four days, temperatures rose to at least 95 degrees. The warmest day was the 18th, with a high of 100 degrees.

At least seven tornadoes occurred across portions of south-central and southeast Oklahoma on this date in 2020. Tornadoes developed late in the afternoon and evening, from near Pauls Valley, down toward Springer, Madill and Durant. The strongest tornadoes, rated EF2, occurred northeast of Springer and in the southern part of Madill. Two fatalities occurred in Madill.

Severe thunderstorms formed across southern, central, and eastern Oklahoma on this date in 2011. With a stalled frontal boundary near the I-44 corridor, storms producing hail to the size of baseballs moved across areas extending from Walters and Marlow, northeast through Sulphur, Wynnewood, and Tecumseh, up toward Tulsa and far northeast Oklahoma. There were also at least 8 tornadoes, none of which resulted in significant damage or injuries.

A supercell thunderstorm left a 50-mile path of damage over a two-hour period across north-central Oklahoma on this date in 1964. At least three tornadoes occurred in the area, from near Garber, to Billings, to Tonkawa, to near Ponca City. Hail up to baseball-size accompanied the storm. Fortunately, there was only one injury reported.

Thunder was not heard officially in Oklahoma City during April 1989. That was the only April in the history of Oklahoma City, since 1891, that passed with no observation of thunder on any day of the month.

An unusual tornado occurred on this day in 2006. In the town of El Reno, numerous storm spotters, including 3 media helicopters, spotted an anti-cyclonic tornado. It touched down 5 miles southwest of El Reno, while at the same time, a cyclonic tornado was moving across western El Reno. The anticyclonic tornado moved east southeast through the El Reno Regional Airport, causing extensive damage to the two large hanger buildings and ten aircraft. Five of the ten aircraft were claimed a total loss. Total damage to the airport was estimated at $1.5 million.

The month of April 2013, was a fairly chilly month for both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. It was the 4th coldest April on record for Oklahoma City, which interestingly, comes one year after the warmest April on record. For Wichita Falls, Texas, it was the 6th coolest April on record. On April 24th of 2013, Wichita Falls established its latest date in the spring with a freeze when the temperature dropped to 29 degrees.

Severe weather struck parts of eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of April 24, 1993. On that day, severe thunderstorms produced eight tornadoes and dumped hail up to the size of baseballs. The worst tornado touched down in east Tulsa, and followed Interstate-44 into the community of Catoosa. Along with extensive damage to area homes and businesses, many cars and trucks were destroyed on the interstate and at nearby truck stops.

The first known official tornado outbreak in central Oklahoma came on April 25, 1893. On that day, at least five strong or violent tornadoes struck central Oklahoma. One twister moved through northern Cleveland County, destroying 30 homes. This tornado was more than one-mile wide at times.

April 2013 will down as one of the coldest Aprils in recent memory. At Wichita Falls, Texas, four low temperatures records were broken, one of them being the latest spring freeze on record, the 24th. Record lows were set on the 19th and the 23rd through the 25th, with the coldest being the 24th with 29 degrees. Oklahoma City also broke four low temperature records, with the lowest being on the 11th at 29 degrees.

One of the most significant tornado outbreaks over the Southern Plains in recent memory occurred on April 26, 1991. A total of 55 tornadoes, including ten in Oklahoma, ravaged the area. The most infamous of the storms struck the area around Andover and Wichita, Kansas. In Andover, 17 people were killed and more than 225 injured. The strongest storm in Oklahoma was the Red Rock tornado. This storm began just east of Garber, in Garfield County, and traveled 66 miles to just northwest of Pawhuska, in Osage County. Despite the violence of this intense tornado, it injured only six people.

A tornado struck Sheppard Air Force Base, on the north side of Wichita Falls, on this date in 1962. The tornado blew out all but one of the 12, large windows, in the control tower. Tower personnel had been evacuated only four minutes earlier.

On April 26 and 27, 1984, a significant tornado outbreak struck the Southern Plains, with 11 tornadoes reported over the eastern-half of Oklahoma. The most devastating of the storms tore through the town of Morris, in Okmulgee County. This storm destroyed 28 square blocks of Morris, killing eight people and injuring nearly 100. Another tornado killed three people and injured 37 on its path through Creek and Pawnee Counties. The severe storms also dumped large hail, with hailstones up to the size of grapefruits reported.

On this date in 2021, an isolated severe thunderstorm intensified just west of Norman in the Bridge Creek, Newcastle, and Blanchard areas. As the storm raced to the east into northern portions of Norman, it produced 60 mph to 70 mph winds with up to baseball sized hail. Extensive damage was done to houses and cars, breaking windows and damaging roofs. At least one injury from the hail was reported. Although the storm produced smaller hail farther east, it was still producing damaging winds over into Shawnee.

April 2015 was a wet month for much of the region. While in the midst of a long-term and exceptional drought across western Oklahoma, locations from around Taloga, to Cheyenne and Sayre received between 10 and 15 inches of rain during the month! This made April 2015 the second wettest month for west-central Oklahoma since records began in 1895.

On April 28 and 29, 1993, severe storms and flash flooding affected much of western and central Oklahoma, and even extended into the western parts of north Texas. Rainfall of five to eight inches caused extensive flooding in the Lake Carl Blackwell area. The hardest hit area was in parts of southwest Stillwater, where more than 100 people were forced to evacuate their homes, and several others had to be rescued from abandoned cars. In addition, the storms dropped up to golf ball size hail over the area.

On April 29, 1985, a tornado damaged parts of Ardmore, injuring one person. This tornado is unique in that it was the first tornado to be probed by a ground-based instrument package. A crew from the National Severe Storms Laboratory dropped the instrument package, appropriately called TOTO, for Totable Tornado Observatory, into the path of the storm to get accurate readings of conditions inside the tornado.

While April does produce quite a few rainy days in Oklahoma City, it is not known for extremely heavy rainfall. The exception to this rule occurred back in 1947, when almost one foot of rain fell during the month. The 11.91-inch monthly total at Oklahoma City made April of 1947 the wettest April of record, but only the 8th heaviest monthly rainfall since accurate records began in 1891.

The month of April in 2013 was the fifth coldest April recorded in Oklahoma City.

April 2005 went down in the history books as one of the driest months in recorded history for both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. Both cities measured just under 0.3 inches of precipitation for the month. On average, the April precipitation totals are between 2.5 and 3 inches.

The latest time in spring that snow has fallen in Oklahoma City is April 30. This occurred in both 1907 and 1951.

May of 2018 was the warmest May on record for the state of Oklahoma and the warmest May since 1962. This very warm May followed a stretch of several years when May in Oklahoma had been cooler than average. While there were no extended streaks of very hot or 100-degree temperatures during the month, high and low temperatures were consistently above average and there were no strong cold fronts, which we normally see. For individual locations, it was the warmest May on record at Lawton, the 2nd warmest at Oklahoma City, and the 5th warmest at Wichita Falls, Texas.

May of 2003 was an unusual year for tornadoes in the central United States, as most outbreaks occurred during the first two weeks of the month. A record-breaking 384 tornadoes occurred in 19 states during these first two weeks, which resulted in 42 fatalities. Included in these record-breaking events were the tornadoes which hit the Oklahoma City metropolitan area on May 8th and 9th.

The coldest May temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls came on May 1, 1907. On that date the temperature fell to 36 degrees. The May record of 36 degrees was later tied on May 3, 1954, and on May 12, 1979.

To start the year 2018, no tornadoes were recorded in Oklahoma from January 1 through April 30, the first time with no tornadoes during this stretch since weather records began. A brief, weak tornado occurred on May 1 near the Kansas border north of Buffalo, bringing this record stretch to an end. On May 2, several tornadoes occurred from southwest Oklahoma, near Lone Wolf, into the southern part of the OKC metro. The metro tornado affected northeast sides of Norman with EF1 damage. No injuries were reported with any of the tornadoes.

It was a chilly start to May across Oklahoma and western north Texas in 2013. Record low temperatures were set on May 2, 2013 when Oklahoma City reported a low of 37 degrees and Wichita Falls 38 degrees. Both locations also set records for the coolest high temperatures for the date. Oklahoma City only reached 48 degrees while Wichita Falls made it to 53 degrees.

Severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes and very large hail over northern Oklahoma on May 2nd and 3rd, back in 1979. One tornado, which formed near Cleo Springs, in Major County, damaged the southern and eastern parts of Tahoma. The storm killed one person and injured 25 others. A second tornado struck the Fairview area and flipped an airplane that was taxiing down a runway. The two occupants were not injured. Extremely large hail was also common. A huge chunk of hail, with an incredible circumference of 17 inches, fell in Woods County. Softball-size hail fell in Mulhall, and baseball-size hail fell in Enid.

On May 3, 1999, multiple supercell thunderstorms produced large and damaging tornadoes mainly over central Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours. This tornado outbreak is arguably the most significant outbreak in Oklahoma recorded history. Although numerous towns were hit by more than 70 tornadoes across Oklahoma, the most violent tornadoes affected locations like Amber and Bridge Creek, Moore, Del City, Midwest City, Crescent, and Mulhall. The latest statistics show that 40 people died in Oklahoma as a direct result of the twisters, and 675 were injured. Numerous homes and businesses were destroyed with a total damage estimate of $1.2 billion.

The coldest May temperature ever observed in Oklahoma City occurred on May 3, 1954. That morning, the temperature fell to a chilly 32 degrees, which is also the latest spring freeze ever recorded in the city.

At least 10 tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma on this date back in 1961, including a large tornado near Cheyenne that was observed from many surrounding communities. One person was killed, and more than 20 farmsteads were severely damaged or destroyed by a tornado that tracked from just west of Geary, to south of Kingfisher. One farmstead was struck by two tornadoes within 5 minutes. This tornado outbreak occurred exactly one year after an outbreak that produced a dozen tornadoes across Oklahoma on May 4th, 1960.

The month of May in 2019 was exceptionally busy with tornadoes. 105 tornadoes were recorded that year, setting a record for the highest total for any month in Oklahoma. With several periods of severe weather through the summer and fall months, 2019 also saw the highest total for tornadoes in a year, 147. Despite the high number of tornadoes that year, no EF4 or EF5 tornadoes were recorded.

Severe flash flooding hit parts of southwest Oklahoma and the western parts of North Texas on May 5, 1982. The hardest hit area was around Lawton, where four to five inches of rain fell in just 90 minutes. The weight of the heavy rain caused the roof of a shopping mall to collapse, killing one person and injuring two others. Flooding also occurred across North Texas, where several roads in Wichita, Clay, and Archer Counties were closed by high water that spilled over the banks of area creeks.

Nineteen tornadoes touched down on this date in 1961, leaving more than 30 people dead in eastern Oklahoma. Hardest hit was the town of Wilburton, where 13 people were killed, and over 800 homes and buildings were either damaged or destroyed.

At least 14 tornadoes touched down during the afternoon and evening of May 6th 2015. One tornado touched down near Archer City, Texas as well. A tornado that moved near Amber and Bridge Creek in Grady County was rated EF3, as was a tornado that struck parts of southeastern Oklahoma City that injured 12. Another tornado moved through the west side of Norman and was rated EF1. The tornado that occurred near Archer City in western north Texas was rated EF2. One flash flood fatality occurred during this severe weather event. A woman who had taken refuge from severe weather in her storm cellar in southeast Oklahoma City was drowned when flash flooding inundated her shelter and she was unable to get out. In addition, at least 150 high water rescues were conducted in the Oklahoma City metro area as a result of the heavy rainfall and flash flooding that occurred.

Severe weather began on this day back in 2007, and continued until the early hours of the 7th. A surface low-pressure system in Colorado translated southeastward with thunderstorms developing in northwest Oklahoma early in the afternoon. A supercell that developed over central Oklahoma produced two small tornadoes in Seminole County. Minor damage was reported near State Highway 9, where a large tree fell onto a trailer and pushed it off its foundation.

During the late evening of May 6, 1985, severe thunderstorms developed over parts of northwest Oklahoma. Hail up to baseball-size fell just northeast of Gage, and golf ball-size hail was common. A tornado was spotted near Tangier, in Woodward County. Flooding of many low-lying areas occurred after six inches of rain fell from the storms.

This date back in 2003 marked the first day of a three-day barrage of tornadic thunderstorms over Oklahoma. The first tornadoes occurred over southwest and south-central Oklahoma during the late evening of May 7th, into the overnight hours. The strongest tornadoes with this initial activity were rated as F2, and they occurred in the Cornish, Overbrook, and Antioch areas of extreme south-central Oklahoma. Although there was over $250,000 in damage, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Serious flooding occurred across central Oklahoma after torrential rain and hail fell on May 7th and 8th, back in 1993. Heavy rain, which fell on the 7th, left rainfall amounts up to an inch. Oklahoma City then recorded 6.64 inches of rain on the 8th, the sixth greatest daily rainfall amount ever observed in the city. Extensive flooding resulted, which killed four people in Oklahoma City, and the fire department had to rescue 183 others. More than 2,000 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed, and damages were estimated at $8 million.

Back in 2003, this date was the second of 3 consecutive days with strong to violent tornadoes. Strong tornadoes occurred over extreme south-central Oklahoma during the early morning hours, from Cornish to near Antioch. Another round of tornado producing thunderstorms struck central Oklahoma later in the day, producing a violent tornado that affected Moore, Oklahoma City, Midwest City, and Choctaw. This F4 tornado took on a path very similar to the May 3, 1999 devastating tornado. This particular tornado back in 2003 affected areas from Newcastle and Moore, to Del City and Choctaw. Although over 130 people were injured, there were no fatalities.

On May 8, 1986, severe thunderstorms produced two damaging tornadoes in the Edmond area. The first tornado destroyed 39 homes and damaged 171 others, as it tore through the town. The second tornado destroyed or damaged 15 mobile homes. Despite the destruction, the storms caused only 15 injuries and no fatalities. The first tornado was rated an F3, making it the strongest tornado to strike the Oklahoma City metropolitan area between 1978 and 1999.

This day in 2003 marked the last day of a 3-day string of strong to violent tornadoes over Oklahoma. Like the day before, May 9, 2003 saw strong tornadoes plague central parts of the Sooner state. During the evening hours, tornadic storms ripped through areas from near Binger, in Caddo County, east and northeast through Union City, Bethany and Warr Acres, into Edmond, Wellston and Stroud. The strongest tornado produced F3 damage as it tore through the Edmond and Luther areas. Remarkably, there were only 10 injuries and no fatalities. The low numbers are attributed to the preparedness and actions taken by Oklahomans, emergency management, broadcast media, and the National Weather Service Forecast Office.

On this date in 2016, a wind gust measuring 88 mph was recorded at the Sulphur Mesonet site, 4 miles north-northeast of Sulphur. The Mesonet site was located immediately south of the damage path associated with a long track tornado. The storm that produced this measured wind gust also produced an EF4 tornado just south of Elmore City, killing one person.

On May 9, 1964, a supercell thunderstorm formed over eastern Greer County, in southwest Oklahoma. This storm then proceeded to drop hail larger than baseballs along its entire 135-mile path into the south-central parts of the state. An Air Force plane that flew into the storm near Cooperton, in Kiowa County, disintegrated and crashed due to the barrage of hail, killing six people. Large hail damaged every roof in the community of Fletcher, just northeast of Fort Sill.

A significant outbreak of tornadoes occurred across Oklahoma on this date in 2010. Three people were killed and over 400 were injured after more than 35 tornadoes struck northern, central, and southern Oklahoma during the afternoon and early evening. This was the second largest documented tornado outbreak in Oklahoma history, second only to the May 3, 1999 outbreak.

One of the two deadliest tornadoes in Oklahoma before Oklahoma became a state occurred on May 10, 1905. On that day a monstrous supercell formed near the southwest corner of the Oklahoma Territory. The supercell spawned a deadly tornado that nearly destroyed the town of Snyder, and killed about 100 of its residents.

The longest continuous span of time with a thunderstorm in Oklahoma City occurred on this date back in 1950. Thunder was heard continuously for 18 hours and 21 minutes.

Scattered severe thunderstorms, which formed over northern Texas and moved northeast through southern and central Oklahoma, produced a fairly wide swath of strong and damaging winds on this day in 2011. Several locations near and east of Ardmore, Oklahoma City, and Newkirk saw thunderstorm associated wind gusts in excess of 60 mph.

May of 1982 was one of the worst months for severe weather in Oklahoma history. The second of three severe weather episodes came on May 11th and 12th. On the 11th, severe thunderstorms produced 18 tornadoes across the western part of the state. One tornado touched down southeast of Altus and moved across Altus Air Force Base. In Altus, almost every roof in town was damaged by large hail. At the base, 70 buildings were damaged or destroyed, 30 airplanes were damaged, and 6,000 vehicles suffered hail or tornado damage. Overall, two people were killed, 60 others injured, and the total damage from this particular storm was more than $200 million.

The same storm system that pummeled much of southwest Oklahoma on May 11, 1982, continued into north Texas on the 12th. Heavy rain quickly became the primary concern. In Wichita Falls, more than 4.5 inches of rain fell on the 12th, after more than half an inch fell on the 11th. Some homes reportedly had more than eight feet of water in them when the Holliday and McGrath Creeks rose out of their banks. The heavy rain of this period, combined with the rest of the season, gave Wichita Falls one of its wettest springs, with over 20 inches of rainfall.

Widespread severe weather tracked across the state on this day in 2009. Thunderstorms quickly developed along and ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening hours. Supercells across central Oklahoma produced hail to the size of baseballs, wind gusts over 60 mph, and four tornadoes. The most damaging tornado was rated as an EF2, which touched down southeast of Gracemont and moved south towards Anadarko, in Caddo County. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, trees, and a strip mall occurred. Luckily, no injuries were reported. Damage estimates were close to $50 million.

Widespread severe weather occurred for two days across the state of Oklahoma on May 12th and 13th, back in 1985. The city of Moore reported baseball-size hail and winds of 70 to 80 mph. Even larger hail fell in south Oklahoma City, with some stones as large as grapefruits. Hail larger than baseballs fell as far southwest as Sterling, in Comanche County. Two weak tornadoes also occurred, but caused little damage.

During the early morning hours on this date in 2020, several heat bursts occurred across southwest into central Oklahoma as a dissipating storm complex moved over the region. Numerous wind gusts of 50 mph or greater were recorded from Tipton and Mangum, to Fort Cobb and Chickasha, through much of the OKC metro, to Chandler. The wind gust at Chandler reached 65 mph, while a gust of 77 mph was recorded near Minco, just west of Oklahoma City. Along with the strong to damaging wind gusts, as the name implies, temperatures rose from the 60s well into to 80s in a very short amount of time. The strong wind gusts resulted in numerous power outages and damage to trees.

On this date back in 1991, baseball-size hail damaged cars, broke windows and skylights, and did extensive roof damage in Knox City, Texas. A tornado was sighted eight miles west of Knox City.

A strong tornado touched down in western north Texas on May 14, 1986. The tornado formed just southeast of Archer City, and moved through the southern portions of Windthorst. The tornado caused four injuries at Windthorst, as several mobile homes were destroyed and several houses damaged.

May 15, 1991, was a very active day for tornadoes in Oklahoma, as at least five tornadoes struck the western and northwest parts of the state. The strongest tornado was sighted near Laverne, which was rated as an F3. The tornado was 800 to 900 yards wide, its path was 11.5 miles long, and it resulted in three injuries in the Laverne area. The parent storm also produced hail the size of grapefruits.

Widespread severe weather, including six tornadoes, struck northern and central Oklahoma on May 15, 1990. The worst of the tornadoes developed just west of Stillwater, and then moved through northern parts of the city. The storm heavily damaged two apartment complexes, and severely damaged or destroyed 83 homes. One person died and 12 were injured.

On this date in 2017, a strong tornado struck southern parts of Elk City, Oklahoma, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others. The tornado developed 3 miles northwest of Carter, or just east of Sayre, and primarily damaged trees and power poles for the first few miles as it moved northeast approaching State Highway 34. The one fatality occurred on State Highway 34 south of State Highway 152 when a man was impacted by the tornado while in his pickup truck. About two miles southwest of Elk City Reservoir, damage intensity increased to EF2 strength as the tornado continued northeast over Elk City Reservoir and through a neighborhood on the south side of Elk City. Damage assessments found 66 homes destroyed , 62 in Elk City, and 140 homes damaged, 126 of which were in Elk City. In addition, 3 businesses were destroyed and 5 businesses were damaged by the tornado.

A significant hail storm struck the Oklahoma City metro area on this date in 2010. This hail storm, which developed near Fairview and tracked just west of Kingfisher down through northern and eastern parts of the Oklahoma City metro area, will go down in history has one of the most damaging and costly hail storms in Oklahoma. Widespread hail ranging between the size of golf balls and baseballs, produced significant damage to automobiles, roofs, and vegetation. The hail was accompanied by winds in excess of 50 mph. Hail drifts several feet deep were reported, and some locations had hail still covering the ground 12 hours after it fell. Damage estimates exceeded $500 million.

On this date back in 1991, at least 6 tornadoes were produced across the northeast parts of Oklahoma. The strongest was rated as an F2, which struck Catoosa, causing an estimated $130,000 in damage, but no injuries.

Thunderstorms that formed on May 16, 1991, persisted into the 17th, producing flash flooding over the western and central parts of Oklahoma. Nearly nine inches of rainfall flooded many low-lying areas and houses in the Weatherford area. In Kingfisher, flood waters covered 64 square blocks of town, and forced the evacuation of 600 people. The National Guard was called in to help in the evacuation as the flood waters reached six to eight feet deep in a few places. The floods washed out 11 major bridges in Lincoln County.

On this date in 2017, it was a busy severe weather day across Oklahoma and western north Texas. Along with widespread storms producing damaging wind and hail, there were also several weak tornadoes across western and eastern parts of Oklahoma. A significant storm across southwest parts of Oklahoma hit a Mesonet observation site near Walters, yielding a 104-mph wind gust.

Baseball-size hail fell from a severe thunderstorm over Hollis, in Harmon County, on May 18, 1979. The hail destroyed thousands of windows and damaged most of the roofs in the town. Two people were injured when they were hit by the hail.

On Sunday the 19th in 2013, significant supercell storms quickly developed along a dry line just west of the Oklahoma City metro area. Most of the storms became tornadic in nature and moved eastward, affecting several populated areas. Some of those impacted were Edmond, Luther, Carney, Lake Thunderbird and far east Norman, western Shawnee, and Prague. The most intense tornado occurred over far western Shawnee near the Shawnee Reservoir, where EF4 damage was found before the tornado traveled north and crossed Interstate-40. Two fatalities and numerous injuries were reported.

In what had already been a busy month of May in 2010, another tornado outbreak occurred on this date across western and central portions of Oklahoma. At least nine tornadoes occurred that day, with most of them confined to an area just north of Kingfisher, to Hennessey and Orlando, over to just north of Stillwater. Two tornadoes occurred near Wynnewood and Sulphur. Thankfully, there were only 3 minor injuries reported that day.

A severe thunderstorm moved through Lawton on this day back in 1975, causing widespread damage to roofs, trees, and signs. A portion of the roof of a nursing home was removed by the winds, resulting in 9 minor injuries to the occupants.

An otherwise beautiful mid-May afternoon gave way to another devastating tornado to the cities of Newcastle and Moore on this day in 2013. This tornado came one day after tornadoes ravaged other portions of central Oklahoma. A supercell storm developed over the northern portions of Newcastle and quickly became tornadic. This storm produced damage on the north side of Newcastle, then intensified and moved eastward through the city of Moore. The tornado reached EF5 strength, destroying two occupied elementary schools and damaging or destroying more than 1500 homes and businesses. Twenty-four people lost their lives and more than 300 were injured. Property losses approaching $1.5 billion have been estimated for this tornado, making it the costliest tornado in Oklahoma history, surpassing the May 3, 1999 storm.

Very large hail fell from severe thunderstorms over the Oklahoma City metropolitan area on May 20, 1990. The northern and western parts of the city were the hardest hit, as hail up to grapefruit-size pounded the area. The hail broke windows and damaged roofs, resulting in about $50 million in damage. Heavy rain made matters worse. Severe flash flooding hampered cleanup efforts after five to seven inches of rain fell.

Widespread severe storms affected Oklahoma and northwest Texas on this date in 2019. Along with several tornadoes across the region, an observation site in Marshall, Oklahoma recorded a severe wind gust of 94 mph.

May 21, 2005 started a record warm weekend across Oklahoma and northern Texas. Most of the area warmed into the upper 90s to just over 100 degrees as a ridge of high pressure built across the southwestern United States.

An intense electrical storm that moved through Tecumseh on this date in 1973, resulted in lightning fire balls, running along the city's power lines. Only brief power outages and minor damage were reported, except for an abandoned home that burned down after being struck by the lightning.

On May 22, 1981, severe thunderstorms produced several large tornadoes across central Oklahoma. The most noteworthy tornado formed one mile west of Binger, in Caddo County, and moved through northern parts of the town, producing extensive damage. The tornado made projectiles out of the objects in its path, including refrigerators, cars, trucks, and even utility poles. The good news is that there were no injuries or deaths, as those persons in the path had underground shelters.

A tropical-like atmosphere and heavy thunderstorms produced extremely heavy rain across far southeast Oklahoma on this day in 2018. A one-hour rainfall total of 3.65 inches was recorded near Broken Bow Lake.

The largest hailstone ever recorded in Oklahoma fell on this date in 2011. The hailstone, six inches in diameter, fell 2 miles north of Gotebo. Damaging hail with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches was also seen farther east and north toward Carnegie, western parts of Oklahoma City, and Kingfisher.

The record for the hottest May temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls came on two consecutive days, May 23rd and 24th back in the year 2000. The temperature rose to 110 degrees on both days.

One of the costliest Oklahoma City hail storms in history pummeled the city on May 23, 1968. Hail the size of baseballs fell over much of the city, resulting in more than 40,000 insurance claims over the 90,000 square mile path of the storm. The final cost was more than $20 million. The parent thunderstorm also caused flash flooding, that left two to four feet of water in some underpasses, and a lightning strike that started a fire which killed two people.

On this date in 2011, a significant tornado outbreak occurred across western and central Oklahoma, with 12 tornadoes resulting in 11 deaths and numerous injuries. One of the tornadoes was sampled by the Oklahoma Mesonet station located 5 miles west-northwest of El Reno. The station measured a wind gust of 151 mph and a 1-minute average wind speed of 115 mph. This was associated with one of the violent tornadoes that moved from near Binger, to Piedmont, and eventually Guthrie. This is the highest wind gust recorded by a Mesonet station, breaking the previous record of 113 mph set at the Lahoma site, in Major County, on August 17, 1994.

On May 24, 2004, severe weather occurred across southwest and central Oklahoma. Baseball-size hail fell at Chattanooga, in Comanche County, and tennis ball-size hail fell near Anadarko and just south of Altus. A brief tornado also touched down near Alfalfa, in Caddo County.

Severe thunderstorms brought widespread large hail and damaging winds to southwest Oklahoma on May 24, 1962. Grapefruit-size hail fell near Duke, west of Altus, while 72 power poles were blown down north of Altus. The nearby Air Force Base was pelted by grapefruit-size hail driven by winds gusting to 85 mph, resulting in extensive damage. In the city of Altus, a radio station's tower was bent over by the high winds. Farmers in the area reported 100 percent crop losses. The storms even had a significant effect as far northeast as Oklahoma City, where outflow winds gusted to 99 mph.

One of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in Oklahoma history occurred on this date back in 1955. Several tornadoes occurred across western, central, and northern Oklahoma. The most devastating tornado formed just north of Oklahoma City, and moved northward, striking the town of Blackwell. Twenty people were killed and 280 were injured as the tornado destroyed eastern portions of the town. Another tornado formed just northeast of Blackwell and moved into Kansas, killing 80 people and injuring over 270 in and near the town of Udall.

On May 25, 1980, a severe thunderstorm crossed the southern part of Knox County, in northern Texas. The storm mainly affected the community of Munday, and to a lesser extent, Knox City. The storm produced hail up to softball-size and an incredible 4 to 10 inches of rain.

Large hail fell over much of north-central Oklahoma on May 26, 1985. Hail that fell just north of Edmond was described as orange-size, while baseball-size hail fell in Guthrie. Many towns in Garfield County observed hail the size of tennis balls, including Medford, Douglas, Covington, and Kremlin.

The month of May in 2019 was both busy with severe weather and heavy rainfall. A statewide average of 11.61 inches of rain fell, making it the second highest average for any calendar month on record.

May 27, 2001 brought one of the most destructive and widespread windstorms to much of Oklahoma and north Texas in recent memory. Severe thunderstorms developed over southwest Kansas during the late afternoon, and rapidly merged into a large severe thunderstorm complex that moved rapidly southeast over the western-half of Oklahoma into northern Texas during the evening and overnight hours. This complex produced widespread and significant wind damage along its path, leaving 1 person dead, 4 injured, 160,000 people without power and over $350 million in damage in Oklahoma alone. Several non-tornadic wind reports in excess of 100 mph were recorded, and it took nearly a week to restore power to all of the affected areas.

A strong spring storm system brought high winds to much of the area on May 27, 1973. Sustained winds reached near 50 mph and gusts approached 80 mph in many locations. Extensive roof, tree, and power line damage resulted across the body of Oklahoma. One person was killed when the strong winds caused them to lose control of their vehicle.

Very hot temperatures were seen across much of western Oklahoma and western north Texas in late May of 2011. On this date at Wichita Falls, the high temperature reached 110 degrees. This not only broke the temperature record for the date, it also tied for the hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of May in Wichita Falls.

On this date in 1987, measurable rain was recorded in Oklahoma City for the 10th straight day, setting a consecutive day record of at least one one-hundredth of an inch of liquid equivalent precipitation.

During late evening hours of May 29, 2004, a significant severe weather outbreak occurred over western and central Oklahoma, mainly along and just north of Interstate-40. Quarter to golf ball-size hail was the most common size of hail that fell, but hailstones up to softball-size fell just east of Custer City. Damage surveys concluded that much of the wind damage was due to straight-line winds, but three F1 tornadoes did track across northwestern Canadian, central Logan, and northwest Lincoln Counties.

Very strong thunderstorm winds raked across parts of southwest Oklahoma on May 29th and 30th, back in 1990. Winds gusted to 90 mph in Hobart, blowing the roof off the Hobart Medical Center, and damaging the roof of a radio station.

The months of May in 2013, 2015, and 2019 were relatively cool and wet for much of Oklahoma and western north Texas. For Oklahoma City, the temperature never reached 90 degrees during the month in those years, and OKC usually sees at least three 90-degree days in May. The top three wettest months of May in OKC are, in order, 2015, 2013, and 2019. Rainfall totals range from 19.48 inches to 12.49 inches. May 2015 is the wettest May on record for the state of Oklahoma. For Wichita Falls, Texas, these years have also been on the cool and wet side, especially in 2015, the wettest May on record with 17 inches of rain.

The temperature rose to a toasty 104 degrees in Oklahoma City late in the afternoon of May 30, 1985. This was the hottest May temperature ever recorded in the city.

May 2015 was the wettest month ever in Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls, and many locations across the region. Oklahoma City measured a record 19.48 inches for the month, while Wichita Falls recorded 17.00 inches. As far as the state of Oklahoma is concerned, it was also the wettest month ever for the Sooner State with a state-average 14.40 inches. This extremely wet month put an end to an extensive and prolonged severe drought over Oklahoma and northern portions of northern Texas that persisted since 2011.

Less than two weeks after tornado outbreaks of May 19 and 20, another tornado event occurred over central Oklahoma on this date in 2013. An extremely large and violent tornado hit the outskirts of El Reno during the early evening hours. This tornado was rated as an EF5 and was 2.6 miles wide at one point of its life cycle, making it the widest tornado in recorded history. The tornado began just southwest of El Reno at 6:03 PM and moved just south of town and ended on the east side of El Reno at 6:43 PM. Eight people lost their lives in this tornado, all of them in vehicles on and near Interstate-40 and Highway 81. In addition to this tornado, at least a half dozen other tornadoes occurred across the Oklahoma City metro area, producing damage but causing no fatalities. Severe flash flooding was also seen across the metro area, resulting in the deaths of thirteen people.

For the first time since official weather records began, no tornadoes were reported anywhere in Oklahoma during May 2005. This was unusual because May typically marks the peak of tornado season for the state, with an average of 20 tornadoes in the month of May.

May of 1982 was a very wet month in Oklahoma City. More than 12 inches of rain fell during the month, making it the third greatest May rainfall in the city, and coming in eighth place for all months. For comparison, the driest May in Oklahoma City was in 1942, when only 0.43 inches of rain was measured.

A severe storm damaging wind event affected many areas across Oklahoma on this day in 2007. A complex of severe storms moved into the state from southwest Kansas and combined with a line of storms already stretched across northern Oklahoma. The two storm complexes created a large and powerful bow echo that moved east and produced extensive wind damage in Enid. Fifty-foot pine trees were uprooted, windows at local businesses were blown out, and a radio station lost its roof and radio tower. A total of 100 homes sustained some type of wind damage. Damage estimates were in the $1 million to $2 million range.

Large hail pounded much of Oklahoma on June 1, 1981. The storms produced grapefruit-size hail in Edmond, and some hail fell for as long as 20 minutes. Total damage in the Edmond area was $7 to $10 million, as the hail destroyed the roofs and windows of many homes and totaled many autos. Softball-size hail fell in Kingfisher, Blaine, and Logan Counties, while hail reached baseball-size around Lake Lawtonka, in Comanche County.

On June 2, 2004, a severe weather outbreak occurred across western north Texas and the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma. Across Oklahoma, it was mainly a wind event, with 60 mph or stronger winds measured at Norman, Enid, and Stillwater, where some structural damage was reported. In Texas, thunderstorms produced strong winds that caused major structural damage at the Vernon airport, along with baseball-size hail near Scotland, in Archer County.

The morning low temperature in Oklahoma City on June 2, 1917, was a chilly 46 degrees. That temperature is the coldest temperature ever recorded in the city during the month of June.

On this date back in 1985, large hail and a few weak tornadoes struck parts of western and southwest Oklahoma. Reports included five funnel clouds and three weak tornadoes. Hail up to baseball-size pelted the Thomas area, in Custer County, and the area just west of Gotebo, in Kiowa County.

Damaging hail affected much of north-central Oklahoma on the afternoon and evening of June 3, 1993. Extremely large hail fell on Enid, where some stones were up to six inches in diameter. The huge hail fell through the roofs of some houses. The Enid School District lost 200 windows and 60 skylights, and 34 of their buses were significantly damaged. Hail that fell on Covington and Blackwell was not quite as large, but still destroyed more than 1,000 windows in Blackwell alone. The communities of Stillwater, Beggs, and Bristow reported hail up to softball-size. Damage to the area wheat crop amounted to $70 million.

Several severe thunderstorms surged southward across western Oklahoma into western north Texas during the evening on this date in 2020. Widespread wind damage was reported from the Texas Panhandle border of western Oklahoma, eastward through Cheyenne, Elk City, Weatherford and El Reno, and southward through Hobart, Altus, and down toward Wichita Falls, Texas. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common, with a maximum measured gust of 80 mph near Cheyenne and Elk City. Once the storms dissipated, numerous heat bursts occurred across northern and central Oklahoma. Buffalo and Freedom saw the temperatures rise from the 70s back up into the 90s around midnight. Buffalo also saw a wind gust of 72 mph occur with their heat burst.

This day back in 1973 began with a tornado just south of Marietta around midnight. During the day, additional tornadoes developed south of Ponca City, northeast of Yukon, on the west side of Norman, east of Barnsdall, southeast of Meeker, and near Stratford. It ended much like it began, with a brief tornado in the Ardmore area around 11:30 PM. Only minor damage was reported from the various storms.

Two different, but significant, weather records were set in Wichita Falls on June 5th. In 1928, the temperature dropped to 50 degrees, which is the lowest temperature ever recorded in June. The greatest calendar day rainfall ever recorded in June, 5.36 inches, fell on June 5, 1985.

On this date in 1991, severe thunderstorms dumped 5 to 7 inches of rain in less than five hours over parts of Osage County. The hardest hit area was between Pawhuska and Shidler. Highway 60, west of Pawhuska, was closed and a few people were forced to evacuate their homes in Pawhuska.

An isolated severe thunderstorm over western Oklahoma produced a tornado on June 6, 1994. The tornado developed just north-northwest of Foss, then moved slowly south. As it crossed Interstate-40, it overturned four cars and four tractor-trailers, slightly injuring two motorists.

Large hail pounded parts of north Texas on June 7, 1993. Hail was larger than baseballs west of Kamay, and slightly larger than golf balls in Burkburnett.

During the very hot and very dry days of early June 2011, a weak cold front and dry line entered western portions of Oklahoma. On June 8th, 2011, severe thunderstorms developed in the very hot environment which resulted in widespread damaging wind gusts and even some large hail. The strongest and most persistent winds were seen just north and west of Altus, where winds measured 77 mph. The same front and additional outflow boundaries helped produced thunderstorms the following day across northwest Oklahoma, again, producing damaging wind gusts.

A strong tornado struck the communities of Drumright and Olive on June 8, 1974, killing 13 people. The tornado developed just southwest of Drumright, then moved across the town, killing 12 people and damaging or destroying more than 100 homes. The storm killed another person when it reached Olive. Approximately 20 tornadoes struck central and eastern Oklahoma that day, including one that touched down near the National Weather Service Forecast Office, which at that time, was located at Will Rogers World Airport. This particular tornado injured 14 people, and damaged up to 700 homes as it passed across southwest parts of Oklahoma City.

On this afternoon back in 1918, Oklahomans who were in the right place at the right time were treated to a rare spectacle, a total eclipse of the sun. The narrow path of totality extended roughly from near Alva, to Enid, to Henryetta, to Poteau, with Oklahoma City and Tulsa being near the south and north edges of the path. Totality lasted about a minute in Oklahoma. Oklahomans who do not want to travel very far to see one, will have to wait until April 8, 2024, when is the next time totality will pass over southeast Oklahoma.

On the afternoon and early evening of June 9, 2004, several brief and weak tornadoes developed across central Oklahoma. The tornadic supercells developed in an environment which was nearly tropical, associated with heavy rainfall and very little lightning. The tornadoes touched down across central and north-central Lincoln County, as well as in southeast Oklahoma County near Stanley Draper Lake. No significant damage was reported.

For four days in 1955, April-like temperatures persisted in Wichita Falls. Morning low temperatures each day from June 9th through 12th fell into the lower to mid-50s, as much as 20 degrees below average. These temperatures of 56, 51, 52, and 55 degrees respectively, remain records for their dates.

Severe thunderstorms struck much of western north Texas on June 10, 1986. The Wichita Falls area was hardest hit, as winds greater than 80 mph combined with one-inch diameter hail and caused extensive damage in the city. Torrential rain, up to nearly 5 inches in some places, caused both Holliday and McGrath Creeks to flood.

A tornado touched down in rural areas near Hammon, Oklahoma on this date in 1967. A woman and four children were killed on a farmstead several miles east of Hammon. The storm was accompanied by hail 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Total damage from the tornado and the hail was over a quarter million dollars. The tornado was one of at least a dozen that occurred across western and central Oklahoma that day.

On the late evening of June 11, 2004, a heat-burst occurred over Wichita Falls, which produced a brief, but sudden, severe wind gust. Sheppard Air Force Base measured the gust at 64 mph.

Hail and tornado frequency tends to decrease in June over Oklahoma and western north Texas, while flash flooding often becomes more frequent. This was the case on June 11, 1986, as thunderstorms dumped very heavy rain across western Oklahoma. Rainfall amounts of seven to 10 inches occurred over much of Roger Mills and Custer Counties in just one evening. The resulting floods affected many homes and businesses, and washed out a bridge near Arapaho.

On this date in 1942, the second deadliest tornado to strike the Oklahoma City area occurred on the southwest side of town, killing 35 people. The Oklahoma City area has been struck by tornadoes more than 160 times since 1890.

Severe thunderstorms, some producing tornadoes, raked across central and northern sections of Oklahoma on this day back in 1998. Most of the tornadic activity was confined to Canadian and Oklahoma Counties. The strongest tornadoes, which produced F2 damage, occurred during the late afternoon and early evening hours . Most notable, was the F2 tornado that tore through the northern portions of the Oklahoma City metro area, including the Frontier City amusement park. This tornado produced property damage in excess of $1 million. The tornadoes this day in 1998 resulted in 21 injuries, but thankfully, no deaths.

A tornado caused extensive damage in Stillwater on June 13, 1975. The storm developed on the northwest side of town and moved southeast across the campus of Oklahoma State University. Extensive damage occurred on campus and downtown. The storm destroyed 20 mobile homes, and carried several large appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, more than one-half mile.

Between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM on this date in 2011, a wet downburst affected areas in and around Norman and southeast Oklahoma City. Intense rainfall was accompanied by hail up to golf-ball size and winds that were measured at over 80 mph. Damage was reported over much of the city of Norman, with the most extensive damage over the northern and northeast parts. Almost 33,000 residents were without power, some still without power over 24 hours later, due to the numerous power poles and lines that were snapped or blown down.

Widespread heavy rain occurred across central and parts of southern Oklahoma on this day in 2010, resulting in widespread flash flooding. One person died in Lawton, and at least 136 were injured across the state. There was over $5 million in property damage in Oklahoma County alone. Although higher rain totals were observed over northern Oklahoma City, 7.62 inches of rain fell at Will Rogers World Airport, breaking the all-time record for precipitation for any calendar day at the airport.

The warmest June on record in Oklahoma City was June 1953. The main part of the heat wave extended from the 11th through the 21st, and seven of the daily high temperatures during that stretch remain records for their respective dates. June 14th was the hottest day, reaching a toasty 106 degrees. The other records ranged from 100 to 105. In addition, eight daily minimum temperatures from June 1953 are still record-warm daily minimum temperatures, ranging from 75 to 80 degrees.

It was a very hot and humid day across the region on this date in 2016. With high temperatures in the middle 90s to around 100 degrees, very high humidity created heat indices well over 100. The highest heat index was seen in Bixby, just south of Tulsa, when their heat index peaked at 118.

Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and high winds to much of the western two-thirds of Oklahoma on June 15, 1968. Winds gusting more than 70 mph dislodged a home from its foundation in Lawton, while winds stronger than 100 mph did extensive damage in Chickasha. The exact wind speed in Chickasha was not determined, because the wind gauge could only measure winds up to 100 mph. Torrential rain amounted to seven inches in just a few hours near Loyal.

Scattered severe thunderstorms over the eastern Texas panhandle and moved into southwest Oklahoma on this date back in 2011. Hail over two inches in diameter was reported in and around Altus, as well as wind gusts that exceeded 70 mph. In fact, severe wind gusts were reported in and around Altus for around 45 minutes.

A short, but intense, heat wave in Wichita Falls reached its peak on June 16, 1924. The maximum temperature that day was 111 degrees. This followed a high of 110 on the previous day, and was followed by 108 degrees the next two days.

On this date in 1987, thunderstorms with high winds struck much of Oklahoma. Twenty-two mobile homes were heavily damaged at Geronimo, in Comanche County.

Severe thunderstorms brought very large hail to parts of central and north-central Oklahoma on June 18, 1992. Baseball-size hail fell near Yale, Kingfisher, Cashion, and El Reno, damaging roofs, windows, and automobiles. The storms also produced four weak, short-lived, tornadoes.

On June 18, in 1973, a tornado struck the town of Frederick, in Tillman County. It struck a nursing home, injuring 58, and damaged or destroyed 200 homes.

Thunderstorms moved off the higher terrain of southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico on this date back in 2020 and moved into the Oklahoma Panhandle, producing damaging winds. The Mesonet observation site near Boise City recorded a wind gust of 98 MPH as storms rolled through. Needless to say, scattered wind damage was also reported in and around Kenton and Boise City.

Of all the dangerous aspects of thunderstorms, lightning kills many people each year in the United States. Golf courses are a common site of lightning related injuries and deaths. This was the case on June 19, 1994, when lightning struck and killed two golfers, and injured another, at a golf course just north of Union City, in Canadian County.

On this date in 2011, scattered severe thunderstorms developed along a dry line that had pushed through southwest Oklahoma, while more widespread severe storms developed along a cold front over northern Oklahoma. Several storms produced golf-ball size hail and wind gusts as high as 70 mph. The hardest hit areas were around Medford and Lamont in northern Oklahoma, and down around Duncan and Walters in southern Oklahoma.

On this date, in 1935, a tornado occurred near Apperson, in Osage County. The tornado formed one mile northwest of town and moved southeast through town. On the tornado's 75-yard wide, two-and-a-half-mile long path, it destroyed eight homes and struck a herd of cattle, killing 186 animals. Property damage was estimated at $25,000 in 1935 dollars. One hour later, another tornado formed near Fairfax, again in Osage County, and struck the Burbank Oil Field and injured five people.

Severe thunderstorms brought high winds and large hail to western and central Oklahoma on June 21, 1979. Winds gusted to 80 mph near Buffalo, and baseball-size hail pounded Weatherford and Colony. Winds exceeded 100 mph in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, taking down power lines throughout the city. On the same date in the previous year, severe thunderstorms struck northern and central Oklahoma during the late morning and early afternoon. The Anadarko area was hardest hit, as golf ball size hail covered the ground. The hail combined with winds of at least 70 mph to cause extensive damage to the Caddo County town. A small tornado formed near Calumet, turned over a stock tank full of water, and carried it for almost a mile.

It was a rainy day across western north Texas on June 22, 2004, as an inch and a half of rain fell over Wichita Falls. By the end of the day, 1.54 inches of rain was measured at Sheppard Air Force Base, breaking the record rainfall for this date, which was previously set back in 1975.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in June in Oklahoma City was 107 degrees, which occurred on June 22, 1936.

High winds caused destruction over much of central and western Oklahoma on June 23, 1976. Winds from thunderstorms caused extensive damage to roofs, signs, and awnings. A steel tower near Weatherford toppled in the winds, while a man was injured when the winds blew him off a 30-foot high oil storage tank.

A record low temperature for Wichita Falls was set on June 23, 2004. The temperature at Sheppard Air Force Base fell to 60 degrees, which broke a 14-year-old record by 2 degrees.

From June 24th through July 5th, 1980, Wichita Falls set record high temperatures each day. Those records have yet to be exceeded. On 11 consecutive days during this period, the temperature rose to at least 110 degrees. Readings exceeded 113 degrees on seven days. During the entire summer, the temperature rose above 100 degrees on 79 days, which is second only to the year 2011 when the temperature reached 100 degrees on 100 days.

Large hail and high winds accompanied severe thunderstorms across parts of north-central and southwest Oklahoma on June 25, 1961. Baseball-size hail fell in Lacey, in Kingfisher County, and hail up to the size of golf balls drifted into knee-deep piles in other places. Besides the hail, strong winds gusted to more than 70 mph, and some areas received up to five inches of rain in a short time. According to one report, the wind-driven hail tore the hides off cattle.

Two days of severe thunderstorms battered much of western north Texas on June 26th and 27th, 1983. On the 26th, winds stronger than 60 mph toppled a wall in a historic building in Vernon. The next day, 85 mph winds blew through Chillicothe, while a tornado passed just north of the town. The winds also blew down two miles of power lines near Odell, and destroyed a drive-in movie theater in Seymour.

One of the hottest days in Oklahoma and western north Texas history occurred on June 27, 1994. Southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas experienced extremely hot conditions that afternoon. Quanah, in Hardeman County, Texas, reached 119 degrees. Most of the region saw temperatures above 100 with many locations reaching records.

The heat wave during the summer of 1980 was a memorable one across the Southern Plains. Over western north Texas, the heat reached its peak on June 28th, when the temperature at Wichita Falls reached 117 degrees. This is the highest temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls, breaking the previous record of 116, set just the day before.

On this date back in 1962, flooding in Wichita Falls resulted in a quarter-million-dollar loss in city equipment, man hours, and other city property. The official rainfall total at Sheppard Air Force Base was only 1.64 inches, but other reported rainfall totals included 2.60 inches in downtown Wichita Falls, and over 5 inches at Charlie, in northern Clay County. An estimated 300 cars were stranded temporarily on highway 287 near Jolly, when sections of the highway were flooded by over two feet of water.

June 2011 was a very warm and dry month across Oklahoma and Texas, just one in a long streak of months that led to extreme drought conditions. The month of June 2011 was the warmest June on record at Wichita Falls and the 3rd driest. Wichita Falls also saw the greatest number of days with high temperatures of at least 100 degrees in June, with that number being 28. At Oklahoma City, it was the 2nd warmest June and a record was set for the greatest number of days in the month of June with a high temperature of at least 90 degrees, all 30 days.

The second wettest month in the history of Oklahoma City was June of 1989. June deluges have helped place four Junes into the top ten wettest months in the city's history. In June 1989, Oklahoma City recorded 14.66 inches of rain. Several other cities across the state also had record or near-record rainfall that month, including Clinton with 13.46 inches, Anadarko with 10.98 inches, Waurika with 10.77 inches, and Ada with 9.47 inches. A vast majority of the rain fell in a two-week period at the beginning of the month. On five separate days, the rainfall exceeded one inch, reaching a maximum of 4.56 inches on the 13th. Oklahoma City went on to have the wettest summer on record, months June through August, with a total more than 22 inches of rain.

On this date in 1972, the Lake Creek community just north of Granite, in Greer County, was pounded by a severe thunderstorm. The storm produced 2.5-inch diameter hail, winds 75 mph, and 2.25 inches of rain. The storm moved from northeast to southwest, which happens occasionally in the summer months. However, this is opposite of the more typical storm movement of southwest to northeast.

Large hail and damaging winds accompanied severe thunderstorms across parts of central Oklahoma on July 2, 1972. Baseball-size hail fell in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, and winds reached 75 to 100 mph. The wind took down power lines and damaged or destroyed at least 23 mobile homes. Winds gusted to 100 mph in Lindsay, and 80 mph in Norman. The wind in these areas mainly damaged trees and blew down power lines, but also damaged a few roofs.

Extremely humid conditions were seen early July 2018, especially across central and eastern Oklahoma. The dew point temperature, which is a measure of how much moisture is in the air, is considered high when you see readings above 70 degrees. Near Webbers Falls, the dew point temperature reached a ridiculous 83 degrees. Yuck!

On July 3, 1991, severe thunderstorms moved across central Oklahoma, with wind gusts up to 50 mph measured at Wiley Post airport in Oklahoma City. Very strong winds in Midwest City tore the roof off of a business, and shattered the front window of an auto parts store. Additional wind damage was reported in Pottawatomie County, near McLoud.

Nature's fireworks replaced the usual kind on July 4, 1987, in parts of central and northern Oklahoma. Tennis ball-size hail fell northwest of Calumet, in Canadian County, while high winds blew over a mobile home in Stillwater.

During the early morning hours of July 05, 2004, a severe weather outbreak occurred across north-central Oklahoma. Tennis ball-size hail fell across Grant and Alfalfa Counties. Later that evening, a second wave of severe hail occurred, which continued through the night.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in July in Wichita Falls was on July 5, 1924. On that morning, the temperature dipped to a cool 54 degrees. The record was tied on July 23, 1970.

The hottest July temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma City is 110 degrees and has occurred twice, with one of those instances being on this date back in 1996.

Lightning was particularly destructive on July 6, 1993. Evening thunderstorms produced lightning that started an oil-tank battery fire near Cleo Springs, in Major County. Lightning also struck a home in northwest Oklahoma City, leaving a two-foot-wide hole in the roof. Also on July 6, in 1986, severe thunderstorms with very high winds raked northern Oklahoma. Winds gusted to 98 mph at Woodring Airport, near Enid, damaging several airplanes and hangars. Strong winds also blew off the roof of both a school in nearby Garber, and a museum in Elk City.

When clusters of thunderstorms collapse and dissipate rapidly, they sometimes produce a downburst of very warm air, called a heat-burst, which rapidly descends to the ground and spreads out. At the ground, the burst of hot air often involves strong winds and sudden temperature rises, which are especially noticeable at night when temperatures normally fall. One example of this phenomenon occurred just after midnight near Hobart on July 7, 2016. The wind averaged 30 to 50 mph for almost three hours, and the temperature rose from 80 degrees to 104.

An example of the heat-burst phenomenon occurred on July 7, 1993, over northwest Oklahoma. A collapsing thunderstorm in the northeast part of the Texas Panhandle produced a heat-burst that reached Arnett and Gage just before midnight. Winds gusted to 67 mph at Arnett and the temperature rose from 82 to 97 degrees in 30 minutes. At Gage, the wind gusted to 70 mph with a temperature increase from 85 to 102 degrees.

The day after lightning started several fires, strong non-thunderstorm winds blew across much of northern Oklahoma on July 7, 1993. Winds gusted to 70 mph and lasted for several hours. A 1,200-pound bale of hay was rolled a quarter mile by the winds that also blew down many trees. Highway 51, near Hennessey, was closed until the downed trees could be cleaned up.

On this date back in 1993, severe thunderstorms moved across northern parts of Oklahoma, creating widespread wind damage. Most of the damage was reported in the Newkirk and Blackwell areas of Kay County, where large trees where toppled.

The hottest July temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma City is 110 degrees and has occurred twice. One of those instances was on this date in 2011.

Severe thunderstorms struck the western parts of north Texas on July 9, 1979. The worst storms were in Foard and Wilbarger Counties. Near Vernon, 80 mph winds blew cars off Highway 287, while in Foard County, Highway 70 was temporarily closed when a tractor trailer was blown over onto its side. A second tractor trailer was turned over near Crowell by winds estimated at 80 mph.

On this date back in 2009, extreme heat affected much of region, especially northwest portions of Oklahoma. Freedom broke and Buffalo tied their all-time hottest temperature readings when they reached 115 degrees.

A cluster of thunderstorms, packing strong winds and heavy rain, moved south-southwest across northeast and central Oklahoma on this day back in 1973. Damage was minor and confined mostly to trees, power lines, and small buildings.

The hottest temperature in the state of Oklahoma during the year 2016 occurred on this date near Goodwell, just south of Guymon, when a high of 109 was recorded. The rest of the state had highs mostly in the middle 90s to near 100.

Seminole County was hit hard on this evening back in 1970. Thunderstorm winds, estimated between 90 and 100 mph, damaged several buildings in the County, and blew out several plate-glass windows. Up to 5 inches of rainfall was also reported with the thunderstorms, producing flash flooding.

During the late evening hours of July 11, 2020 and early morning hours of the 12th, a significant wind storm moved over central and southern portions of Oklahoma. Wind gusts of 70 mph to 80 mph were common across southern portions of the OKC metro, including Moore and Norman. Wind gusts upwards of 65 mph to 70 mph were also recorded near El Reno, Apache, and Ardmore. Over 75,000 power outages were reported, along with widespread damage to trees.

Severe thunderstorms brought large hail and damaging winds to much of northern Oklahoma on July 12, 1958. Baseball-size hail fell near Jefferson and Pond Creek, in Grant County. Winds gusting to 90 mph caused widespread damage near Stillwater, including damage to the Oklahoma State University football stadium. The storms also destroyed a bus station near Perkins, just south of Stillwater.

The first half of July 2020 was extremely humid for Oklahoma and northern Texas. On this date that year, an extremely high dewpoint temperature was recorded in Centrahoma, Oklahoma, located just to the southeast of Ada. The dewpoint reached a ridiculous 83 degrees, yielding a heat index of 118.

The month of July 1996 was the wettest July on record for Oklahoma City. A monthly total of 11.90 inches was recorded at Will Rogers World Airport. On this date that year, very heavy rains fell over the city of Seminole, resulting in widespread flash flooding.

Thunderstorms, with high winds and heavy rain, struck the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas for the second time in 4 days on this date in 1973. Flash flooding was the main concern with these storms, as over 3 inches of rain fell at Wiley Post Airport, in northwest Oklahoma City. Strong winds did capsize 6 boats on nearby Lake Hefner.

The hottest recorded temperature in Oklahoma during the year 2020 occurred on this date. While most of Oklahoma sweltered in the 90s and lower 100s, Hollis, in far southwest Oklahoma, reached a high temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

For Wichita Falls, Texas, it was a cloudy, rainy day on this date in 2013. The high temperature was only 70 degrees, making it the coolest maximum temperature for any day recorded in the month of July.

Wichita Falls' hottest July temperature of 114 degrees first occurred on July 15, 1978. Two years later, during the major heat wave of 1980, the July record was tied twice when the temperature again reached 114 degrees on both the 2nd and 3rd.

On July 15, 2004, just before 2 PM, the temperature rose to 100 degrees at Wichita Falls, becoming the first 100 degree reading at Wichita Falls for the year of 2004. The mercury topped out at 102 degrees by the end of the afternoon.

An afternoon thunderstorm on this date in 1979, produced high winds that caused damage to shingles, trees, and windows, in the Canyon North and Martin Nature Park areas of northwest Oklahoma City. A small tornado formed on the leading edge of the storm and damaged 8 houses. A resident of one of the homes observed a white funnel and debris cloud as the damage was occurring.

On July 17, 1993, severe thunderstorms tore across western north Texas, with 70 mph wind gusts and nickel- size hail reported in both Wichita and Archer Counties.

Heavy rain, unofficially measured at 10 to 11 inches, fell in the Mooreland and Mutual areas of Woodward County on this date in 1972. The heavy rain caused severe soil erosion, but crop damage was minimal, as wheat already had been harvested.

The month of July, during the year 1980, was the driest July of the 20th century across Oklahoma. The statewide average rainfall was less than 1/2 inch, with many locations receiving no rain. Along with the dry weather, it was very hot, with several high temperature records broken. An estimated 37 people died across Oklahoma due in part to the extreme heat.

On this date in 2018 we saw extreme heat and humidity across Oklahoma and northern Texas. The hottest temperature was recorded across southwest Oklahoma in Grandfield, where the high temperature topped out at 113 degrees. With the humidity higher farther east, Pawnee saw a maximum heat index of 121 degrees!

The summer of 2011 brought brutal heat and exceptional drought to Oklahoma and western north Texas. The average temperature during the month of July at Oklahoma City was 89.3 degrees which is 7.2 degrees above average. This makes July 2011 the warmest of any months, since temperature records began in the early 1890s.

Severe flash flooding occurred after torrential rains fell on western north Texas on July 21, 1961. The heaviest rain, amounting to between five and nine inches, fell near the Oklaunion and Harrold communities, in Wilbarger County. Floodwaters covered Highway 287 with seven feet of water, and a nearby county road was under nine feet of water.

Oklahoma is typically hot and dry during the summer, but July 1983 was extremely dry. Only a trace of rain fell that month in Oklahoma City, making it the driest July on record for the capital city. The driest months ever recorded in Oklahoma City were January 1986 and August 2000, when not even a trace of moisture fell.

It was a typically hot July in Oklahoma and northern Texas back in 2017. Widespread 100-degree high temperatures were seen over the western half of Oklahoma and across western north Texas. The highest temperature recorded for the year 2017 in Oklahoma occurred at Kingfisher on this date, with a reading of 108 degrees. The humidity was quite high farther east in Oklahoma. At Copan, just north Tulsa, the heat index reached 115 degrees.

Intense thunderstorms dumped copious amounts of rainfall over the western parts of Oklahoma on July 23, 1979. Rainfall amounts were quite impressive, including reports of up to seven inches just north of Arapaho, in Custer County. Four inches of rain fell in just one hour east of Arapaho and two inches of rain fell in only 30 minutes in Clinton. Many creeks and rivers were quickly forced out of their banks by the heavy rainfall. Floods covered the Arapaho-Weatherford Road with as much as four feet of water. More than five inches of rain fell in the Taloga area of Dewey County, causing Highway 183 to be inundated by one to two feet of flood water.

On this date in 1995, severe thunderstorms slashed through west and south Oklahoma City just after midnight, leaving 175,000 people without power. Cleanup from downed trees would take weeks. Gusts hit 97 mph at Will Rogers Airport.

On July 25, 2004, it was an unseasonably cool summer day across Oklahoma and western north Texas, as temperatures averaged 15 to 20 degrees below average. Record coolest high temperatures were set in Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls, as temperatures only warmed up to 75 and 73 degrees, respectively.

Flash flooding followed extremely heavy rainfall in Lawton on July 25, 1990. Intense, slow-moving thunderstorms, dumped up to 11 inches of rain in just six hours over the city. The flash flooding closed many roads, and 50 to 60 motorists had to be rescued when they became stranded in the high water.

Several record low temperatures for July 26 were broken in 2004. Gage saw the temperature drop to 48 degrees, breaking their record low by 9 degrees. Ponca City's temperature dropped to 56 degrees, breaking a record by 5 degrees, while Hobart cooled to 58 degrees, breaking their record by 7 degrees. Wichita Falls broke a record that stood for 80 years, with a low temperature of 63 degrees, and Oklahoma City tied a record standing 93 years, by registering the same temperature of 63.

A severe thunderstorm in the Mustang area produced a damaging downburst on July 26, 1986. The intense, but small, area of high winds damaged many homes and businesses, blew down many trees, and collapsed the wall of a Baptist church.

The remains of tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drift into Oklahoma from the Gulf of Mexico. This often results in widespread heavy rain. On July 26, 1959, the remains of Hurricane Debra arrived in southeast Oklahoma, then meandered across north-central and west-central parts of the state on the 26th and 27th. Much of the area received three to six inches of rainfall from the storm, resulting in many areas of minor flooding.

Beginning on July 28, 2004, heavy rain produced flash flooding across western north Texas and south-central Oklahoma. After 48 hours, up to 8 inches of rain had been measured in Archer and Knox Counties, with nearly 5 inches across Wichita and Clay Counties. Runoff caused several rivers to spill their banks, including the South Wichita River, which eventually crested nearly 5 feet above flood stage near Benjamin, the 3rd highest crest on record for that site. Ardmore received nearly 5 inches of rain as well, along with flash flooding at the Chickasaw National Recreation Center.

Heavy rain and large hail fell on parts of central Oklahoma on July 28, 1988. Rainfall amounts of five to six inches, sometimes accompanied by golf ball-size hail, fell near Coyle and Langston, both in Logan County. The resulting flash flooding covered some roads up to three feet deep, and damaged a bridge south of Langston.

On this date in 2004, a 112-year-old record was broken for the coolest high temperature in Oklahoma City for July 29. The temperature only rose to 73 degrees, which broke the previous record by 3 degrees.

Severe thunderstorms brought damaging winds, possibly as high as 100 mph, to central Oklahoma on July 29, 1960. Two airports in Oklahoma City suffered significant damage. Eight planes and several hangars were damaged at Wiley Post Airfield, while two planes and additional hangars were damaged at Will Rogers World Airport. The winds caused seven injuries in the area, including two youths who were injured by flying debris.

Tragedy was narrowly averted south of Davis on July 30, 1973. A church bus, occupied by the driver and 34 children, was washed off a road in the Arbuckle Mountains by rushing flood waters. Four of the children jumped from the bus and were quickly washed downstream. The children then became trapped in trees and were later rescued. The driver and the other children remained in the bus and were also rescued safely.

The month of July, during the year 2011, was brutally hot. Oklahoma City set a July record for the number of 100-degree days in the month. Will Rogers World Airport recorded at least 100 degrees 27 out of the 31 days. Wichita Falls reported high temperatures of at least 100 degrees all 31 days, tying the record with the year 1980.

The month of July, in the year 2013, ended up being the second wettest on record for Oklahoma City. A monthly rain total of 9.84 inches was recorded at Will Rogers World Airport. The year of 2013 was an exceptionally wet year, helping to relieve a long-term drought for much of central Oklahoma.

Unusually cold air settled over the Southern Plains on July 31, 1971. Low temperatures were 15 to 20 degrees below average, ranging from the mid 40s in northeast Oklahoma, the lower 50s in central sections, to near 60 degrees in southwest Oklahoma. Oklahoma City recorded a low of 53 degrees, the coldest temperature ever observed in Oklahoma City in July.

The coldest August on record in Oklahoma City was in 1915, when the average temperature was near 73 degrees. The wettest August on record was in 2008, as 9.95 inches of rain was measured. The coldest August for Wichita Falls was in 1950, with an average near 79 degrees, while the wettest August on record for Wichita falls was in 1971, when a total of 7.61 inches of rain was measured.

Very strong winds from severe thunderstorms struck northwest Oklahoma on August 1, 1966. Winds gusted to 80 mph in Laverne, and blew a parked Cessna aircraft through a fence and into a ditch. As the storms approached Gage, winds gusted to 92 mph, causing blowing dust that reduced the visibility to near zero.

It was a very warm start to August in 2012 for Wichita Falls, Texas and much of the region. From July 31 through August 2, record high temperatures were broken each day at Wichita Falls. The record numbers ranged from 110 to 112 degrees.

On this day back in 2009, dangerous heat was to blame when a railroad worker collapsed and later died of heat exhaustion in Leflore County. Temperatures for that day were in the upper 90s with heat indices up to 103 degrees.

On this day back in 1990, a thunderstorm 1 mile north of Alex, in Grady County Oklahoma, produced lightning which struck and killed a man as he was loading watermelons onto a pick-up truck.

On this day in 2012, it could be argued that it was the hottest day of record for Oklahoma City. The morning low temperature was a very warm 84 degrees, which set the record for the warmest overnight low on record for the city. In addition, the daytime high temperature was 113, which tied the all-time record high temperature, tying the date of August 11, 1936.

Severe thunderstorm downburst winds produced damage across southwest parts of Oklahoma City during the evening of August 3rd, 2011. Numerous commercial buildings suffered at least minor roof damage, with some significant damage in and near Stockyard City. Numerous power poles were also blown down, resulting in power outages for over 1700 electric customers. Damaging wind gusts were also seen with thunderstorms up around Alva, Freedom, and Woodward.

Thunderstorms do not have to be severe to be dangerous, as was proved on August 3, 1978. On that day, lightning struck an oil storage tank just west of Orlando, in northern Logan County. The tank literally blew its top as the partially filled tank caught fire. The resulting explosion sent flames 200 feet in the air, and caught a nearby oil tank on fire.

It was a very warm start to August in 2012 for the Oklahoma City metro. From July 31 through August 4, record high temperatures were broken each day at Oklahoma City. The record numbers ranged from 108 to 113 degrees, with the 113 degrees on August 3 tying the all-time record high temperature for the city.

Severe thunderstorms brought damaging hail and wind to much of Oklahoma on August 4, 1992. Tennis ball-size hail fell near Glencoe, in Payne County, and the storms took down power lines west of Okemah, in Okfuskee County. Lightning struck and injured nine military personnel at Camp Gruber, in Muskogee County.

Severe thunderstorms disrupted the PGA Championship Golf Tournament near Edmond on August 5, 1988. Winds gusted to 70 mph and heavy rain fell at the Oak Tree Country Club, uprooting trees and blowing down telephone poles. The tournament was delayed several days as the damage was cleaned up. Extensive wind damage also occurred near Luther, just to the east of Edmond.

On this date in 2013, high-based supercell thunderstorms rolled into northwest Oklahoma from the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. Before weakening during the evening hours, these storms produced hail up the size of golf balls and wind gusts of 65 mph in and near Laverne, Buffalo, and Woodward. No injuries or significant damage were reported.

Soon after midnight on August 6, 1961, a severe thunderstorm brought 70 to 100 mph winds to Lake Texoma. The winds caused extensive damage to piers and either damaged or sank more than 100 boats. One person drowned when their boat capsized during the storm.

Severe thunderstorms struck much of the southern two-thirds of Oklahoma and parts of western north Texas on August 7, 1994. The costliest damage was at Prague, in Lincoln County, where 90 mph winds were reported, resulting in more than $1 million in damages. Most of that total was due to the damages sustained by the high school. Part of the school's roof was ripped off, resulting in extensive water damage. Another storm struck Thackerville, in Love County, where lightning struck a power pole, traveled through a line to a school, and started a fire that destroyed the school. Hail the size of dimes and quarters was very common across Oklahoma that day, and hail up to golf ball-size fell in Clay and Archer Counties of western north Texas.

A weak cold front draped from west-central into northeast Oklahoma was the focus for afternoon and evening severe thunderstorms on this day back in 2011. Numerous wind gusts over 70 mph were reported, with a maximum measured gust of 96 mph reported near Lahoma. Widespread wind damage was reported with several of the wind gusts, especially across north-central portions of Oklahoma from Billings, down through the Stillwater area, all the way down into the Oklahoma City metro.

An unusual mid-summer tornado struck near the town of Byers Texas, in Clay County, on this date in 1972. Damage was limited to barns and storage sheds on several farms east of Byers. The tornado exhibited an unusual movement, from southeast to northwest.

Severe storms moved from western into central Oklahoma during the evening of the 8th and continued into the early morning hours of the 9th back in 2013. The storms stalled over central parts of the state, causing flash flooding over western parts of the OKC metro. One man drowned when he tried to save his daughter from getting swept away in her car. His daughter made it safely out of the flood waters.

A severe thunderstorm with extremely strong winds struck Stillwater the night of August 9, 1963. At the Stillwater Municipal Airport, wind speeds were measured between 92 and 115 mph for eight consecutive minutes, with a peak gust reaching 138 mph. The storm did an incredible amount of damage, especially to the Oklahoma State University campus. Winds caused widespread roof and tree damage, and broke windows out of about 130 automobiles.

A widespread damaging wind event occurred over a large portion of Oklahoma beginning late on the 9th of August 2011, continuing into the early morning hours of the 10th. A complex of severe thunderstorms developed over northern and western Oklahoma and moved east over central Oklahoma. Severe wind gusts were reported from around Cheyenne in far western Oklahoma, all the way eastward to Calvin in Hughes County. The most severe portion of the complex, which yielded structural damage and power outages, moved over northern Oklahoma, southern Logan, and southern Lincoln Counties.

On August 10, 1992, torrential rain caused flooding over parts of north-central Oklahoma. Rain totals of more than four inches in just a few hours produced widespread street flooding in Enid and collapsed the roof of a meat company in the city. Much of the Enid Correctional Center was severely damaged as all of the first floor housing units suffered water damage. Four inmates became trapped by the rising water and had to be rescued.

The warmest August temperature ever recorded in both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls occurred on August 11, 1936, when both cities reach a very hot 113 degrees. Since then, Wichita Falls tied this record on August 6, 1964 and Oklahoma City tied it on August 3, 2012.

A large complex of storms developed over southern Kansas and moved into northwest Oklahoma on this date in 2011. Several locations reported wind gusts over 60 mph, some of which caused substantial damage in Fargo and Woodward.

On this date in 1936, Altus tied the state of Oklahoma temperature record by reaching 120 degrees.

August 12, 2005 began the first of four consecutive days of heavy rainfall across northwest Oklahoma. By the end of the four days, nearly 5 inches of rain had been measured at the Gage airport.

A tornado struck the Prairie Flower community in Clay County, Texas, on this date in 1972. A 60 by 40-foot chicken house was tossed onto the roof of a nearby residence, and 2 by 4 timbers were driven through the roof. One resident, who was in the basement when the tornado struck, said the wind became "very still, and then burst with the noise of a jet airplane.

On the morning of August 14, 2004, unseasonably cool air set a new record in Wichita Falls, as the temperature dropped to 63 degrees. This broke the previous record, set in 1992, by 1 degree. In Oklahoma City, the cool air allowed the temperature to drop to 60 degrees. This tied a record for Oklahoma City, which was previously set in 1967.

A tropical cyclone, that would become Hurricane Camille, formed over the northwest Caribbean Sea on this date in 1969. The storm would reach the Mississippi Coast as a Category 5 hurricane on the evening of August 17th, with a storm surge of over 20 feet.

Some of the worst flooding that ever occurred in western north Texas happened on August 15, 1971. Heavy rain began on the 14th, but the worst of the rain and most of the flooding was on the 15th. On that day, rainfall averaged four to 11 inches. At least 10 families were forced to evacuate their homes along the Wichita River as the water rapidly rose. The river rose so high that its swift-flowing waters undercut several streets, causing them to collapse. The official rainfall at the National Weather Service Office in Wichita Falls on the 15th was 4.52 inches, making this the wettest August day ever observed in the city.

On August 16, 1991, thunderstorm winds stronger than 60 mph struck near the community of Ringwood, in Major County. The winds blew down a cracking tower at a natural gas plant, causing a gas leak that forced people in the surrounding area to evacuate.

One of the most memorable severe thunderstorms in recent history struck north-central and central Oklahoma on August 17, 1994. The communities of Lahoma and Drummond suffered the most damage from an unusually intense supercell storm, that moved south into Oklahoma near Manchester, and continued across Goltry, Lahoma, Drummond, Kingfisher, and Okarche. Widespread severe damage occurred to between 500 and 800 permanent homes and businesses, and between 80 and 120 mobile homes, all the result of very large hail driven by hurricane-force winds. Peak wind gusts in Lahoma were measured at 113 mph, before the wind equipment gave out. Hail reached golf ball to baseball size along the entire storm track. One hailstone that fell between Kingfisher and Okarche was said to look like a football. Several people were treated for hypothermia in the Lahoma area as a result of the large volume of hail, as air temperatures fell from near 100 degrees, down into the lower 50s.

A strange and unique event occurred on this day back in 2007. Tropical Storm Erin was moving onshore the previous day, eventually dissipating into a tropical depression as it moved into Texas. As the depression moved northeast into southwest Oklahoma, low-level wind shear north and east of Erin increased throughout the evening with multiple tornadoes reported across western Oklahoma. Only minor damage was reported. As a strong low-level jet strengthened through the evening hours, Tropical Depression Erin strengthened as well, bringing torrential rainfall and sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 80 mph. Rainfall rates in excess of three inches per hour was not uncommon throughout the area with multiple Flash Flood Warnings issued. Rainfall totals from this storm ranged from five to ten inches over a vast area. Many people reported wind damage to their homes and dozens were rescued by helicopter due to the rising waters. Sadly, six people lost their lives in this event from flash flooding, with an estimated $5 million in property damage.

Residents who were in the path of the 1994 Lahoma storm, awoke on this morning to find a strange world. The devastating wind and hail storm on the previous day had stripped nearly every tree of leaves in the Lahoma and Drummond areas. That, along with plowed fields from harvested wheat, left the August landscape looking eerily more like mid-winter. Hail was still on the ground in some protected areas around Lahoma on the afternoon of the 18th, more than 24 hours after the storm.

On this day in 2009, severe thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary across central and northern Oklahoma. The storms produced baseball-size hail in Harper County and winds up to 75 mph in Ponca City. Minor damage was reported.

A wind gust of 85 mph was recorded on this date in 2018 when a tornado impacted the Mesonet observation site near Inola, Oklahoma, just east of Tulsa. This marks the 4th tornado encounter with a Mesonet site. The others include El Reno on May 24, 2011, and both Tipton and Fort Cobb on November 7, 2011.

Strong thunderstorm winds downed power poles, fences, and trees across parts of south-central, central, and northeast Oklahoma on this date in 1979. Several mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in the Pauls Valley area.

The remnants of Hurricane Alicia brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of southern and central Oklahoma on August 20, 1983. Rainfall of four to six inches in less than six hours occurred in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, the hardest hit part of the state. Major flooding occurred west of El Reno, while high water crept into a few buildings at the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman.

Back on this day in 2010, several small and intense microbursts occurred over central and southern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and early evening hours. One in particular, which struck northeast portions of Norman, took down power poles and trees with 60 to 70 mph wind gusts.

On August 21, 1972, a waterspout formed on Lake Ponca, just east of Ponca City. A man standing in hip-deep water was injured when he was picked up by the spout and thrown onto the bank. The waterspout also submerged one boat on the lake and eventually sent 60 mph winds into Ponca City.

On August 22, 1977, lightning struck two oil storage tanks just southwest of Burkburnett, in Wichita County, Texas. The lightning set off an explosion, throwing the top of one tank 150 feet away. In addition to the tanks being destroyed, approximately 300 barrels of oil were consumed by the fire.

The Lawton Municipal Airport was damaged on August 23, 1993, by winds from an isolated severe thunderstorm. Several hangar doors were heavily damaged, and an airplane was flipped on its back. Damages totaled over $500,000.

On August 24, 1977, strong to severe storms hit the western parts of north Texas. The worst damage occurred to a mobile home in transit near Wichita Falls. The 60-foot-long mobile home was lifted five to eight feet above the trailer it was traveling on, before being slammed back down by the winds. This resulted in the home being totally destroyed.

A late evening thunderstorm produced a microburst west of Crescent, in Logan County, on this day in 1988. Debris from a barn was strewn one mile in all directions. An 8-foot-long, 4-inch-wide tree limb, was driven through the roof of one home. Other damage was limited mainly to fences blown down and damage to several mobile homes and outbuildings.

On this date back in 2002, severe thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage over a large part of northwest Oklahoma. Several large trees were blown down, and roof damage occurred in and around Woodward. Wind speeds as high as 80 mph were measured.

Isolated thunderstorms with frequent lightning, but little or no rain, are fairly common throughout Oklahoma and western north Texas during the summer months. Storms of this type often start grass fires. This happened on August 27, 1980, across much of Clay, Jack, and Throckmorton Counties of northern Texas. The fires blackened large amounts of open grassland, but did little property damage.

The coolest August temperature ever recorded in Wichita Falls occurred on August 28, 1992, when the temperature fell to a cool 53 degrees.

Severe thunderstorms struck parts of southwest and central Oklahoma late in the evening on August 29, 1991. Most of the damage was from straight-line winds. Rush Springs, in Grady County, experienced winds stronger than 80 mph, and a bus barn and several mobile homes were destroyed in the area. Just south of nearby Cement, in Caddo County, the wind blew over an oil drilling rig. The storms also produced large hail, with stones up to golf ball-size reported northeast of Durham, in Roger Mills County.

Severe thunderstorms moved south across western Oklahoma on this date in 1959, leaving several swaths of extensive hail damage. The Weatherford area was especially hard hit. Hail up to golf ball size caused severe damage to roofs and windows on almost all homes and buildings in the Weatherford area. Other hail paths, some of which caused 100 percent crop damage, extended from Dill City, south to the Red River in Cotton County, over Grandfield, Granite, and Headrick. The storms continued into north Texas, where wind damage was reported in the Burkburnett, Wichita Falls, Iowa Park, and Henrietta areas. Wind gusts to 75 mph were measured.

August of 2005 was wetter than average across much of Oklahoma. However, it was a record-breaking month across western north Texas. Nearly seven and one-half inches of rain was measured at Wichita Falls, making it the second wettest August on record for Wichita Falls.

August is usually a hot month in Oklahoma, but August 1936 was much hotter than average. It is the hottest month ever recorded in Oklahoma City, with an average temperature of 88.7 degrees. This is 7.5 degrees above the average for August, and 0.4 degrees warmer than the second hottest months, a tie between July 1980 and July 1934. Also, the two hottest daily temperatures ever recorded in August in Oklahoma City occurred in 1936, along with the warmest daily minimum temperature ever recorded in the city. Many of the daily record highs set in 1936 are still records for their respective dates.

The driest September on record for Oklahoma City occurred in 1939 as only 0.06 inches of rain was measured. The wettest September for Oklahoma City was in 1991 when 11.85 inches of rain was measured.

On September 1, 1979, 80 to 90 mph winds occurred with a severe thunderstorm in the Stillwater area. The strong winds damaged 13 aircraft and several cars at the Stillwater Municipal Airport.

Damage from lightning occurred with severe thunderstorms in the Stillwater and Edmond areas on September 2, 1992. Two homes were struck, and the resulting fires caused about $68,000 in damage to the homes and their contents.

On this day in 1934, an F2 tornado destroyed a farm and several barns 9 miles southwest of Shattuck, in Ellis County, Oklahoma.

At 7:02 AM on this date in 2016, a strong earthquake struck the region with the center of the quake located near Pawnee, Oklahoma. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was felt as far away as Iowa. There were several reports of significant damage in and near Pawnee. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake is the strongest recorded in Oklahoma.

On the evening of September 3, 1963, one man was stunned and five horses were knocked off their feet when lightning struck a fence near the Crescent High School.

On the afternoon of September 4, 1969, lightning struck an oil filter manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City. The lightning and the resulting fire virtually destroyed one wing of the plant.

Beckham County in western Oklahoma was pounded with large hail back on this day in 2008. Thunderstorms developed in the Texas Panhandle and moved east through the evening hours, developing into supercells. Baseball-size hail was the greatest impact, with damage to windows and businesses reported.

During the afternoon of September 5, 1965, severe thunderstorms crossed southwest Oklahoma. The storms brought torrential rain, up to five inches in one hour at some locations, which caused street flooding in Martha, Blair, and Hester. Some residents had water up to their porches. The storms also produced strong winds that caused major damage in Blair.

An unusual nighttime warm up occurred at Will Rogers World Airport early on September 6, 1992. At 12:50 AM, the temperature was 71 degrees with a south wind. Just 25 minutes later, at 1:15 AM, the temperature was up to 83 degrees. The warm up was due to a heat-burst, caused by downward flowing air from a dissipating thunderstorm. By 2:05 AM, the temperature had returned to a more average reading of 66 degrees.

On the morning of September 7, 1963, a man fishing along the edge of a farm pond near Newcastle was killed when he was struck by lightning.

The remains of Tropical Storm Hermine moved through northern Texas and southern Oklahoma on September 8th, 2010, bringing several bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms. At least three brief tornadoes were reported, with the most destructive tornado rated EF1 near Colbert, in Bryan County, where a couple of homes were damaged and two trucks were overturned on Highway 69. The other tornadoes, producing minor damage, were seen just northwest of Lone Grove and just south of Marietta.

Severe thunderstorms affected central and southern Oklahoma on September 8, 1984. They brought hail as large as baseballs and winds up to 80 mph to the Paoli area, in Garvin County. Six barns were destroyed around Paoli, with damages estimated at $200,000. Rosedale, in McClain County, also had 80 mph winds, combined with hail up to softball-size. North and east side windows were broken out of most homes in the area and damage was estimated at $100,000.

Late in the evening on this date in 1934, a tornado struck the town of Frederick, in Tillman County. The storm produced F2 damage in a 1/4-mile-wide path, while moving from northwest to southeast through the industrial district of Frederick.

Large hail occurred on this date in 1934 in the town of Arnett, in Ellis County. At 3:00 PM, a severe storm passed over Arnett leaving a path of hail stones as large as 2 inches in diameter. The storm's 12-mile-long and 2-mile-wide path of hail destroyed virtually all vegetation.

On this date back in 1999, straight-line winds caused extensive damage at the Ardmore Industrial Park, 2 miles northeast of Gene Autry, where a gust of 102 mph was measured. One aircraft hangar was completely destroyed and several were damaged. Several aircraft were overturned and three were destroyed. Damage was estimated at $2 million.

Extensive flash flooding occurred across western Oklahoma on this date back in the year 2003. Five to nine inches of rain fell over portions of Beckham County, resulting in flooding in and near the town of Erick. Water as deep as 4 feet was reported in Erick, with damage estimates at $50,000.

The Chikaskia River reached its highest level ever recorded on this day in 2008 as widespread showers and thunderstorms spread across northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Homes and businesses were completely flooded with multiple roads closed all the way from Woodward to Kay County. As a result of the river flooding, 20 homes were completely destroyed and 14 homes reported major damage. Damage totals from the event reached $8 million.

A hailstorm struck southern parts of Oklahoma City on September 12, 1950. The storm damaged about 4,000 homes, 300 businesses, and 750 cars, resulting in a loss estimated at $987,000.

On this date in 2011, both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls had their last high temperature of at least 100 degrees for the year 2011. Oklahoma City came in with a high of 102 degrees while Wichita Falls had 105. This is significant because both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls set a record for the most 100-degree days in a year. Oklahoma City accumulated 63 days with temperatures of at least 100 degrees, while Wichita Falls had a whopping 100 days.

Flash floods on September 13, 1976, damaged several homes in the Wichita Falls area. The floods came after more than five inches of rain fell across parts of north Texas that morning and afternoon. Up to six inches of water entered many homes near Holliday and McGrath Creeks.

A line of thunderstorms moved across south-central Oklahoma during the early morning hours of September 14, 1966, demolishing a large barn just south of Chickasha. The storms also produced strong winds that broke out many windows in the Duncan area.

On September 15, 1987, strong winds blew a large tree onto a car that was traveling along Highway 77 between Oklahoma City and Norman. Winds up to 70 mph were reported with the storms, which developed rapidly over central Oklahoma that day.

On this day in 1950, an F2 tornado formed just northwest of Sasakwa in Seminole County. The worst damage was 3 miles north of town. Four people were hospitalized, three of which were in a car. Damage costs were near $80,000.

On September 16, 1990, the Ardmore High School gymnasium was damaged by severe thunderstorms. Strong winds damaged the roof of the gym, which allowed rain water to enter the building, which then caused extensive damage to the new wood floor.

Scattered thunderstorms developed over western and northern Oklahoma on this date in 2011. Many of the storms interacted with each other and moved northeast into southern Kansas as a complex producing large hail and very heavy rain. One storm, a supercell, remained discrete and moved east and slightly southeast over far northern Oklahoma. This maximized low-level wind shear to produce three brief tornadoes over open country near Wakita, in Grant County.

Large hail, up to three inches in diameter, fell from severe thunderstorms over southwest Oklahoma late in the evening of September 17, 1977. The worst damage was near Frederick, where crops were heavily damaged, particularly cotton. Several farm homes and automobiles were also damaged by the storms.

Two people were injured just west of Weatherford on September 18, 1978, when severe thunderstorm winds demolished the mobile home in which they resided. One required hospitalization. Winds were estimated at around 60 mph.

Tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and Del City on this date in 1965. The Oklahoma City tornado skimmed the northwest part of the downtown business district, and the Del City storm struck near Southeast 20th and Bryant Avenue. Both tornadoes were weak, but what made these tornadoes unusual, is that they both occurred between 7 and 8 AM.

Torrential rain and significant amounts of hail fell from storms over northwest Oklahoma on September 19, 1962. A few locations in Ellis, Woodward, and Roger Mills Counties had hail drifts waist-deep. The next morning, some drifts were still two feet high. The storms brought up to eight inches of rain across parts of northwest Oklahoma.

Lightning struck a tree next to a home in Davis on the afternoon of September 20, 1992. The lightning jumped from the tree to the home, where it blew a five-inch diameter hole in the roof, tore siding off, blew off sheet rock on the bathroom wall, and burned up the phone lines.

Heavy rain in southwest Oklahoma on September 21 and 22, 1969, caused extensive flooding and damage to pasture and crop land. About 1,500 cattle were trapped by the high water, and many of them drowned. More than 10 bridges were washed out, and fences were removed by the floodwaters. Official rainfall measurements exceeded six inches in some locations, and an unofficial report of 11 inches in 11 hours was received from Hollister. The flooding was thought to be the worst in the area since 1951.

Tropical, slow moving thunderstorms produced very high rain totals across central and southern Oklahoma on this date in 2018. The Oklahoma Mesonet site in Fittstown, just north and east of Ardmore, recorded 14.20 inches of rain! This amount goes down as the second highest daily rainfall total every recorded in Oklahoma, just behind the 15.68 inches in Enid back on October 11, 1973.

On September 22, 1985, large hail, up to baseball-size, caused $75,000 in damage to homes and businesses in Okarche. The storms also produced a tornado that moved across Cherokee. The 500-yard-wide tornado destroyed several barns. Large hail, sometimes as large as softballs, was also reported with the storms in central and northern Oklahoma, which caused extensive damage.

A tornado damaged several farms just north of Clinton during the evening of September 23, 1961. Other storms in western and north-central Oklahoma caused winds up to 75 mph, and hail that covered the ground to a depth of two inches.

In 1992, a total of 16 tornadoes occurred during the entire month of September. This was the largest number of tornadoes occurring during the month of September in the latter half of the 20th century.

Heavy rain fell in the Blackwell area of north-central Oklahoma on September 24 and 25, 1996, causing many roads to be closed. Even the I-35 exit at Braman was closed due to flooding. NWS radar estimated that more than three inches of rain fell in less than 90 minutes in central Kay County, late in the evening of the 25th. The two-day rainfall total in Blackwell was nine inches.

Lightning struck a home in Meeker on the evening of September 26, 1964, causing a fire that burned the house and most of its furnishings.

On this date in 1980, 6.22 inches of rainfall was measured within a 24-hour period at Wichita Falls, Texas.

On this date in 1995, a complex of severe thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage over northwest Oklahoma and the Oklahoma panhandle . Measured wind speeds of 65 mph occurred from near and west of Buffalo, down through Arnett, resulting in downed power lines and trees.

September 2019 was very warm across the region, especially with respect to low temperatures. In the stretch from the 24th through the 30th, numerous record warm lows were established. With lows typically in the upper 50s in late September, most locations had lows in the 70s for several days.

On the evening of September 29, 1986, a series of microbursts occurred from southwest Oklahoma City to Del City, damaging 17 businesses and 127 homes, resulting in more than $1 million in damages.

Much of Oklahoma and northern Texas saw one of their warmest Septembers in 2019. Tulsa ended the month with their second warmest September on record with the average temperature more 8 degrees above normal. Oklahoma City saw their seventh warmest September, Wichita Falls and Lawton both saw their fifth warmest September, while Gage saw their warmest on record. Statewide, it was Oklahoma's third warmest September on record.

Strong thunderstorm winds caused more than $500,000 in damage to homes, and the shopping mall, in Shawnee on September 30, 1986. During the late evening, hail up to baseball size and winds to 80 mph were reported with severe storms across central Oklahoma.

In late September 1986, heavy rainfall totals produced saturated soil conditions across parts of Oklahoma. Conditions worsened across the area when more torrential rain fell during the first four days of October. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches were common, while 15-to-20-inch amounts were reported over north-central Oklahoma. The excessive rainfall caused most major rivers in the state to flood, requiring the evacuation of about 30,000 people from 25 towns. The floods destroyed 509 homes, damaged 3,957 others, and washed out many roads and bridges, including two bridges on I-35.

During the early morning of October 2, 1986, severe thunderstorms brought winds of 80 to 90 mph to parts of southwest Oklahoma. The winds destroyed 17 mobile homes and damaged 74 others in Comanche County, leaving eight people injured. Damage was estimated at $500,000.

During the afternoon of October 3, 1994, severe thunderstorms brought strong winds and large hail to parts of Wichita County, Texas. Hail to the size of tennis balls in Iowa Park destroyed vinyl siding, broke windows, and caused extensive roof damage. High winds blew down two large trees and destroyed the press box of the Iowa Park High School stadium.

The afternoon and evening of October 4, 1998, brought the greatest October tornado outbreak in history to Oklahoma. Twenty-eight tornadoes occurred across central and eastern Oklahoma that day, more than in any other October outbreak in any state.

On this date in 1970, an F4 tornado moved northeast from northern Pottawatomie County, into southeast Lincoln County. A total of 564 homes, 157 businesses, 12 public buildings, 5 schools, and 10 churches were either damaged or destroyed. In Prague, there were 4 deaths and 80 injuries, as the tornado tracked through the middle of town.

It was a cold start to the month of October in 2012. On this date in 2012, Oklahoma City set a record for the coldest high temperature for the date when the mercury only climbed to 50 degrees.

On October 6, 2002, severe thunderstorms produced golf ball-size hail and damaging winds across southwest and south-central Oklahoma. The worst of the weather occurred near Lawton and Comanche, where numerous trees and power poles were brought down by the wind.

For the month of October 2009, the state of Oklahoma had some of the coldest temperatures on record. At Oklahoma City, it was the second coolest October on record, with an average temperature of 56 degrees.

It was a chilly start to a sunny October day in 2012. The daily record, along with the record for the earliest autumn freeze in Oklahoma City, occurred on this date that year when Will Rogers Airport dropped to 31 degrees. Previously, the record for the earliest autumn freeze was October 9, 2000.

Heavy rains caused flash flooding in central and south-central Oklahoma on the 7th and 8th of October, back in 1970. Twelve inches of rainfall resulted in flooding that damaged crops, livestock, farm machinery, roads, and bridges. Platt National Park, now part of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, received 11.61 inches of rain, which caused about $125,000 in damage. The total damage in the 11-county area was about $3 million.

On this date back in 2001, nineteen tornadoes hit parts of western Oklahoma. Three F3 tornadoes occurred, including a tornado that damaged the southern and eastern sections of Cordell, Oklahoma.

On this date in 1949, an F3 tornado moved across Harper County in northwest Oklahoma. The tornado cut a damage path through more than a dozen farms, from north of Rosston to near the Kansas state line. Two people were injured when a gas station and home were destroyed.

On October 10th, 2004, a daily record accumulation of 2.19 inches of rain was measured at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. The previous record, of just under one inch, was set back in 1985.

Major flooding occurred across north-central Oklahoma on October 10th and 11th, 1973. A narrow swath of torrential rain resulted in rainfall amounts greater than 20 inches in about 15 hours across southern Garfield County. Rapidly rising creeks in the Enid area resulted in eight deaths and destruction of about 300 homes and 40 businesses. Property losses in Garfield County alone amounted to about $80 million, and crop damage was about $13 million.

Heavy rain fell across northern Oklahoma on this day in 1973, as an astounding 12 inches fell in just 3 hours at Enid. Within 13 hours, a total of 15.68 inches had been measured in Enid, and major flash flooding resulted in the deaths of 9 people.

Western north Texas was pelted with large hail during the late afternoon and evening of October 12th, 1993. Hail up to the size of softballs fell from the storms, which also produced damaging winds and one tornado. In Vernon, hail accumulated up to six inches deep and stripped trees bare. Hail also destroyed the roof of a house and severely damaged several vehicles just east of Seymour.

Despite being in an extreme drought, areas of heavy rain were seen across central and eastern Oklahoma on this date in 2012. Oklahoma City set a record for a daily rainfall total when 2.56 inches accumulated. Indicative of how dry the 2012 summer was, this 2.56-inch daily amount equaled the rainfall totals for the months of July and August combined.

Although not a weather phenomenon, residents of central Oklahoma received a rude welcome to the morning of October 13th, 2010, in the form of an earthquake. According to the United States Geological Survey, at 9:06 am CDT, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred 5 miles ESE of Norman. Central Oklahoma has been no stranger to relatively smaller earthquakes over the last several months, but this one seemed to be felt by a larger number of people. People from Oklahoma City, to Tulsa, to Kansas City reported feeling the ground shake. Although the earthquake got the attention of many people, no significant damage was reported.

During the afternoon of October 13th, 1960, large hail nearly covered the ground across a large part of central Jackson County, in southwest Oklahoma. Hail up to the size of baseballs, with some chunks shaped like saucers, destroyed the roofs of most businesses and homes in Olustee. Large hail also pounded the Stillwater area the same evening. Hail up to 4 inches in diameter caused damage in and around the city, including damage to roofs and broken windows.

On this date in 1923, widespread rain began, which would eventually cause severe flooding along the North Canadian River. A breach of Lake Overholser Dam forced the evacuation of 15,000 residents in Oklahoma City. The results of this flood led to a radical redistribution of housing patterns in the city, as higher income families moved northward, away from the river.

Prolonged very heavy rain, from October 10th through 17th, 1981, led to serious flooding across parts of south-central Oklahoma. In northwest Marshall County, 26.2 inches of rain fell during those eight days, with 16 inches of that total falling in just 16 hours. Two men drowned, and many people were injured and evacuated, due to the flooding. Estimates of the flood-related losses amounted to between $23 million and $60 million. Then-President Ronald Reagan declared six Oklahoma counties as disaster areas.

On this day in 1933, an F2 tornado moved through the small community of Brown, near Durant. Four homes and a number of barns were destroyed.

An early morning tornado struck near Taloga, in western Oklahoma, on October 16th, 1980. The tornado carried a mobile home 40 feet, destroying it, and injuring the three people inside. It also destroyed a barn and several other homes.

On this date in 1906, flash flooding in Kingfisher County along the Cimarron River, just south of Dover, washed out a railroad bridge which caused a significant train wreck.

On this date in 1962, severe weather across northwestern Oklahoma resulted in a 5-inch hailstone collected in Woodward County.

Many birds were victims of a severe thunderstorm that crossed the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge during the early morning of October 17th, 1979. Hail up to one-inch in diameter killed more than 3,500 birds and injured 1,500 to 2,000 others.

The remnants of Hurricane Tico caused widespread flooding across central and southwest Oklahoma from October 17th to 21st, 1983. Rainfall amounts up to 15 inches caused flooding that resulted in about $94 million in damages. President Ronald Reagan designated 16 counties as disaster areas.

Late evening wind damage occurred in the Durant area on this day back in 1971. Severe thunderstorms caused straight-line winds that lifted the roofs from two homes and a barn, and uprooted 13 large trees.

Cottonwood Creek, in the Guthrie area, reached a record crest of 29.6 feet at 11:01 PM, on October 20th, 1983. The flooding resulted from the torrential rains caused by the remnants of Hurricane Tico. West sections of Guthrie flooded, requiring the evacuation of more than 500 people. A four-foot-deep wall of water reportedly moved across the rapidly rising water, and washed cars and trucks off the streets. One man, who was holding onto a car, was swept away and drowned. The flooding resulted in about $2.5 million in damages.

On this day in 1963, an F2 tornado ripped across west-central Oklahoma, crossing eight farms in northern Kingfisher County. A barn, as described by an eyewitness, seemed to explode. Nine farm buildings were destroyed, and 11 were heavily damaged.

On October 21, 1979, a trailer home was demolished and an adjacent house had its roof removed by a tornado that struck Oak Grove, just north of Sulphur.

On this date in 1978, the temperature warmed to 90 degrees in Oklahoma City, which became a record high temperature for October 21. In 2004, this record was tied.

Widespread severe thunderstorms moved over the eastern half of Oklahoma on this date in 2011. Storms first developed over north-central Oklahoma during the afternoon, but became more widespread over central and southeast Oklahoma during the evening. Very large hail, up to 4 inches in diameter, fell over Union City, while many other storms produced hail up to baseball size.

On this evening in 1985, 30 homes were flooded in Waynoka as 3 to 5 inches of rain caused Dog Creek to spill out of its banks. Four people had to be evacuated as the water rose up to 4 feet across portions of the town.

On October 22nd and 23rd back in the year 2000, extensive flooding occurred in and around Chickasha, when as much as 10 inches of rain fell across Caddo and Grady Counties. Portions of downtown Chickasha were under at least 5 feet of water. Approximately 30 people were rescued from the roof of cars and homes, and between 200 to 400 people were evacuated from their homes. Although a vast majority of the city was flooded, the worst flooding was concentrated along routes 62 and 81 leading into Chickasha. Damages approached $1.5 Million.

Many low temperature records were broken on the morning of October 24, 2005. Temperatures plunged into the upper 20s to lower 30s. Most of the records broken occurred across western and southwestern Oklahoma, and western north Texas, including the cities of Alva, Elk City, Lawton, Vernon, and Copper Breaks State Park.

Hail and high winds accompanied severe thunderstorms early in the morning of October 24th, 1991. The storms affected central and northern Oklahoma, producing up to golf ball-size hail and winds up to 65 mph at Cushing, in Payne County. The hail and wind damaged outbuildings, and many cars and trucks throughout the town. As the storm moved southeast, it flipped over a semi-trailer truck traveling along I-40.

A rare, early season snow storm struck northwest parts of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle on the 24th and 25th of October, 2019. Up to 13 inches of snow fell near Arnett, with greater than 8 inches west and south into the eastern and central Texas Panhandle. The 13-inch snow measurement goes down as the highest 24-hour snow total in Oklahoma for the month of October.

Strong winds and hail accompanied severe thunderstorms across central and southeast Oklahoma on October 25th, 1987. During the evening, hail up to the size of golf balls and 60 to 70 mph winds struck Lone Grove, in Carter County. The winds removed the roof of the high school gymnasium in Lone Grove, allowing water into the building and ruining the hardwood floor, a scene to be repeated almost three years later in neighboring Ardmore, on September 16, 1990. The storms also damaged several other area businesses and caused total damages estimated at $700,000.

Damaging winds and lightning struck Ardmore the evening of October 26th, 1970. Winds stronger than 60 mph overturned a mobile home, destroying it, and injuring a man who was inside. Lightning from the same storm struck a house, catching it on fire.

Back in 2020, a historically significant ice storm struck Oklahoma in several waves from October 26th through the 28th. The hardest hit areas extended from just north of Lawton, to the western sides of the OKC metro, up to Enid, where as much as two and a half inches of ice accumulated. Widespread destruction of trees and powerlines was seen over these and many other areas, including most of the OKC metro and all the way up to northwest Oklahoma. Approximately 388,792 electric customers lost power according to the OK Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, which undoubtedly comes close to a million Oklahomans without power. Thousands were without power for several weeks.

Strong winds from severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage in Marietta on the evening of October 27th, 1991. The local electrical distribution system suffered more than $250,000 in damage, and damage to an apartment complex was estimated at $150,000. The winds also damaged 25 businesses and 100 homes.

Two airmen at Sheppard Air Force Base were killed by lightning early in the morning of October 28th, 1982. As they walked to class, lightning stuck a nearby hangar, and jumped to the ground, striking the two men. One was killed instantly, and the other died several days later in the base hospital.

On this date in 2004, a 43-year-old record was broken for the warmest low temperature measured in Oklahoma City. The mercury only dropped to 69 degrees at Will Rogers World Airport, which ended up breaking the previous record by 4 degrees.

On this date in 1940, an F2 tornado occurred in Hughes County. Several homes and businesses were damaged, with costs estimated at $10,000.

Three days after a surprise, but localized snow storm over northwest Oklahoma in 2019, a powerful cold front moved over the region and ushered in very cold air. As winds diminished on the 29th and 30th, Halloween morning saw some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in Oklahoma during the month of October, and for that early in the season. Kenton dropped to zero degrees that day, besting the previous lowest October minimum of 3 degrees at Freedom from the 29th of October, 1993.

An early morning tornado struck the Alfalfa County town of Burlington on October 29th, 1961. The tornado began southwest of town, then skipped northeast. In town, the tornado destroyed three garages, damaged several roofs, and downed trees, which disrupted utility service for several hours. The storm also destroyed five farm buildings and damaged two farm houses near town.

Large hail, accompanied by very strong winds, caused widespread damage in Gould on October 30th, 1987. Gould, in southwest Oklahoma, experienced golf ball-size hail with winds of 70 to 80 mph. The wind-driven hail damaged most of the roofs in town, broke out many windows, and dented the sides of many homes. The storm caused about $200,000 in damages.

On this date in 1979, an F3 tornado occurred in Carter County, and moved northward from near Newport to near Woodford. Three people were killed, two of which were in trailers. Three trailers, a brick home, and several barns were destroyed, as well as 10 commercial buildings in Woodford.

On Halloween 2019, the temperature dropped into the single digits and lower teens across the Oklahoma Panhandle and far western Oklahoma. At Kenton, the temperature fell to zero. That very cold temperature goes down as a record for the coldest October temperature for the state of Oklahoma.

On this Halloween day in 1993, ghouls and goblins floating around Wichita Falls and Oklahoma City were seen with coats and mittens on, as record lows for this particular date were made in both cities. Wichita Falls got down to 21 degrees, while the mercury fell down to 16 degrees in Oklahoma City.

The only two Halloween days in Oklahoma City to have any frozen precipitation occurred in 1941 and 1991. Disappointed trick or treaters had to put away their sleds and snowmobiles each day, as only trace amounts of snow were seen.

Northwest Oklahoma had a scary Halloween in 1984, as several tornadoes touched down that afternoon and evening. One tornado caused about $30,000 in damage to a gas power plant in Woodward County, then moved into Major County. There, it destroyed or damaged 10 to 15 outbuildings, two houses, six barns, and many cars, trucks, and farm implements along its path.

November 2005 was a historic month for Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. Temperatures were about 8 degrees above average for both cities. Both cities had also tied for the driest November on record. No precipitation occurred at all in Wichita Falls, which had only occurred four times before since 1897. Only a trace of precipitation was observed in Oklahoma City, which had only occurred twice since 1897.

November 2004 was the wettest November since 1924 in Wichita Falls, as a new monthly rainfall record was set with 6.86 inches. It was the 6th wettest November in Oklahoma City with 5.66 inches of rain. The wettest November on record for Oklahoma City was set back in 1931, when 9.63 inches of rain was measured.

Heavy rain began over northern Oklahoma on this date in 1961, and continued into the early morning hours of the second. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2.5 to 3.5 inches, with accumulations of four to six inches in Major County, brought serious flooding to the area. The flooding caused all highways around Enid to be closed.

It was a very warm start to the month of November in 2012 across Oklahoma and western north Texas. On the 2nd, a record high temperature was reached at Oklahoma City when a high temperature of 84 degrees was measured. Wichita Falls, Texas also broke a high temperature record when the thermometer topped out at 87 degrees. The average high temperature for the first few days of November at Oklahoma City is 68 degrees and 71 degrees at Wichita Falls.

On this date in 1998, the Chikaskia River at Blackwell rose to a crest of 34.40 feet, which is nearly five and a half feet above flood stage. This was in association with a three-day flood event across northern Oklahoma, in which 16 river forecast points were above flood stage, with 17 counties affected. Unfortunately, one woman drowned when her car was swept off a highway near Aline, in Alfalfa County.

On this date in 1964, up to 5.4 inches of rain was measured in Mountain View, near Lawton. This rain fell within a three-hour and fifteen-minute period. Farm ponds in the area were filled to capacity for the first time in 35 months, and 23 county road bridges, as well as cotton crops, were ruined in nearby Kiowa County. This was all part of a three-day flood event. By the end of the event, Mountain View had measured an astounding 7.2 inches of rain.

On this day in 1905, an F3 tornado struck northeast Kiowa County, destroying several homes just north of Mountain View, killing three people in one of the homes. The tornado continued northeast into Washita County.

On this day in 2008, several severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line west of Interstate-35 and marched northeast into central and northern Oklahoma. Large hail and damaging winds were reported with these storms. In parts of Norman and Moore, wind gusts to 65 mph and hail up to the size of baseballs covered the ground. Significant window, roof, and car damage was reported from these storms in Northeast Norman with damage estimates up to $40 million.

On this date in 2011 at 10:53 PM, one of the strongest recorded earthquakes to shake Oklahoma occurred near Sparks, or about 20 miles north of Shawnee, with a magnitude of 5.7. At least 2 people were injured, with at least 14 homes destroyed and many damaged in the Shawnee and Sparks areas. Parts of U.S. Highway 62 between Meeker and Prague was buckled. This earthquake was felt strongly in much of Oklahoma, southern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, and northern Texas. At least minor shaking from this earthquake was reported as far away as southern Wisconsin, southern Texas, and western Tennessee.

The month of November during the year 1999 was the warmest November of the 20th century at Oklahoma City, and the third warmest at Wichita falls.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms moved across central and southern Oklahoma on this date in 1996, and continued through the early morning of the 7th. Flash flooding occurred across many counties. Durant received up to 5 inches of rain, and city streets became impassable with as much as 2 feet of water covering the roads. In Lincoln County, eight stranded motorists had to be rescued on a bridge between Davenport and State Highway 99. In Norman, several cars were stranded at the corner of Robinson and northeast 12th Street.

Several supercell thunderstorms developed over southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas during the afternoon hours and moved northeast on this day in 2011. One particularly nasty supercell storm developed over Wilbarger County in western north Texas. This storm moved northeast into Tillman County Oklahoma, eventually producing at least eight tornadoes over a five-county area. Two of the tornadoes moved near two Oklahoma Mesonet observation sites, both taking a direct hit. The Mesonet site near Tipton measured 86.4 mph before it was destroyed by debris. The Mesonet site near Fort Cobb measured 91.4 mph before it was destroyed. Although there was extensive damage from tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding across parts of southern Oklahoma, no injuries were reported.

On November 7, 2004, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, were seen over the skies of Oklahoma. The light show was even seen across parts of California, New Mexico, and as far east as Alabama.

On this date in 1987, a late season severe thunderstorm developed over central Oklahoma. Golf ball-size hail was reported in Oklahoma County, with severe hail also reported in Lincoln County.

On this date in 1994, a late season severe thunderstorm occurred near the Red River over southwest Oklahoma. Wind gusts of 50 mph and one-inch diameter hail were reported near Eldorado and Humphreys, in Jackson County. Additional severe hail and 60 mph winds were reported near Roosevelt, in Kiowa County.

Dense fog developed over parts of western Oklahoma during the early and mid-morning hours of November 9th, 2007. Multiple accidents occurred as a result of the poor visibility, including a school bus that collided with a car and pickup. Multiple injuries occurred as a result of the fog, but thankfully no fatalities.

On this date in 1998, an F1 tornado occurred near Purcell, in McClain County. The tornado began about two miles southwest of Purcell, and ended 1 mile east-southeast of town. Most of the damage was to trees and roofs. No injuries were reported.

A strong cold front moved across western north Texas during the late afternoon and evening on this date in 1995. Temperatures rose into the 80s during the afternoon, then dropped into the 30s by mid evening. Strong winds associated with the cold front caused $2,700 in damage to a house in Crowell. Also, in Henrietta, strong winds tore the roof off of a gas station.

On this date in 1911, Oklahoma City set both a record high and a record low temperature. This was a rare and significant meteorological event. Early in the day, the temperature rose to the record of 83 degrees. However, during the afternoon, a strong cold front ushered in arctic air, and the temperature plummeted to a record low of 17 degrees by midnight.

On this date in 1982, six construction workers in Oklahoma City were injured by high winds during the morning. They were working on a building as strong thunderstorms moved into the area. The resulting winds caused the building to collapse.

Widely varied weather problems plagued Oklahoma during the evening of November 12th, 1972. Up to three inches of snow fell across the Panhandle. Meanwhile, strong wind destroyed a home in Weatherford, heavy rains flooded streets in Chickasha, and lightning caused extensive damage to a home in Pauls Valley.

Severe thunderstorms brought large hail and damaging winds to central Oklahoma during the morning and early afternoon of November 13th, 1985. Tennis ball-size hail fell in the Chickasha area, causing about $200,000 in damage to roofs and cars. Golf ball-size hail and winds to 70 mph in Blanchard removed roofs, broke out windows, and destroyed two mobile homes and one barn. Total losses from the storm in Blanchard amounted to about $150,000.

An evening tornado near Freedom, in northwest Oklahoma, caused a variety of damage to a farmstead on November 14th, 1964. The tornado demolished a garage, tool shed, and barn, which were scattered over a wide area. A windmill was driven into the ground, and the roof of a house was damaged.

Umbrellas were popular items in Wichita Falls on November 15th, 2004, as a daily rainfall record was set. At the end of the day, 1.46 inches of rain was measured.

Damaging winds were widespread across Oklahoma on November 15th, 1988, as a line of severe storms moved east across the state. Along with widespread 70 to 80 mph straight line winds, a few brief tornadoes also occurred. A mobile home in Seiling was destroyed, and a 300-foot broadcast tower was blown over. In Clinton, blowing gravel and debris damaged 60 cars at a construction site, and one worker was injured by the blowing debris.

Snow fell across western north Texas during the morning hours of November 16th, 1980. The early season storm left two inches of snow in Wichita Falls, causing some minor tree damage and inconvenience to motorists.

On this day in 1996, showers and thunderstorms along a strong cold front advanced across Oklahoma and western north Texas. Golf ball-size hail fell just west of Walters, in Cotton County, while 75 mph winds gusts were estimated near Marlow, in Stephens County. Wind damage occurred near Geary, Apache, Burneyville, Walters, Norman, and Purcell. An F0 tornado was observed northeast of Apache. Widespread flash flooding also occurred across Alfalfa County, closing all roads north and south of Cherokee, and damaging 20 homes.

On this date in 1972, a snow storm moved across Oklahoma, dumping up to 10 inches of snow over north-central Oklahoma. Other areas received between one and eight inches. Roads across the state became very slick and hazardous, causing many traffic accidents. At Will Rogers World Airport, a commercial jet aircraft slid off the runway.

Every November, the Leonid meteor shower takes place. On this date in 1998, one of the best displays occurred, as at least one shooting star per minute could be seen. Unfortunately for Oklahomans and North Texans, the skies were mostly cloudy to overcast. However, the evening before, the skies were mostly clear, allowing for a spectacular show.

On this day in 1973, a tornado occurred in McClain County near Blanchard, and tracked north northeastward to near Moore, in Cleveland County. A woman and her infant son were killed in a trailer in Blanchard, as about one-third of the town was destroyed. A total of 67 trailers were destroyed in Moore, resulting in 3 fatalities. Another tornado touched down in and near Tonkawa, in Kay County, damaging 180 homes, 20 businesses, and the high school.

Heavy snow fell across northwest and north-central Oklahoma on this date in 1988. Up to nine inches of snow fell in the Panhandle, while five to seven inches fell in parts of northern Oklahoma. The snow was accompanied by sleet, freezing rain, and even thunder. Blizzard conditions were reported in Woodward and Dewey Counties when visibilities fell to less than 50 feet.

While it's not unusual to have tornadoes during autumn, it is uncommon to have any in November. On November 20th, 1979, a weak tornado occurred in Oklahoma County.

On this date in 1994, runoff from thunderstorms over central Oklahoma caused flash flooding in Lincoln and Logan Counties. In Lincoln County, state highway 66, between Stroud and Davenport, was closed due to high water. In Logan County, flash flooding of Cottonwood Creek caused Charter Oak, Simpson, and Western Roads to be closed due to high water. Seward Road near Seward was also closed.

While its not unusual to have tornadoes during autumn, it is fairly uncommon to have any in November. On November 22nd, 1999, several weak tornadoes struck near Tulsa and Hugo.

On this date in 1982, a tornado occurred near Tushka, and moved to just east of Atoka. The tornado damaged an equipment company, garage, dairy farm, county barn, and several homes. A few metal buildings, built to withstand winds of 100 mph, were destroyed.

Severe thunderstorms moved through central Oklahoma during the early morning hours of November 22, 1982. Golf ball size hail did extensive damage to roofs, trees, and cars across the area. Damage around the Oklahoma City metropolitan area was estimated at $1 million.

In Oklahoma City, the warmest high temperature on record on Thanksgiving occurred in 1965, with a high of 84 degrees. The coolest high temperature occurred in 1919 and 1993, with a high of only 28 degrees. Snow has occurred 9 times on Thanksgiving, with the largest accumulation of 1.4 inches measured in 1968.

On November 24th, 2013, snow and sleet affected western and central Oklahoma. A band of accumulations over four inches stretched from near Hollis to just north of Lawton, with a maximum of thirteen inches near Vinson. A mixture of snow and sleet resulted in accumulations of almost two inches as far east as Oklahoma City.

Wichita Falls set their all-time lowest November temperature record on this date in 1950. The temperature bottomed out at 14 degrees.

On this date in 1993, widespread freezing rain and sleet occurred during the morning and afternoon hours over much of western north Texas. Hazardous roads resulted in several accidents, a few injuries, and unfortunately, one fatality in a car accident in Bellevue.

Strong winds followed a cold front as it moved east across Oklahoma on this date in 1965. The 50 to 60 mph winds blew down a 40-foot radio tower near Altus, shattered many windows, and downed tree limbs in several towns. The winds also fanned hundreds of grass and timber fires. One firefighter was critically burned by a wind whipped grass fire in northwest Oklahoma City. The fires burned thousands of acres across northeast Oklahoma, including two homes and several barns.

On this date in 2001, a powerful winter storm, the first of the season, dumped between 3 and 8 inches of snow across portions of central and southwest Oklahoma. Isolated reports of over 10 inches were seen across western north Texas. Lawton ended up with 6 inches of snow from the storm, while Munday, Texas accumulated 14 inches.

On this date in 1919, sleet and freezing rain began falling across much of Oklahoma. After two days, ice accumulations greater than one-inch built up on most surfaces.

November 2017 was very dry and warm across the region. It was the 13th warmest and 5th driest November on record for the state of Oklahoma. This ranking is based on comparing past Novembers going back to the year 1895.

Most of Oklahoma had a white Thanksgiving morning on November 28th, 1968. Snow accumulations of one to two inches occurred along a 130-mile-wide band from southwest to northeast Oklahoma. Amounts of up to three inches covered parts of Jefferson, Love, and Carter Counties. The one-to-two-inch snow cover in Oklahoma City provided the first white Thanksgiving since 1958. Snow did cause holiday traffic problems early on, but melted during the day.

A significant winter storm began on this day in 2006 and continued into the evening of November 30th. Freezing rain, sleet, and snow fell continuously throughout Oklahoma with abundant amounts of sleet in southern Oklahoma. A few thunderstorms also occurred and further enhanced the sleet and freezing rain. In north-central Oklahoma, blizzard-like conditions caused many towns to shut down with visibilities near zero. By the end of the event, snow accumulation totals ranged from 4 to 12 inches. The highest total reported was 12 inches at Newkirk, in Kay County. Southern Oklahoma experienced several inches of sleet with ice accumulations up to 1/2 inch. Something interesting to note was that a week before the event, temperatures were in the lower and middle 70s, with record high temperatures being tied on the 24th.

Damaging winds occurred over extreme northwest Oklahoma on the afternoon of November 29th, 1975. Wind gusts of 80 mph flipped over a 50-foot mobile home near Laverne, and slammed it into a utility pole. Also, a small trailer was rolled 2 and 1/2 times by strong winds near Selman.

On this date in 1996, a winter storm dumped 4 to 10 inches of snow over northwest Oklahoma. The next day, skies were sunny, and temperatures across most of the state warmed up into the lower 50s. However, temperatures across the snow-covered areas only warmed into the upper 30s. Butler reached 52 degrees, while 27 miles to the northwest, Putnam struggled to reach 39 degrees. This is a typical example of how the effects of snow cover can result in drastic temperature differences over short distances.

On this day in 1985, freezing rain and thunder snow affected many portions of Oklahoma. Winter storm warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and tornado watches were all issued for portions of southern Oklahoma, with golf ball-size hail reported in Duncan at a temperature of 33 degrees. This day was also known as the day of the Ice Bowl, as the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State University Cowboys played each other in Stillwater. The final score was, Sooners 13, Cowboys 0.

Strange bright lights were seen across the evening skies of Oklahoma and western north Texas on this date in 2001. Witnesses described the lights as white and blue, and they crossed the horizon from southwest to northeast, then broke apart. The National Weather Service in Norman speculated that it was likely space junk. The North American Aerospace Defense Command later officially confirmed that it was space debris from an expended Russian rocket reentering the atmosphere. The light show was seen in many places including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Enid, Shawnee, and as far west as the Texas Panhandle, and as far north as Wichita Kansas.

The first major snowstorm of the season covered parts of northwest Oklahoma with as much as nine inches of snow on December 2nd and 3rd, 1964. Most roads became snow packed and hazardous, which caused schools across the area to close for one to two days. Just south of the heavy snow area, freezing rain and sleet iced highways and bridges along a belt 100 miles wide, from southwest to northeast Oklahoma. Temperatures in the teens and 20s helped to maintain the snow cover for a week.

On this date in 1999, severe thunderstorms produced three tornadoes across central Oklahoma. Two of them occurred in Logan County near Guthrie, and one touched down near Perry, in Noble County. The tornadoes damaged trees, power poles, barns, outbuildings, and one of them tore the roof off several homes near Guthrie. The December tornado event capped off a record year for tornadoes in Oklahoma, when 145 tornadoes were observed.

On the 2nd and 3rd of December, 2020, heavy snow fell across northwest Oklahoma, along with adjacent parts of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles along with a small part of southwest Kansas. While there were high snow totals, they were mainly confined to Harper County and a small part of northern Ellis and western parts of Woodward and Woods Counties. The highest totals were seen in the Buffalo, Laverne, and Gage areas where between 12 and 15 inches of snow piled up. Woodward saw anywhere from 5 to 8 inches, with higher amounts across the far western sides of the city.

On the 3rd of December 1908, an F2 tornado destroyed three homes and killed a large number of cattle near Westville, in Adair County, Oklahoma.

At least four people were killed as the result of a winter storm that occurred from the evening of December 4, 1992, into the afternoon of the 5th. The storm brought four to nine inches of snow to northwest and north-central Oklahoma, and one to four inches of snow and sleet to much of central Oklahoma.

An early winter storm affected Oklahoma and western parts of North Texas on December 5th and 6th of 2013. The heaviest snow amounts of four to six inches fell along and north of Interstate 44, from near Quanah, Texas and Altus, to Fort Cobb and northern parts of the Oklahoma City metro.

On this date in the weather archives, an F3 tornado struck Tulsa during the late afternoon hours in 1975. This tornado injured 38 people and destroyed numerous structures.

Oklahoma and western north Texas can see a decent amount of snow in December. The snowiest December on record for Oklahoma City occurred in 2009, when a monthly total of 14 inches was recorded. Of those 14 inches, 13.5 of it occurred with the Christmas Eve blizzard, and the other half-inch was seen on the 29th. At Wichita Falls, the snowiest December occurred in 1942, when 8 inches of snow was tallied.

After 36 days without any measurable precipitation in Oklahoma City, light snow finally produced a measurable amount of precipitation on December 7th, 2005.

Oklahoma's first winter storm of the year in 1989 occurred on December 7th. Six inches of snow accumulated on parts of northwest and north-central Oklahoma, while 1 to 2 inches accumulated over central and eastern Oklahoma. The widespread snowfall led to slick and hazardous road conditions, which contributed to many traffic accidents.

Since 1891, the latest first freeze in Oklahoma City occurred on this date in 1998. On average, the first freeze can be expected around November 4th.

One of the most devastating ice storms to occur in Oklahoma history happened on this day back in 2007. The event began on the 9th and continued through the 11th and affected much of Oklahoma, especially southwest, through central and northeast Oklahoma. A very strong cold front moved through the area on the 9th and initiated widespread showers and thunderstorms. This heavy rain activity quickly moved northward over sub-freezing air. Over one-inch of ice was common across areas from around Lawton, up through the Oklahoma City metro, to Tulsa and far northeast Oklahoma. Extensive damage was reported with large trees and several thousand power lines downed. Firefighters responded to over 100 structure fires as a result of fallen power lines. This storm was the costliest ice storm in history with 27 fatalities and over 640,000 residents without power. Out of the 641,000 without power, 150,000 did not have power for over a week. Storm cleanup estimates exceeded $200 million statewide.

A winter storm began as light freezing rain on December 9th, 1960. On the 10th, the freezing rain changed to heavy snow. Ice accumulated up to a half-inch thick, damaging power lines and trees. The greatest damage was across northwest and north-central Oklahoma, where slippery roads brought a rash of accidents, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. Snow piled up to between five and 12 inches across the western half of Oklahoma. Strong winds during the evening of the 10th drifted the snow up to four feet deep across extreme western Oklahoma, closing several roads.

An impressive cold spell began early in December 2013. Oklahoma City's high temperatures were in the 20s for four straight days from December 6th through the 9th. With calm winds and snow cover, low temperatures on the morning of December 10th fell below zero across northern and western Oklahoma, while Oklahoma City fell to 5 degrees above zero.

A winter storm moved across Oklahoma on December 10th and 11th, 1963. Freezing rain and sleet glazed highways, along with snow depths reaching two inches on top of the ice. One hundred traffic accidents occurred in Oklahoma City alone during the evening rush hour on the 11th, and more than 14 injuries were reported due to falls on the ice. Ice accumulations on telephone lines knocked out service to parts of northwest Oklahoma.

A strong arctic cold front moved across central and eastern Oklahoma on this day back in the year 2000. Freezing rain and freezing drizzle made driving very difficult from Bartlesville, to Tulsa, down to Broken Bow. Numerous school closings were initiated, which were followed by cheers from students.

On December 12th, 1985, a strong winter storm moved across Oklahoma, producing freezing rain and sleet, followed by two to five inches of snow. Winds of 25 mph accompanied the storm, causing the snow to drift across many roads. Many rural schools had to close because the buses could not run their routes.

A fast-moving winter storm system yielded widespread 3-to-6-inch snow totals over the northern half of Oklahoma on this day in 2020. The highest snow totals across northwest and north-central Oklahoma were 7 inches at Coyle, and 6 to 7 inches in Weatherford, Kingfisher and Thomas. Oklahoma City averaged from about 1 inch on the south sides, to almost 5 inches in parts of Edmond.

A winter storm on December 13th through 15th, 1984, left a heavy ice coating across parts of northwest Oklahoma. One to two inches of ice accumulated on everything in the area. The weight of the ice brought down power lines, leaving about 6,000 people without electricity for a week. Ice also caused severe damage to trees, even uprooting some of them.

December 14th marks the earliest date that subzero temperatures have been recorded in Oklahoma City. This occurred in the year 1901, when the temperature reached 2 degrees below zero.

Three people died in Oklahoma from extreme cold as a series of arctic cold fronts plunged into the region, beginning December 14th, 1989, and continuing until the 23rd. A new record low was set at Oklahoma City on the 15th when the temperature dropped to 3 degrees. Record lows were set again on the 22nd and 23rd as overnight lows fell all the way to minus 4 degrees on the 22nd, and minus 8 degrees on the 23rd. Strong north winds produced wind chills of minus 30 to minus 50 degrees. School buses failed to start in the extreme cold, which caused schools to close. Broken water pipes damaged many homes and businesses.

Isolated thunderstorms developed over southwest and central Oklahoma during the afternoon of December 14th, 2014. These storms occasionally exhibited supercell characteristics, producing large hail and funnel clouds. One very brief tornado occurred over northeastern Oklahoma County near Arcadia Lake. No damage or injuries occurred. This tornado was the 16th tornado to be documented for 2014 in Oklahoma, giving Oklahoma a record low annual total for tornadoes. The previous record low total was 17 back in 1988.

A winter storm affected most of northern and central Oklahoma on this day in 2020, two days after a storm brought widespread 3-to-6-inch accumulations over the northern half of Oklahoma. With 2 to 4 inches already on the ground, places like Woodward, Watonga, Kingfisher, and Enid added another 4 to 6 inches. Accumulating snow on the 15th reached as far south as Hobart, Lawton, and Purcell, although that snow quickly melted the next day.

A three-day snowstorm ended on this date in 1987. Snowfall totals were generally up to 4 inches across northern and central Oklahoma, with a whopping 16 inches measured at Helena, in Alfalfa County.

On this day in 1994, a late season severe weather episode occurred over central and southeast Oklahoma. Severe thunderstorms moved through the Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant areas, producing hail as large as ping-pong balls.

One of the most severe arctic outbreaks to affect the Great Plains gripped Oklahoma for more than two weeks in late December 1983. The prolonged cold wave, lasting from the 17th through the 31st, lowered Oklahoma City's average temperature for the month to a cold 25.8 degrees, the coldest on record. An average December would average 39.5 degrees. Water pipes and mains throughout Oklahoma froze, which left many people without water for more than a week. Periods of freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and snow occurred, but snow depths remained generally less than three inches.

A four-day snow and ice storm, described as the worst major ice storm in Oklahoma in more than a decade, ended during the morning on this day back in 1967. The storm affected all but the southeast part of the state, with ice accumulations of 1/2 to 1 inch. Local ice accumulations of 4 inches were reported in Cordell. More than 225 people were treated for injuries after slipping on the ice. At least 170 of these injuries were in the Oklahoma City area.

A very cold day was seen on this date in 2016. Most morning low temperatures across Oklahoma and northwest Texas were in the single digits or below zero. The coldest temperature was seen just northwest of Guymon where a low of minus 18 degrees was observed, the coldest temperature recorded in the state of Oklahoma that year. Wind chill values at this location dipped to minus 36. Temperatures recovered into the teens and 20s above zero for high temperatures across the region.

On this date in 1968, an F2 tornado skipped northeast of Tulsa, near the town of Skiatook. Northeast of Skiatook, a barn was destroyed and the debris was scattered one-quarter mile away from the barn's original location.

Near blizzard conditions occurred across northern Oklahoma on December 19 and 20th, 1973. Snow depths up to six inches were whipped by 30 to 50 mph winds, causing numerous road closures. Many traffic accidents resulted, and several motorists became stranded in the drifts.

On this day in 1997, an ice storm occurred over a large portion of western Oklahoma. Freezing rain began falling during the evening and lasted into the next day. Numerous large tree limbs snapped, littering the streets of many towns. Many main and secondary power lines were downed, cutting power to thousands of western Oklahomans. Blaine and Woodward Counties were hit particularly hard, especially Canton and Mooreland, as power outages lasted several days.

Since 1924, the latest first freeze in Wichita Falls, Texas occurred on this date in 1939. On average, the first freeze can be expected around November 10th.

In 2013, a significant winter storm affected Oklahoma and western north Texas from December 20th to the 22nd. This storm brought significant amounts of ice to much of central and southwest Oklahoma, while dumping up to six inches of snow across northwest Oklahoma. Up to three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulated over Canadian and Caddo Counties, around Fort Cobb and El Reno. The rest of central and southwest Oklahoma, and adjacent parts of north Texas, saw between one-quarter and one-half inch. The ice brought down numerous tree limbs and resulted in brief power disruptions. The highest snow totals were seen around Laverne, Rosston, and Buffalo.

On this date in 1916, the low temperature at Kenton Oklahoma was minus 17 degrees. This was the coldest temperature for Oklahoma that year.

The late fall and early winter of 2020 yielded a lot of snow for portions of northern and western Oklahoma as several snow producing storms took their aim on the region. Through this date in 2020, several locations already had well over a foot of snow for the young winter season. A few of the totals for October through the middle of December were Arnett with 32.3 inches, Fargo with 27.1 inches, and Woodward with 21.3 inches. Locations farther east toward Alva, Fairview, and Watonga accumulated between 12 and 20 inches. Oklahoma City had seen 6.8 inches of snow, close to its yearly average.

Strong winds blew across Oklahoma on December 22, 1961. In Chickasha, power lines were blown down, causing a fire that damaged a cotton warehouse. Strong winds over northern Oklahoma that afternoon damaged many roofs, blew down power lines, and shattered plate glass store windows. A 75-foot section of a brick wall fell in Enid, and an oil rig was toppled by the wind near Hennessey.

The major arctic outbreak of late December 1989 caused record low temperatures to be set in both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. On the 23rd, both cities experienced the coldest temperatures ever observed in December. In Oklahoma City, the temperature plummeted to minus 8 degrees, and Wichita Falls fared only slightly better, at minus 7 degrees.

On this date in 1983, the barometric pressure at Wichita Falls, Texas rose to 31.13 inches, which was the second highest known pressure reading ever recorded in the state of Texas. This was associated with the Big Chill of the 20th century in Texas, which was 17 straight days of bitterly frigid air.

The Christmas Eve Blizzard of 2009 was a memorable event for most Oklahomans. A Blizzard Warning was issued for the storm system, which is a rare occurrence for our state. This storm set snowfall records in Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls for having the most snow ever recorded in a single day. Most locations received anywhere from 1 to 7 inches, with 8 to 14 inches reported in Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. The event began with rain that quickly changed over to sleet and then snow with widespread blizzard conditions. Visibilities were less than 100 feet for several hours and the high winds created snow drifts at least three-feet deep. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded as travel became nearly impossible. Most major highways and interstates were shut down, and the National Guard was sent in to rescue stranded travelers from their vehicles. Unfortunately, there were nine fatalities with hundreds of injuries.

The highest atmospheric pressure reading at Oklahoma City occurred on this date in 1983, when the barometer rose to 31.14 inches of mercury. This followed a surge of very cold arctic air, which set many cold temperature records that year.

Cold air moved into Oklahoma the morning of December 24, 1962, followed by snow. Up to an inch of snow covered most of the state. By Christmas, most of the snow had melted, except in the north-central part of Oklahoma. Continued snow there left three to five inches of snow cover. The next morning, the coldest air of the season arrived, giving Ponca City a frigid morning low of minus 4 degrees.

On this date in 1922, the temperature in Oklahoma City warmed to 73 degrees, resulting in the warmest Christmas on record. The warmest Christmas on record in Wichita Falls occurred in 1971, with the mercury reaching 75 degrees. Back in 1983, the temperature fell to minus 1 degree in Oklahoma City, and 5 degrees in Wichita Falls, making it the coldest Christmas on record for both cities.

One of the costliest winter storms on record occurred on Christmas Day in 1987. For the next two days, ice accumulations of up to two inches, from near Duncan, to Norman, to Tulsa, left many areas without power for a week or more.

On this date in 1997, heavy snow, which began late Christmas night, ended during the morning hours across south-central Oklahoma and western north Texas, blanketing the area with 2 to 4 inches of snow. The snow melted rapidly by late morning, as afternoon temperatures rose into the 40s.

A small but intense band of snow spread accumulating snows up and down the Interstate-44 corridor on this date in 2014. The snow band was nearly stationary for much of the morning, resulting in localized 4-to-6-inch snow totals from Chickasha and Lawton down to Seymour, TX. Once the snow ended, Oklahoma City measured 3.5 inches of storm-total snow, a new record for December 27th. The old record of 1.3 inches from 1968 was smashed! In addition, snow had never fallen on December 27th in Wichita Falls, so the 2 inches of snow that fell became the new daily snowfall record.

An ice storm moved across southeast Oklahoma on the morning of December 27, 1990. Ice and sleet accumulations covered roadways and other exposed surfaces all across the area. Several accidents occurred, injuring at least four people.

On this date in 1915, the low temperature at Hooker, Oklahoma was minus 15 degrees. This was the coldest temperature for Oklahoma that year.

A strong arctic cold front moved across Oklahoma on the morning of December 29th, 1990. As the front moved through, it caused a 50-degree temperature drop in some places during the day. At the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman, the temperature dropped from 57 degrees to 27 degrees in 30 minutes. The cold air also left an accumulation of ice and sleet between one and two inches deep, which blanketed the southwest through northeast parts of the state, causing several hundred traffic accidents, in which six people were killed and six others injured. Air travel was also severely restricted, as about 2,000 travelers were temporarily stranded at Will Rogers World Airport when a major airline cancelled all flights.

A late season severe weather outbreak brought tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds to central and north-central Oklahoma on December 29th, 1972. A tornado in McClain County damaged a farm, destroyed a garage, and blew away a boat near Purcell. Farther north, in the Perry area, hail larger than baseballs damaged homes, businesses, and automobiles. As the storms moved east into the Stillwater area, they produced 70 to 90 mph winds, which damaged 10 trailer homes. Fortunately, no one was hurt or killed by the widespread severe weather.

A wet late fall and early winter season in 2020 yielded a statewide average precipitation total of 39.71 inches, 3.21 inches above average. Ironically, this makes 2020 rank as the 20th wettest year on record. Annual rainfall varied tremendously across the state, however. Southeastern Oklahoma's average of 65.43 inches was 14.84 inches above average to rank as their seventh wettest annual total, while the Panhandle saw a deficit of 4.05 inches for their 25th driest year on record.

Beginning on the 29th and continuing through the 30th in the year 1898, a very strong cold front blasted through Oklahoma and north Texas. The temperature at Oklahoma city fell from 68 degrees at 5:50 PM on the 29th, to a very chilly 17 degrees at 10:00 AM on the 30th. The temperature dropped 51 degrees in only 16 hours. The temperature continued to drop to 8 degrees on the 31st at 9:00 AM.

During the last couple of days in 2020, a series of snow storms moved over the region, producing widespread 4-to-8-inch snow totals. The storm on the 30th and 31st was the last in a series of four impactful winter storms that struck the region during December, and the fifth of the season. On December 2nd and 3rd, a winter storm dumped 10 to 15 inches of snow over far northwest Oklahoma. Two more snow producing storms moved over the state in quick succession on the 13th and 15th. The northwest was again the big winner between the two storms with over a foot of snow reported in Woodward and Ellis Counties. Fargo and Arnett led official December totals at 27.1 inches and 26 inches, respectively. Vici was close behind at 25.5 inches. Fargo's tally is the third highest December total in state history, behind Beaver's 35 inches in 1911 and Goodwell's 28 inches in 1918.

The highest New Year's Eve temperature in Oklahoma City is 80 degrees, which occurred back in 1951. On the same day, Wichita Falls reached its warmest New Year's Eve with a high temperature of 85 degrees.