Mon, May 02, 2022
April Winds Highest in Mesonet Era Opinions on Oklahoma’s weather are often more variable than the weather itself. Some Oklahomans will look back on April… Read More »
Wed, Apr 13, 2022
Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Summer/Fall 2022 Mesonet OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix… Read More »
Fri, Apr 01, 2022
Variety Describes March Weather March’s weather ran the gamut of nearly all the hazards Oklahoma has to offer, befitting a seasonal transition month in… Read More »
Tue, Mar 01, 2022
Wintry Weather Rules February Three impactful winter storms struck Oklahoma during February, snarling traffic on state highways, bringing down power lines, and forcing… Read More »
Tue, Feb 01, 2022
Winter Arrives In January Winter arrived with conviction at the dawn of the new year in Oklahoma and delivered a startling counterpunch to the… Read More »
Tue, Jan 04, 2022
December Shatters Temperature Record In what could best be described as a climatological anomaly on steroids, Oklahoma soared to its warmest December on… Read More »
Wed, Dec 01, 2021
November Caps Off Warm, Dry Fall An extended pattern of warm, dry weather exacerbated drought conditions during November. Drought impacts, including fire danger and soil… Read More »
Thu, Nov 18, 2021
Spring 2022 Mesonet OK-First Classes Spring 2022 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »
Mon, Nov 01, 2021
October Sets Tornado Record Oklahomans are growing accustomed to Mother Nature’s October weather shenanigans following a snowstorm of up to 13 inches in… Read More »
Tue, Oct 05, 2021
Fall 2021 OK-FIRE Classes Free training workshops will be offered this fall for both new and experienced users of OK-FIRE, the statewide weather-based decision… Read More »
Fri, Oct 01, 2021
Drought Makes September Push The 17th warmest and driest September in Oklahoma since records began in 1895 allowed drought to flourish during the month.… Read More »
Wed, Sep 01, 2021
Drought Returns During Arid August A run of hot, dry weather finished off climatological summer in true Oklahoma fashion following a delightfully mild first two… Read More »
Mon, Aug 02, 2021
Summer Heat Scarce During July Oklahoma’s July was mild for the most part, and a bit wet for much of the state. Extreme temperatures—at least… Read More »
Thu, Jul 01, 2021
June Sees Summer Swoon A slow start to summer gave way to sweltering heat through the middle of June before once again succumbing… Read More »
Tue, Jun 01, 2021
Heat Hiatus Continues During May May’s weather was rather tame by Oklahoma standards, with severe weather greatly diminished by an abundance of cool, cloudy… Read More »
Fri, May 07, 2021
Fall 2021 Mesonet OK-First Classes Fall 2021 OK-First classes for public safety officials are now open for enrollment! We will be offering a mix of… Read More »
Mon, May 03, 2021
Cold April Feels Severe Weather Impacts Cool weather helped keep severe weather at bay in Oklahoma throughout much of April. A late spring freeze—damaging in its… Read More »
Thu, Apr 01, 2021
March Weather More Lamb Than Lion The first month of spring greeted Oklahoma with warmer and more tranquil weather than the historic cold and snowy February… Read More »
Mon, Mar 01, 2021
Historically Frigid February Punctuates Winter Oklahoma experienced a historic cold air event during February, boosting the month into the company of other legendary frozen periods… Read More »
Tue, Feb 02, 2021
Warm and Wet January Greets New Year The winter storm that began the year captured January’s biggest weather headline. The event straddled the changeover from 2020 to… Read More »
Tue, Dec 01, 2020
November’s weather struggled to live up to the level of excitement provided by October’s historic cold snap and ice storm, although it had its moments. Following that burst of moisture just before Halloween, some areas of the state went more than a month without seeing at least a quarter inch of rain in a single day. Other areas saw Oklahoma’s weather at its worst, however. Storms on the 24th brought severe weather back to the state with damaging winds and hail up to the size of golf balls. At least two tornadoes touched down that day in southeastern Oklahoma. The first struck near Kinta in Haskell County around 9 p.m., destroying a mobile home and damaging other structures. The second came about an hour later near Spiro in Le Flore County and damaged a barn. The November tornadoes brought the unofficial 2020 total to 39 according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service, well below the 1951-2019 annual average of 57.4, and dwarfed by 2019’s record total of 149. This year’s tally would also mark the state’s lowest since 2009’s 34 confirmed twisters.
According to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the statewide average temperature was 53 degrees to rank as the 10th warmest November since records began in 1895, 3.7 degrees above normal. November was also the first month since June to finish warmer than normal statewide. The month’s lowest reading of 12 degrees – also the lowest for the season thus far – was reported at Hooker on the 31st. The Mesonet recorded a slew of 70s and 80s during the month, including November’s highest reading of 86 degrees at both Arnett and Goodwell on the 19th. The warm November somewhat offset the cooler than normal September-October period, but the climatological fall (September-November) still finished 0.6 degrees below normal with an average of 60.2 degrees, the 41st coolest autumn on record. The first 11 months of the year were the 35th warmest on record with a statewide average of 62.4 degrees, 0.6 degrees above normal.
The statewide average precipitation total, as measured by the Mesonet, was 1.39 inches below normal at 1.12 inches. That ranks the month as the 37th driest November on record. Only three of the Mesonet’s 120 sites finished with above normal precipitation for November: Beaver, 1.08 inches; Burbank, 2.23 inches; and Foraker at 2.63 inches. Miami actually led the state with 3.44 inches, but that total still fell below their November normal of 4.13 inches. Arnett brought up the rear with 0.24 inches, and 60 other Mesonet sites failed to receive at least an inch for the month. Deficits were generally around an inch, although areas of east central and southeastern Oklahoma fell 2-3 inches below normal. The fall average total of 8.6 inches was 0.98 inches below normal to rank as the 59th wettest on record. Deficits of 4-6 inches were isolated in parts of far southwestern, southeastern, and east central Oklahoma. Otherwise, amounts were either close to or within 2-3 inches of normal. The first 11 months of the year finished 2.34 inches above normal at 36.78 inches across the state, the 27th wettest January-November on record. There was a stark difference in moisture totals across the state, however, with deficits of up to 11 inches for that period in the southwest to surpluses of nearly 18 inches in east central Oklahoma.
Drought coverage dropped from 34% of the state at the end of October to 11% after the first two weeks of November. The prolonged dry weather resulted in an increase to 25% coverage at the end of November. The December outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate increased odds of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation across the entire state. Despite those possible outcomes, CPC’s December drought outlook does not see further drought development as likely during December.
