Does it snow in Oklahoma?
Known as The Sooner State, Oklahoma, the twentieth largest state and the twenty-eighth state most populous, stands as one of the leading producers of natural gas, oil, and agricultural products in the south-central region of the United States.
Thanks to its vast ancient mountain ranges, prairies, plateaus, and forests, Oklahoma is also home to wonderful state parks and refuges such as Great Salt Plains State Park, Natural Falls State Park, Beavers Bend State Park, Lake Murray State Park, the largest state park in the state of Oklahoma, and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
As if that were not enough, Oklahoma has a highly dynamic climate, which means this might well be considered humid subtropical (east and southeast), semi-arid (west), or humid continental (north).
Naturally, this climatic variety allows the configuration of diverse summer and winter ecosystems in the different Oklahoma state parks, giving tourists more options to visit throughout the year.
Snow in Oklahoma? ❄
Does it snow in Oklahoma? The short answer is a resounding yes! Nevertheless, it is important to highlight certain aspects of this question.
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Oklahoma has two types of climates throughout its territory: subtropical humid (Cfa) and cold temperate semi-arid (BSk).
The first of these, the humid subtropical climate, is characterized by hot and humid summers and cool winters with abundant rainfall.
For its part, the second, the temperate and cold semi-arid climate, is characterized by having an average annual temperature below 64.4 °F, extensive grassland ecosystems (without the presence of trees from cold or temperate climates), and relatively low rainfall, which they vary between 7.87 and 19.68 inches per year.
Although both types of climate present notable differences, these do not imply any impediment for snowfall to manifest during the winter season and even during late autumn and early spring.
In this sense, the distribution of snowfall in Oklahoma is not as strongly correlated with the two types of climate present there. Consequently, Rogers County, located on the eastern edge of the state, can be just as snowy as Cimarron County, located just on the opposite end of Rogers County.
The climate of Oklahoma ⛅
The Tornado Alley: the cause of the Oklahoma storms
As explained in the previous section, Oklahoma exhibits two distinct climate types throughout its territory: humid subtropical (Cfa) and cool temperate semi-arid (BSk).
However, trying to explain the climate of the entire state of Oklahoma by simply pointing out the main characteristics of the subtypes of climate that comprise it may seem (and is, with total certainty) insufficient.
In the particular case of Oklahoma, its standard climatology (Cfa and BSk) is affected by the frequent convergence between the cold and dry air of Canada, the warm and dry air of Mexico and the southwestern United States, and the air hot and humid Gulf of Mexico.
This particular convergence is called Tornado Alley due to the large number of tornadoes it produces. While the Tornado Alley does not solely affect the Oklahoma Territory, since it extends throughout the almost half continental territory of the United States, it influences Oklahoma weather in an almost unique way.
For this reason, it is not surprising that some meteorological phenomena such as thunderstorms, hail storms, stormy winds, and tornadoes occur in Oklahoma with a frequency almost exclusively globally. On average, Oklahoma exhibits a total of 62 tornadoes per year.
Oklahoma's drastic temperature swings
Beyond the different and dangerous weather phenomena that the Tornado Alley can produce in Oklahoma, its most notable influence is the drastic changes in weather patterns that it causes throughout the territory of Oklahoma.
For example, on November 11, 1991, the temperature in Oklahoma City reached 83 °F (28.3 °C), an unprecedented figure at the time, only to drop drastically to 17 °F (-8.3 °C) that same night. That day, in less than 24 hours, the new all-time highs and lows temperature of Oklahoma City was established, a more than surprising milestone.
Technical characteristics of the climate of Oklahoma
- Average annual temperature in the southeast: 62 °F (16.6 °C).
- Average annual precipitation range in the southeast: 40-56 inches (101.6-142.24 cm).
- Average annual temperature in the northwest: 58 °F (14.4 °C).
- The average annual rainfall in the northwest: <430 (1092.2 cm).
- Driest season: winter.
- Second driest season: summer.
- Wettest season: spring.
- Second wettest season: autumn.
- Season with a greater presence of snowfall: winter.
- Snowiest month: January.
- Average snow accumulation range: 4-20 inches (10.16-50.8).
When does it snow in Oklahoma? 🌨

Does it snow in Oklahoma in October?
Yes, it might snow in October. While the odds are low, it is possible to see snowfall in Boise City, Alva, Arapaho, Arnett, Beaver, Buffalo, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Enid, Guymon, Hobart, Hollis, Medford, Sayre, Taloga, and Woodward. In Boise City, for example, these early snowfalls can reach up to a half-inch of accumulation on average.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in November?
Yes, it does! From this month, it's possible to spot snowfall in every one of Oklahoma's 77 counties, to a greater or lesser extent, of course.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in December?
Yes, it does! Once winter has begun, it's no wonder that snowfall ramps up across Oklahoma, even exceeding the inch and a half of snow accumulation, on average, in more than 50 counties in the state.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in January?
Yes, it does! Since this is the coldest month in Oklahoma, snowfalls will be a recurring weather phenomenon like the previous month, although they will be much more intense than in December.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in February?
Yes, it does! Nevertheless, the snowfall will be much less intense than in January and even December.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in March?
Yes, it does! Despite being the last month of the winter season, in some cities, such as Boise City, Arnett, Guymon, Beaver, Alva, Woodward, and Buffalo, snow accumulation continues to exceed the inch on average.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in April?
Yes, it might snow in April. There are chances that this weather phenomenon will continue to be witnessed in at least 24 counties in Oklahoma, with Cimarron County being the county with the highest probability of snowfall of all.
Does it snow in Oklahoma in May?
Yes, it might snow in May. Although it seems incredible, Boise City (Cimarron County) averages 0.1 inches of snow accumulation this month.
Where does it snow in Oklahoma? 🌨

Taking the month of January as a reference because it is the one that exhibits the highest levels of snowfall during the winter, we present below a table in which we directly answer the question in this section (Where does it snow in Oklahoma?):
County seat | Does it snow? |
Arnett | Yes |
Claremore | Yes |
Nowata | Yes |
Stigler | Yes |
Bartlesville | Yes |
Muskogee | Yes |
Pryor | Yes |
Arapaho | Yes |
Eufaula | Yes |
Vinita | Yes |
Enid | Yes |
Jay | Yes |
Miami | Yes |
Wagoner | Yes |
Alva | Yes |
Boise City | Yes |
Medford | Yes |
Newkirk | Yes |
Pawhuska | Yes |
Perry | Yes |
Taloga | Yes |
El Reno | Yes |
Wilburton | Yes |
Beaver | Yes |
Cherokee | Yes |
Kingfisher | Yes |
Oklahoma City | Yes |
Pawnee | Yes |
Stillwater | Yes |
Stilwell | Yes |
Tulsa | Yes |
Ada | Yes |
Chandler | Yes |
Fairview | Yes |
Guthrie | Yes |
Guymon | Yes |
Holdenville | Yes |
McAlester | Yes |
Sapulpa | Yes |
Tahlequah | Yes |
Watonga | Yes |
Woodward | Yes |
Atoka | Yes |
Buffalo | Yes |
Cheyenne | Yes |
Coalgate | Yes |
Hobart | Yes |
Norman | Yes |
Okemah | Yes |
Okmulgee | Yes |
Shawnee | Yes |
Wewoka | Yes |
Durant | Yes |
Idabel | Yes |
Sallisaw | Yes |
Sulphur | Yes |
Anadarko | Yes |
Chickasha | Yes |
Duncan | Yes |
Purcell | Yes |
Sayre | Yes |
Antlers | Yes |
Hugo | Yes |
Lawton | Yes |
Poteau | Yes |
Madill | Yes |
Pauls Valley | Yes |
Tishomingo | Yes |
Mangum | Yes |
Frederick | Yes |
Hollis | Yes |
Walters | Yes |
Waurika | Yes |
Altus | Yes |
Marietta | Yes |
Ardmore | Yes |
New Cordell | Unknown information |
The cities shown in the table above are the respective seats (administrative centers) of the 77 counties that make up the state of Oklahoma. Likewise, these county seats are ordered according to how likely it is a snowfall will occur in their territory (from most to least likely).
How much does it snow in Oklahoma? 🌨
Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the seventy-seven county seats of Oklahoma:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Ada | 2 | 1,3 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,7 |
Altus | 1,1 | 0,6 | 0,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 0,9 |
Alva | 2,3 | 2 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Anadarko | 1,7 | 1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,5 |
Antlers | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,3 |
Arapaho | 2,5 | 2,1 | 0,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,6 | 2,2 |
Ardmore | 0,9 | 0,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 0,9 |
Arnett | 2,9 | 2,5 | 1,3 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,9 | 2,9 |
Atoka | 1,9 | 1,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,5 |
Bartlesville | 2,6 | 2,1 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 2,3 |
Beaver | 2,1 | 1,8 | 1,2 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,7 | 2,3 |
Boise City | 2,3 | 1,7 | 2 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1 | 2,6 |
Buffalo | 1,9 | 1,7 | 1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,9 |
Chandler | 2 | 1,3 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,5 |
Cherokee | 2,1 | 1,8 | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,6 |
Cheyenne | 1,9 | 1,5 | 0,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,6 |
Chickasha | 1,7 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,4 |
Claremore | 2,9 | 2 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 | 2,4 |
Coalgate | 1,9 | 1,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,6 |
Duncan | 1,7 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 1,7 |
Durant | 1,8 | 1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,5 |
El Reno | 2,2 | 1,5 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 2 |
Enid | 2,4 | 2 | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Eufaula | 2,5 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 1,7 |
Fairview | 2 | 1,7 | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,6 |
Frederick | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1 |
Guthrie | 2 | 1,4 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,7 |
Guymon | 2 | 1,7 | 1,3 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,7 |
Hobart | 1,9 | 1,3 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,7 |
Holdenville | 2 | 1,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Hollis | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,3 | 1 |
Hugo | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,5 |
Idabel | 1,8 | 1,3 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,4 |
Jay | 2,4 | 1,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Kingfisher | 2,1 | 1,5 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,8 |
Lawton | 1,5 | 0,9 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,3 |
Madill | 1,4 | 0,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,3 |
Mangum | 1,3 | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1 |
Marietta | 1 | 0,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 0,9 |
McAlester | 2 | 1,4 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,4 |
Medford | 2,3 | 2 | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Miami | 2,4 | 1,7 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,7 |
Muskogee | 2,6 | 1,8 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,6 |
New Cordell | Unknown information | |||||||||||
Newkirk | 2,3 | 2,1 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,9 |
Norman | 1,9 | 1,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,5 |
Nowata | 2,9 | 2,1 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 | 2,4 |
Okemah | 1,9 | 1,2 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 1,6 |
Oklahoma City | 2,1 | 1,4 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Okmulgee | 1,9 | 1,3 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 1,5 |
Pauls Valley | 1,4 | 0,8 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,2 |
Pawhuska | 2,3 | 1,9 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,9 |
Pawnee | 2,1 | 1,6 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,6 |
Perry | 2,3 | 1,9 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,9 |
Poteau | 1,5 | 1,3 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,3 |
Pryor | 2,6 | 1,7 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,8 |
Purcell | 1,7 | 1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,3 |
Sallisaw | 1,8 | 1,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,2 |
Sapulpa | 2 | 1,3 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,4 |
Sayre | 1,6 | 1,1 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,4 | 1,3 |
Shawnee | 1,9 | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,4 |
Stigler | 2,9 | 1,9 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 | 1,8 |
Stillwater | 2,1 | 1,6 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Stilwell | 2,1 | 2,1 | 0,9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,3 |
Sulphur | 1,8 | 1,2 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,6 |
Tahlequah | 2 | 1,8 | 0,8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,5 |
Taloga | 2,3 | 1,9 | 0,8 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,7 | 2 |
Tishomingo | 1,4 | 0,9 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 | 1,3 |
Tulsa | 2,1 | 1,4 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Vinita | 2,5 | 1,6 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,7 |
Wagoner | 2,4 | 1,6 | 0,7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Walters | 1,2 | 0,9 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1,1 |
Watonga | 2 | 1,7 | 0,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
Waurika | 1,2 | 0,8 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 | 1 |
Wewoka | 1,9 | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Wilburton | 2,2 | 1,4 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 | 1,5 |
Woodward | 2 | 1,7 | 1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,6 | 1,7 |
The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.
Related post → Does it snow in United States of America?
Source → WeatherSpark.