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.

Index

    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

    OKLAHOMA WEATHER

    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.

    MAP of OKLAHOMA

    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? 🌨

    Snow in Wichita Mountains (SW Oklahoma
    Snow in Wichita Mountains (SW Oklahoma). Flickr.

    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 CityAlvaArapahoArnettBeaverBuffaloCherokeeCheyenneEnidGuymonHobartHollisMedfordSayreTaloga, 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? 🌨

    Snow in Oklahoma City
    Snow in Oklahoma City. Flickr.

    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 seatDoes it snow?
    ArnettYes
    ClaremoreYes
    NowataYes
    StiglerYes
    BartlesvilleYes
    MuskogeeYes
    PryorYes
    ArapahoYes
    EufaulaYes
    VinitaYes
    EnidYes
    JayYes
    MiamiYes
    WagonerYes
    AlvaYes
    Boise CityYes
    MedfordYes
    NewkirkYes
    PawhuskaYes
    PerryYes
    TalogaYes
    El RenoYes
    WilburtonYes
    BeaverYes
    CherokeeYes
    KingfisherYes
    Oklahoma CityYes
    PawneeYes
    StillwaterYes
    StilwellYes
    TulsaYes
    AdaYes
    ChandlerYes
    FairviewYes
    GuthrieYes
    GuymonYes
    HoldenvilleYes
    McAlesterYes
    SapulpaYes
    TahlequahYes
    WatongaYes
    WoodwardYes
    AtokaYes
    BuffaloYes
    CheyenneYes
    CoalgateYes
    HobartYes
    NormanYes
    OkemahYes
    OkmulgeeYes
    ShawneeYes
    WewokaYes
    DurantYes
    IdabelYes
    SallisawYes
    SulphurYes
    AnadarkoYes
    ChickashaYes
    DuncanYes
    PurcellYes
    SayreYes
    AntlersYes
    HugoYes
    LawtonYes
    PoteauYes
    MadillYes
    Pauls ValleyYes
    TishomingoYes
    MangumYes
    FrederickYes
    HollisYes
    WaltersYes
    WaurikaYes
    AltusYes
    MariettaYes
    ArdmoreYes
    New CordellUnknown 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:

     JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    Ada21,30,500000000,61,7
    Altus1,10,60,10,10000000,30,9
    Alva2,321,10,3000000,10,51,8
    Anadarko1,710,300000000,31,5
    Antlers1,51,10,400000000,51,3
    Arapaho2,52,10,60,2000000,10,62,2
    Ardmore0,90,80,400000000,30,9
    Arnett2,92,51,30,4000000,10,92,9
    Atoka1,91,20,400000000,51,5
    Bartlesville2,62,10,700000000,72,3
    Beaver2,11,81,20,3000000,10,72,3
    Boise City2,31,720,90,100000,512,6
    Buffalo1,91,710,3000000,10,51,9
    Chandler21,30,400000000,51,5
    Cherokee2,11,80,80,2000000,10,51,6
    Cheyenne1,91,50,50,2000000,10,51,6
    Chickasha1,71,10,300000000,31,4
    Claremore2,920,900000000,92,4
    Coalgate1,91,20,400000000,61,6
    Duncan1,71,10,300000000,71,7
    Durant1,810,400000000,41,5
    El Reno2,21,50,40,10000000,52
    Enid2,420,70,2000000,10,51,8
    Eufaula2,51,60,600000000,71,7
    Fairview21,70,70,20000000,51,6
    Frederick1,20,70,20,10000000,31
    Guthrie21,40,400000000,51,7
    Guymon21,71,30,4000000,10,51,7
    Hobart1,91,30,30,1000000,10,51,7
    Holdenville21,20,400000000,61,5
    Hollis1,20,70,10,1000000,10,31
    Hugo1,51,10,300000000,41,5
    Idabel1,81,30,300000000,31,4
    Jay2,41,60,700000000,61,5
    Kingfisher2,11,50,40,10000000,41,8
    Lawton1,50,90,200000000,31,3
    Madill1,40,90,400000000,41,3
    Mangum1,30,80,20,10000000,31
    Marietta10,80,400000000,30,9
    McAlester21,40,500000000,61,4
    Medford2,320,80,2000000,10,51,8
    Miami2,41,70,600000000,61,7
    Muskogee2,61,80,700000000,61,6
    New CordellUnknown information
    Newkirk2,32,10,70,10000000,51,9
    Norman1,91,20,400000000,51,5
    Nowata2,92,10,800000000,82,4
    Okemah1,91,20,500000000,71,6
    Oklahoma City2,11,40,400000000,51,8
    Okmulgee1,91,30,600000000,71,5
    Pauls Valley1,40,80,300000000,41,2
    Pawhuska2,31,90,600000000,51,9
    Pawnee2,11,60,500000000,41,6
    Perry2,31,90,500000000,51,9
    Poteau1,51,30,500000000,51,3
    Pryor2,61,70,800000000,61,8
    Purcell1,710,300000000,51,3
    Sallisaw1,81,60,700000000,31,2
    Sapulpa21,30,500000000,61,4
    Sayre1,61,10,30,1000000,10,41,3
    Shawnee1,91,10,400000000,41,4
    Stigler2,91,90,700000000,71,8
    Stillwater2,11,60,400000000,51,8
    Stilwell2,12,10,900000000,51,3
    Sulphur1,81,20,400000000,51,6
    Tahlequah21,80,800000000,51,5
    Taloga2,31,90,80,3000000,10,72
    Tishomingo1,40,90,300000000,41,3
    Tulsa2,11,40,500000000,61,5
    Vinita2,51,60,600000000,61,7
    Wagoner2,41,60,700000000,61,5
    Walters1,20,90,200000000,31,1
    Watonga21,70,60,20000000,51,8
    Waurika1,20,80,300000000,31
    Wewoka1,91,10,400000000,61,5
    Wilburton2,21,40,500000000,61,5
    Woodward21,710,2000000,10,61,7

    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

    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

    The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.

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