The Climate of Oklahoma

According to Abbreviation Finder, the US state of Oklahoma (OK) is a mostly hilly state in the south-central part of the United States. In the extreme northwest there are also some mountains, of which Black Mesa with a highest point of 1516 meters is the highest. Oklahoma has a wide variety of landscapes, such as forests, rocky canyons, grasslands and the Glass Mountains so characteristic of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has a combination of a warm continental climate in the west and a warm maritime climate in the east. The climate type as it occurs here is an excellent breeding ground for thunderstorms and tornadoes. The clash of warm and cool layers of air sometimes results in extremely severe thunderstorms. This can create so-called supercells, which form the basis for vortices. Oklahoma has an average of 54 tornadoes per year. There are also a number of institutes located in Oklahoma that conduct research into storms, such as the Storm Prediction Center.

Oklahoma summers are quite long (4 months) and warm. On average, the maximum temperature in the warmest months is about 30 to 35 degrees. Heat waves with maximums of more than 40 degrees can occur practically all over Oklahoma. The summer is followed by an autumn with temporarily more precipitation and a decrease in the number of hours of sunshine. Winter starts at the end of November and is fairly mild. There is almost no frost during the day. Night frosts are usually limited to light or moderate frosts. Towards the northwest, the chance of severe frost and snow does increase.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

The climate of Enid

According to Countryaah, Enid is a medium-sized city in northern Oklahoma, in Garfield County. The city was founded in 1893 during the Cherokee Strip Land Run. At the beginning of the last century, oil was discovered here, which gave the economy a strong boost. Enid has the largest grain stock in the US. The cityscape is therefore partly determined by the many grain silos that are there. This has earned Enid the nickname “Wheat Capital of the United States”.

Enid has a warm maritime climate, with hot summer months and a cold, short winter period. Most precipitation falls during the early summer months. During these months, the average humidity is slightly higher. Frost occurs regularly during the winter months, but it is usually limited to the evening and night. Because Enid is located in Tornado Alley, you have to be aware of tornadoes during tornado season.

The climate of Lawton

Lawton is a large city in southwestern Oklahoma, in Comanche County. The city was built on the original territory of the Kiowa, the Comanche and the Apaches. Lawton is located on the foothills of the Wichita Mountains. Just outside the city are three large lakes: Lake Lawtonka, Lake Ellsworth and Lake Elmer Thomas. There are numerous water sports options on these lakes. To the northwest is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Lawton has a warm maritime climate, which is characterized by the low warm summer period. During the winter months there are frequent night frosts. During the winter months, precipitation can come down as snow or sleet. May is on average the wettest month. During the tornado season, tornadoes can occur here with some regularity.

The climate of Norman

Norman is a large city in the central part of Oklahoma. Norman falls under the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The city is home to the University of Oklahoma, which was founded in 1890. The university has grown over the years to become the largest in the state of Oklahoma, with approximately 30,000 students. This makes the university the driving force behind Norman’s economy. On campus is the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. In this museum you can find works by the impressionists Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas and Monet, among others.

Norman has a warm maritime climate, which is slightly influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. The warm continental climate occurs in the western part of Oklahoma. These two climates can sometimes overlap here, which can cause special extremes. On average, the early summer months are the wettest months of the year. During these months, the average humidity can rise considerably.

The climate of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the largest city in the state of Oklahoma and is located in Oklahoma County. The city is cut in half by the North Canadian River. The city originated in 1889, when the American government released the Indian Territory for colonization. The city was rocked by a major terrorist attack on April 19, 1995, which left 168 dead and more than 800 injured. A memorial now stands on the site of the office building. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who play in the National Basketball Association, have been home to Oklahoma City since 2009.

Oklahoma City has a warm maritime climate, with some signs of the warm continental climate. The temperatures during the summer months are quite high here and can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. The winters are short and strong, during these months there are long periods of night frost. Oklahoma City is located in Tornado Alley and you should keep this in mind during tornado season.

The climate of Ponca City

Ponca City is a medium-sized city in the northern part of the US state of Oklahoma. Ponca City is located in Kay County and Osage County, not far from the Arkansas River. The city is named after the Ponca Indians, who originally lived in this area. New Ponca as the city was originally called was founded at the end of the 19th century and has been called Ponca City since 1913. The prosperity of the city is mainly due to the oil industry.

Ponca City has a temperate maritime climate, which is still slightly influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the rural location of the city, the climate also has many characteristics of a continental climate. This is especially noticeable due to the large extremes that can occur. During the summer months there is on average the most precipitation. Ponca City is located in Tornado Alley.

The climate of Tulsa

Tulsa is a city in the US state of Oklahoma. Tulsa is the second largest city in the state after Oklahoma City. From an economic point of view, Tulsa plays an important role, mainly due to the presence of oil. This makes Tulsa one of the most important oil cities in the world. Furthermore, Tulsa is home to a number of major companies such as American Airlines, SABER and a number of major international car rental companies.

Tulsa has a warm maritime climate (type Cfa according to the Köppen climate classification), with fairly mild winters, capricious intermediate seasons and a warm to very warm summer where the mercury regularly reaches forty degrees. If you travel to Tulsa, you will have to take into account that the climate figures are only averages with significant deviations. For example, it can freeze severely in winter, while the mercury remains well above freezing a week later. Tulsa has a lot of (heavy) thunderstorms, especially in the spring and early summer. Extreme rainfall, a large number of discharges and sometimes extremely large hailstones can then occur. Tulsa is also in an area where cyclones (tornadoes) can occur. Although these are generally much less disastrous than hurricanes.