2018

Three soaking storm systems brought much needed precipitation to the state, ending a run of up to 78 days without significant moisture for much of northern and western Oklahoma. Like last year at this time, the winter wheat crop was clamoring for a good drink of water, and fire danger was increasing with each dry, windy day. Between the three storms, virtually all areas of the state saw relief by the end of the month. The most significant storm struck just after Christmas Day and dumped 1-3 inches of rain across a good portion of the state.

Much of Oklahoma’s weather was downright boring during November – cold and dry with a few warm days in between. Despite that monotony, Mother Nature still managed to sneak in a couple of stretches of exciting weather. The first bout struck on the 12th with Oklahoma’s first significant winter storm of the season. Snow fell across the northwestern half of the state and dropped as much as 5 inches of snow. While most of it melted as it fell, enough accumulated across the far northwest to prompt a winter storm warning from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Oklahomans experienced the gamut of their state’s annual weather hazards during October. Flooding rains, extreme heat, an arctic blast, the season’s first snow, severe thunderstorms, and a slew of tornadoes – all were present during an active weather month. A weak tornado formed near Fairfax on Oct. 7, damaging roofs and power poles. Tornadoes struck again just after daybreak on Oct. 9, forming along the leading edge of a squall line moving across central Oklahoma.