Weather Events

February 1-3, 2011

 

A massive winter storm pounded Oklahoma on these days. Up to 21 inches of snow was reported in localized areas in the northeast. Tulsa recorded 13.2 inches of snow on the first while Oklahoma City had 12.1 inches, both of these amounts are record one-day snowfall totals for those cities. Reports of 6-12 inches were widespread across the state. Up to 2 inches of sleet fell in southern Oklahoma before the changeover to snow. Thunder was reported with the heaviest precipitation. Winds gusted over 50 mph over much of the state, combining with the snow to create true blizzard conditions. The strong winds also caused drifting snow, paralyzing travel and burying some locations in the north under 5-10 feet of snow.


February 2, 2007

The Kenton Mesonet site reported a low temperature of -6 °F.


February 2, 2004

A cold front brought freezing rain and snow to the northwest, which later turned to all snow behind the front. Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace to 6 inches in Ellis, Harper, Woods, and Woodward counties.


February 2, 2003

The state’s high temperature for the month, 87 degrees, occurred at Altus (Jackson) on the 2nd, setting a new statewide record high for that date. The previous high temperature for February 2nd was 86 degrees and was measured at two locations: El Reno in 1911 and Hollis in 1995.


February 2, 1988

Bristow and Holdenville recorded 40 °F temperature changes from the day before as a significant arctic air mass entered the state.


February 4, 2004

An upper-level low dropped rain, sleet, and snow over Oklahoma. 2-4 inches of snow fell over mostly central Oklahoma, with 7.5 inches over Great Salt Plains in Alfalfa County.


February 4, 1996

Stillwater reported a low of -18 °F, setting an all-time record for that station (since it began reporting in 1900). Other extreme low temperatures were reported at Vinita (which reached -19 °F), Barnsdall and Taloga (which recorded -17 °F), and Hammond and Claremore (which reported readings of -16 °F).


February 5, 2008

Rain turned to light snow in the northwest after most of Oklahoma enjoyed highs in the upper 70s the day before.


February 6-8, 1997

Taloga reported 11 inches of snow from the 6th through the morning of the 8th. Thomas, Watonga, and Cedardale each reported snowfall accumulations of 8 inches.


February 6, 2008

High temperatures ranged from the 30s to the 50s across the state.


February 7, 2001

On this day, only the Kenton Mesonet site (59 degrees) recorded a daily maximum temperature lower than 61.


February 8-9, 2011

 

A swath of 8-12 inches of snow in northeast Oklahoma surrounded an even heavier band where over 20 inches was reported. Spavinaw in far eastern Oklahoma set a new all-time state record for 24-hour snowfall with 27 inches. Amounts of 20-25 inches were widespread in the eastern portion of that band, with some areas receiving as much as 40 inches of snow.


February 8, 2004

Strong southerly winds brought warmer temperatures and warmed Mangum’s high temperature to 62°F only a few days after snow fell.


February 8-9, 2001

Thunderstorms in advance of an associated cold front produced strong winds, but spotty rainfall. Mesonet stations near Medicine Park (Comanche) and Grandfield (Tillman) each reported peak winds of 68 miles per hour on the evening of the 8th. Early morning on the 9th saw gusts of 64 miles per hour at the Ketchum Ranch site near Velma (Stephens) and 62 miles per hour near Walters (Cotton), Lone Grove (Carter), Maud (Pottawatomie), Kingston (Marshall) and Calera (Bryan). A man was killed when boat docks and other structures were badly damaged by strong winds that raked a marina at Catfish Bay on Lake Texoma. Behind the front, Kenton (Cimarron) reported 8 inches of snow. 4 inches of snow fell at Boise City (Cimarron) and Turpin (Beaver). Various forms of winter precipitation were reported elsewhere in the state.


February 9, 2001

Fort Supply reported the lowest temperature for February 2001, 2°F.


February 10, 2011

 

This was one of the coldest days in Oklahoma history, breaking many records. The Oklahoma Mesonet site at Nowata fell to -31 degrees, besting the old all-time state record by 4 degrees. The NWS observing site at Bartlesville dropped to -28 degrees. Low temperatures across the state ranged from -31 degrees at Nowata to around 10 degrees in far southeast Oklahoma. Most of northern Oklahoma fell to between -20 degrees to -27 degrees. 


February 10, 2009

Hail the size of softballs was reported in Osage County on the same day that an EF1 tornado touched down in Logan County (damaging a few homes and trees), an EF2 tornado struck Edmond (severely damaging several houses and injuring one person), and an EF4 hit Lone Grove. Three other weak tornadoes were reported on this day, with little damage reported. The Lone Grove tornado was February’s first violent tornado since accurate statistics began in 1950, killing 8 and injuring 46 others. This tornado was also the state’s first killer tornado during the month of February since 1975, and the strongest since two F3 tornadoes struck in 1961. The six confirmed tornadoes on this day tie it with 1975 for the most tornadoes in the state during the month of February.


February 10-11, 2009

Flash flooding was reported late on the 10th and early on the 11th, as storms dropped close to 4 inches of rain in the northeast corner of the state.


February 10, 2008

High temperatures ranged from the 30s in the north to the 70s ahead of a strong cold front.


February 10, 1998

Heavy thunderstorms in southeastern Oklahoma produced locally heavy rainfall. Carnasaw Tower reported 3.26 inches, Idabel Mesonet recorded 2.95 inches, and Broken Bow reported 2.88 inches.


February 11, 2008

Thunderstorms bearing light freezing rain went across northern Oklahoma.


February 12, 2008

Rain fell across most of the state on this day. The heaviest rains were in the southeast (1-2 inches) and light freezing rain fell north of the cold front. Golfball-size (1.75 inches) hail fell over Stephens County.


February 12, 1990

High winds and low humidities led to several devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and several homes in central Oklahoma.


February 13, 1905

A record low temperature of -27 degrees was set at Vinita.


February 13-17, 2001

Rain, sleet, and snow all found their way into the weather picture from the 13th through the 17th. Freezing rain and drizzle plagued many areas with a coat of ice, but heavy rain falling on saturated ground produced flooding in several areas. Flash flooding was reported near Davis (Murray). Flooding was reported in McCurtain and LeFlore counties, particularly along the Little and Poteau rivers and their tributaries. Three inches of rain were commonplace throughout the southeast. Hochatown (McCurtain) accumulated 8.86 inches of rain during the five-day period. Other reports from McCurtain County included: 7.68 inches just north of Broken Bow, 7.49 inches at Carnasaw Tower, 6.45 inches at Carter Tower, 6.44 inches at Idabel, 6.00 inches at Valliant, 5.82 inches at Smithville, and 5.50 inches at Battiest. Heavener and Page in LeFlore County reported 5.93 inches and 4.91 inches of rain, respectively.


February 14, 2008

Temperatures dropped from the 60s and 70s down to the 40s and 50s when another strong cold front came through the state.


February 14, 2004

An upper-level disturbance ushered in more snow, this time for southern Oklahoma. 6 to 8 inches of snow were common along the Red River, while Quanah received over 7 inches. The snow began melting soon after hitting the ground, as temperatures quickly rose above freezing.


February 14, 1987

A strong storm moved across the state producing hail and damaging winds in central and southwestern Oklahoma. A tornado caused $1 million damage as it flipped over trailer homes in the Lawton area and leveled several homes in Medicine Park. Observers reported golfball-sized hail in Cache.


February 15, 2007

Lows dropped below zero in the Panhandle and the northwest. Hooker reported a low of -6 °F.


February 15, 2005

The Durant Mesonet site reported a high temperature of 82 °F.


February 15, 1993

Many stations across northern Oklahoma reported significant snowfall today. 10 inches was reported at Miami, 9 inches at Muskogee, 8.5 inches at Hooker and 7.5 inches at Nowata.


February 16, 2008

Heavy precipitation fell mostly as rain, though the northwest did receive some freezing rain. Quarter size hail (1 inch) was reported in Jefferson County.


February 17, 2011

 

Nowata’s high on the 17th of Feb. was 79 degrees, a 110-degree swing from its low on the 10th of -31 degrees. In all, 16 Mesonet sites had at least a 100-degree swing over that week-long period.


February 18-19, 2002

A fast-moving squall line associated with a strong arctic cold front crossed the state from west to east on the evening of the 18th into the morning of the 19th. Several severe thunderstorms spawned high winds and nickel-sized hail in south-central and eastern Oklahoma. The greatest rainfall totals were 1.76 inches at Wilburton Mesonet (Latimer), 1.60 inches at Coleman (Johnston), 1.52 inches at Wilburton (Latimer), and 1.50 inches at Antlers Mesonet (Pushmataha). This was the last precipitation of any significance in the state during February.


February 18, 2006

High temperatures across the state did not rise above freezing, and single-digit lows in the northwest coupled with strong winds to create wind chills of -10 to -15°F.


February 18, 1997

Several grass fires were reported in Logan County because of drying winds and high temperatures.


February 19, 2008

Highs reached the 60s and 70s across the state.


February 19, 2004

Altus and Mangum’s high temperatures reached 81°F, contributing to the extreme fire danger conditions, along with gusts to 50 miles per hour.


February 19, 2001

Daily maximum temperatures, statewide, were 61 degrees or more. The Hollis (Harmon) Mesonet site had the highest daily maximum temperature of 77 °F.


February 19, 1994

Thunderstorms developed in advance of an approaching frontal system and produced strong winds in central and northeastern parts of the state. Gusts estimated to be in excess of 70 miles per hour overturned a mobile home between Bristow and Sapulpa.


February 19, 1990

An intense upper-level storm system pushed a surface cold front through the Panhandle, producing 8 inches of snow at Guymon and 12 inches at Boise City.


February 20, 2005

A cold front triggered storms that dropped up to 1 inch hail over Garfield and Cherokee counties.


February 20, 1997

70 mile per hour winds associated with thunderstorms were responsible for damaging structures near Durant, in Pacola, and east of Sallisaw.


February 21, 2008

Freezing rain and sleet fell over northern Oklahoma, while the central part of the state received freezing rain mixed with rain.


February 21, 1994

Thunderstorms produced dime-sized hail and winds in excess of 60 miles per hour in Jefferson County.


February 22, 1996

Marietta reported a February record high for the state when the daytime temperature reached 96 degrees. Perry and Antlers each reported temperatures as high as 95 degrees during that period.


February 22, 1988

The Oklahoma City Fire Department reported 22 grass fires in a 15-hour period. Combating flames fanned by 30 miles per hour winds, firefighters battled a 4000-acre grass fire for several hours near the Greer-Beckham County line. A grass fire in the Jones area destroyed 20 acres of grassland, several outbuildings, and a house.


February 22, 1971

Buffalo holds the state record for the maximum reported snow depth of 36 inches.


February 23, 2007

Thunderstorms raced from the Texas Panhandle into Oklahoma, moving at 50 miles per hour.


February 23, 2005

Severe storms dropped heavy rain and hail up to 1.25 inches in Kiowa County, with reports of 1-inch hail in Jackson, Haskell, and Sequoyah counties. The Spencer Mesonet station reported nearly 2 inches of rain on this day.


February 23, 2003

An upper-level storm affected the state on the 23rd, covering the northern-third of the state with 6 to 10 inches of snow. Public reports from Kildare (Kay) indicated that 18 inches of snow fell there. Kay County observers in the NWS cooperative network reported storm total snowfalls of 17.5 inches each at Braman, 15.5 inches at Blackwell, and 14.6 inches at Newkirk. Wann (Nowata) and Lamont (Grant) each reported snowfall accumulations of 14 inches. Blizzard conditions forced road closings along the Oklahoma-Kansas border as 40 miles per hour winds drifted snow across highways. The whiteout conditions contributed to a 30-car pileup along I-44 near Miami.


February 23-24, 2001

Upper Spavinaw State Park (Delaware) had a two-day precipitation total of 4.45 inches. Peak winds reported with the storm system included 68 miles per hour at the Putnam site (Dewey). Thirty-six of the state's 115 Mesonet sites reported peak winds greater than 50 miles per hour.


February 24, 2007

Severe non-thunderstorm winds gusted to over 50 miles per hour, resulting in blowing dust and power outages. Visibility was less than a mile at times and a couple thousand customers were affected by the power outages. A wind gust of 64 miles per hour was reported near Ardmore.


February 24, 2000

An F1 tornado accompanying a squall line passed near Laverne.


February 24, 1991

A surprise snowfall gave residents of Miami 6 inches of snow.


February 25, 1998

Severe thunderstorms, triggered by a cold front, produced locally heavy rain and high winds. Mesonet sites near Freedom, Putnam, and Tishomingo reported peak winds in excess of 50 miles per hour.


February 26, 2009

Madill experienced February’s highest temperature on this day with a reading of 91 degrees Fahrenheit.


February 26, 1995

Thunderstorms that developed in central Oklahoma produced golf ball-sized hail at Cashion, Maramec, Castle, and Beggs.


February 27, 2009

After the state experienced unseasonably warm temperatures, a powerful cold front roared through the state. Northerly winds gusting to 35 mph combined with temperatures in the teens and 20s to produce wind chills close to zero in some parts of the state.


February 27-28, 2001

February went out with one last winter storm. Kenton recorded 4 inches of snow. Haskell (Muskogee) reported 2.97 inches of rain. Sleet or freezing rain fell in many areas. Flooding was reported in Delaware County near Grand Lake and the Neosho river left its banks for a time near Commerce (Ottawa).


February 28, 2007

Altus and Grandfield both reported a high temperature of 84 degrees.