Weather Events
January 2003
The high temperature for the month, 79 degrees, occurred on the 28th at Hollis (Harmon) and on the 29th at Erick (Beckham). Tulsa (Tulsa) set a record high of 75 degrees on the 8th, which broke the old record of 71 degrees, set in 1923. The lowest temperature reported in the state was 1 degree, which occurred at Cherokee (Alfalfa) on the 24th and Tulsa on the 26th.
January 1, 2001
A winter storm that crossed most of the state on the last day of December completed its traverse of the state on New Year's Day. Snow fall amounts reported on the morning of the 1st included 13 inches at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Comanche), 7 inches at Eufaula (McIntosh), and 6 inches at Carter Tower (McCurtain) and Meeker (Lincoln). Reports of 5 inches of snow were received from several other locations across the state, including Fargo (Ellis) in the northwest and Valliant and Hochatonw (both McCurtain) in the southeast.
January 1, 1993
An ice and sleet storm that began on New Year’s Eve blanketed most of Oklahoma, paralyzing holiday travel. The storm, which continued through the first, led to the closing of many highways in all but extreme southeastern Oklahoma. More than 60 vehicles were involved in two separate chain-reaction accidents in Oklahoma City early in the morning, as travelers found the highways to be treacherously slick. Travel to and from Oklahoma City was hindered even more when two airplanes slid off an icy runway at Will Rogers Airport.
January 2, 2006
Altus and Camargo reported a high temperature of 87°F.
January 2, 2004
Burneyville and Tipton reported a high temperature of 80°F, while temperatures in the 70s occurred throughout most of the state.
January 2, 2001
Sub-zero temperatures were reported in eastern Oklahoma, over the snowfield, most notably at Pawhuska (Osage) and Bartlesville (Washington, but weather station in Osage County)Ñboth sites reported a chilly temperature of -8°F.
January 2, 1993
After the January 1st ice and sleet storm, warmer weather returned to the state. The ice melted but the warmer temperatures and moisture led to the development of dense fog over many areas on the 2nd and 3rd.
January 3, 2009
The Oklahoma Mesonet stations at Burneyville and Newport recorded high temperatures of 82 degrees before a strong cold front passed (dropping temperatures back into the 40s), and four National Weather Service stations (Bartlesville, McAlester, Muskogee, and Tulsa) set or tied record high temperatures for the day.
January 3, 2002
The Kenton Mesonet site (Cimarron) recorded the lowest temperature for the month at a bone-chilling -7 degrees. This was the only below-zero temperature recorded in January, although several temperatures in the low single-digits occurred on the first 4 days of the month.
January 4-5, 2005
A significant ice storm struck the state on the 4th and 5th, hitting the northwestern one-third of the state the hardest. 8,400 businesses and residences lost power and 10 fatalities occurred on Oklahoma roads. Woodward and Alva reported total ice accumulations of 4 inches and lows fell into the single digits. Lightning struck oil field tank batteries near Yukon and Rush Springs, causing them to explode. One tank was thrown 75-100 feet.
January 5, 2008
High temperatures throughout most of the state were in the mid 60s to mid 70s. The high temperatures, combined with strong gusts (over 45 miles per hour), worsened wildfire conditions.
January 5, 1989
A strong upper-level low pressure system produced surface winds in excess of 50 mph, spreading grass fires in central Oklahoma. More than 20 fires damaged Oklahoma City area grasslands, with one blaze burning nearly 80 acres. Winds in northern Oklahoma overturned a large truck near Perry and downed several power lines in the Tulsa area.
January 6, 2005
The Kenton Mesonet site recorded a low of 0°F.
January 6, 2004
Jay reported a high temperature of 20°F after arctic air plowed into northern Oklahoma. Beaver recorded a frigid low temperature of -4°F.
January 7, 2008
Thunderstorms fired along a dry line, producing three weak tornadoes in the northeast. The Adair Mesonet site reported a 74 mile per hour wind gust and up to 2 inch hail was reported in Tahlequah. Flash flooding occurred in east central Oklahoma.
January 8, 2003
Tulsa (Tulsa) set a record high of 75 degrees on the 8th, which broke the old record of 71 degrees, set in 1923.
January 8, 1990
Grass fires destroyed several hundred acres in eastern Oklahoma and in the Lawton area.
January 9, 2009
Oklahoma City broke its high temperature record on this day with a reading of 75 degrees, and the Altus Mesonet site recorded a high of 81 degrees. Later in the day, a cold front dropped temperatures back down to the 50s and 60s and brought wind gusts of over 50 mph.
January 9, 2006
Much of northwestern Oklahoma received some snow, with the heaviest band of 6-12 inches running along I-35 from OKC to the Kansas border. Lamont reported 11 inches of snow, while west central Oklahoma received 3-4 inches of snow. The cold front triggered severe storms as it passed through eastern OK.
January 9, 1993
Snow was reported at several northwestern locations. Cherokee reported 8 inches, Buffalo reported 7.5, and Guymon, Alva, and Grainola each chipped in with 6 inches.
January 10, 1990
Warm, dry, and windy conditions supported another round of vigorous grass fires in eastern and central Oklahoma. The fires engulfed several homes and injured nine fire fighters.
January 11, 1997
Four inches of snow fell at Altus as a result of a winter storm that moved through the state on the 10th.
January 12-16, 2007
A major winter storm plunged into Oklahoma, dropping 2-4 inches of sleet over the northwest, while 2-3 inches of freezing rain fell in the southeast. The ice left 125,000 without power and contributed to 32 fatalities, mainly traffic related.
January 12, 2005
A dryline triggered severe storms in the eastern half of the state. Golfball-sized hail was reported near Sawyer in Choctaw County and wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour were reported in McIntosh and Sequoyah counties.
January 12, 1995
Golfball-sized hail was reported at Roland and dime-to-quarter-sized hailstones were reported at other locations.
January 13, 2005
Rivers in Ottawa, LeFlore, Cherokee, and Adair counties flooded after severe storms passed through the state. Flash flooding on roads caused several road closures.
January 13, 1992
The largest reported snow totals for the 12th and 13th were 7 inches at Marietta and Sulphur, 6.5 inches at Allen, Blanchard, and Randlett, and 6 inches at Sedan and Tishomingo. However, an earlier warm spell had warmed the ground, so the snow quickly melted.
January 14, 1997
A winter storm that passed through the state produced as much as 6 inches of snow at Pawnee and brought freezing rain to southern and eastern regions of the state.
January 15-16, 2007
Lows ranged from 0°F in the Panhandle to the mid-20s in the southeast. Highs were in the 20s and 30s.
January 16, 2004
An upper-level system dropped more than an inch of precipitation over much of west central and southwestern Oklahoma, with Altus reporting 2.43 inches of rain. Dense fog also rolled in, temporarily shutting down the Will Rogers International Airport runways, causing 49 cancellations and stranding hundreds of passengers.
January 16, 1995
A thunderstorm that moved through central and northeastern Oklahoma produced nickel sized hail in Oklahoma City and dime-sized hail in McClain, Cleveland, Lincoln, Tulsa, Muskogee and Rogers counties.
January 16-17, 2001
The second winter storm dumped heavy snow in Cimarron County, including a reported 20 inches at Kenton, 9 inches at Regnier, and 8 inches at Boise City. Snowfall totals tapered off towards the southeast with one-inch totals reported as far to the southeast as Duncan (Stephens). Temperatures stayed above freezing in the southeast where light rain was reported, but other parts of the state reported a winter-mix that included sleet and freezing rain.
January 17, 2008
The Boise City Mesonet site reported a low temperature of -4 degrees.
January 17, 2007
Most of northwestern Oklahoma received 2-4 inches of snow. Over 8 inches of snow fell in Vici and Mooreland, while 1-2 inches of rain fell in the southeast.
January 18-20, 2001
Kenton recorded consecutive daily minimum temperatures of 1, 0 and -8 degrees from the 18th through the 20th.
January 18, 1996
The Oklahoma Mesonet sites at Medford and Weatherford each reported winds that averaged nearly 30 miles per hour over a full 24-hour period. Gusts in the 60s were reported at several sites, led by a reported gust of 68 miles per hour near Medicine Park.
January 18, 1995
A reported 12 inches of snow fell overnight at Bluejacket. National Weather Service Cooperative Observer reports include 8 inches at Kansas, 7 inches at Miami, and 6 inches at Vinita, Pryor, and Stilwell.
January 21, 1999
Heavy thunderstorms brought large hail to parts of LeFlore, Latimer, Pushmataha, Choctaw and Haskell counties, including 1.75-inch diameter hail reported at Wister.
January 22, 2006
Heavy rain fell over south central and southeastern Oklahoma, with maximum rainfall recorded up to 2 inches.
January 22, 1995
Wilburton received 13 inches of snow overnight. Allen reported 12 inches; 10 inches fell at Konowa; Rush Springs and Purcell each received 9 inches.
January 24-27, 2009
Frigid temperatures on the 24th set the stage for the most significant storm of the season so far. Light snow flurries fell from the 24th through the 25th, amidst temperatures in the teens and 20s. Northerly winds gusting to 40 mph produced wind chills in the single digits. On the 26th, an upper-level storm system to the west produced light freezing drizzle in south central Oklahoma, increasing to light freezing rain as it moved toward central Oklahoma. By evening, travel was discouraged over much of the state. Freezing drizzle, freezing rain, sleet, and light snow continued overnight into the 27th. Some areas experienced thunder as well, signaling heavier convective precipitation. Up to 3 inches of sleet fell in central Oklahoma, and nearly 2 inches of ice accumulations were reported on power lines in east central Oklahoma. More than 50,000 electrical utility customers lost power in Oklahoma from downed power lines, which were few in comparison to those in Arkansas without power.
January 24-26, 2003
The lowest temperature reported in the state was 1 degree, which occurred at Cherokee (Alfalfa) on the 24th and Tulsa on the 26th.
January 24, 1994
A blanket of dense fog covered much of southern Oklahoma on the morning of the 24th. Air traffic at Oklahoma City was disrupted for several hours with several flights being canceled. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol estimated that visibility in some areas of southeastern Oklahoma was as low as a quarter of a mile.
January 25, 1989
Thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall at several locations. Coleman reported 4.55 inches, Madill 3.99, Spiro 3.60, and McAlester with 3.25 inches.
January 26-27, 2000
Oklahoma received its most widespread snowfall in several years on the 26th and 27th. The heaviest snow fell around Eufaula, where as much as 17 inches of snow was reported. Konawa, Stella, Hanna, Lehigh and Carter Tower each reported at least a foot of snow.
January 26, 2007
High temperatures were in the 60s (10-15 degrees above average).
January 26, 2004
Arctic air inundated the state, bringing wind chills below 0°F in the north, as well as 1-3 inches of snow. Up to 4 inches of snow fell in Woods County, while strong winds gusting above 40 miles per hour caused blowing snow, reducing visibility.
January 26, 2000
Oklahoma received its most widespread snowfall in several years on the 26th and 27th. The heaviest snow fell around Eufaula where as much as 17 inches was reported. Konawa, Stella, Hanna, Lehigh and Carter Tower each reported at least a foot of snow.
January 26, 1994
Thunderstorms in extreme western Oklahoma dropped large hail in Roger Mills, Beckham, and Greer Counties. Other storms in eastern Oklahoma produced large hail and locally heavy rains. West of Vinita, hailstones up to seven-eighths of an inch in diameter piled to a depth of 6 inches.
January 27-28, 2006
From the evening of the 27th through the 28th, rain fell over the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma. The Broken Bow Mesonet site reported over 2 inches.
January 27-28, 2001
Heavy snowfall with the third major winter storm of the month was confined to the northwestern one-third of the state: 12 inches at Mackie (Roger Mills), Boise City, and Kenton and 9 inches at Regnier, Hooker (Texas), Beaver (Beaver), and Turpin (Beaver). Sleet and freezing rain, frequently mixed with snow, were reported through central portions, and rain fell elsewhere. Precipitation events in excess of 2.50 inches were common, led by 3.00 inches at Pryor (Mayes), 2.80 inches at Allen (Pontotoc) and 2.79 inches at Chelsea (Rogers).
January 27, 2008
High temperatures across the state ranged from the 60s to the 70s.
January 27, 2007
Light rain turned to light snow behind a cold front, as highs were only in the 30s.
January 28-29, 2010
A major winter storm struck the area on the 28th and 29th with sleet, freezing rain and snow. The southwest up through central Oklahoma suffered a significant ice storm with widespread radial ice thicknesses of 0.75 inches, although localized areas saw 2-2.5 inches. Up to 10 inches of snow and 2 inches of sleet fell across the northwest. The Oklahoma City area had 4-8 inches and Tulsa saw from 3-7 inches. Approximately 180,000 electrical utility customers were left without power. Seven deaths and nearly 1,200 injuries were attributable to the storm.
January 28-29, 2003
The high temperature for the month, 79 degrees, occurred on the 28th at Hollis (Harmon) and on the 29th at Erick (Beckham).
January 28-29, 2002
The cold air arrived in the northern half of the state on the 28th, with the precipitation beginning in earnest the evening of the 29th. The boundary between freezing and liquid precipitation stretched roughly along I-44, from Tulsa (Tulsa) in the northeast to Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) to Lawton (Comanche) in the southwest.
The ice storm left over $100 million of damage in its wake, leaving some 255,000 residences and businesses without power, including the entire city of Enid and its population of 47,000. Some rural areas of northwestern Oklahoma were expected to remain without power for up to 2 months. The ice downed over 31,000 power poles and over 1,500 miles of power lines. The most serious casualty in the wake of the ice storm, however, was the toll in human lives. Seven fatalities were directly attributable to the effects of the late January storm.
January 28-30, 1999
A significant storm moved through the state from the 28th through the 30th, with most of the precipitation occurring across northern Oklahoma. Snowfall reports in the western Panhandle included 13 inches at Boise City, 12 inches at Regnier, and 10 inches at Hooker.
January 28, 2005
Most of northwestern Oklahoma experienced snow accumulation, with the heaviest snow falling in the extreme northwest (5-6 inches in Buffalo and Woodward). A trace to two inches of snow fell as far south as Oklahoma City.
January 28, 1995
A significant storm moved through the state from the 28th through the 30th, with most of the precipitation occurring across northern Oklahoma. Snowfall reports in the western Panhandle included 13 inches at Boise City, 12 inches at Regnier, and 10 inches at Hooker.
January 29, 2008
The Oklahoma Mesonet recorded winds of 60 miles per hour in the northwest part of the state.
January 29, 1995
Another 2 inches of snow fell at Wilburton, bringing the station’s total snowfall for the month to 15.7 inches. This is the greatest monthly total recorded there at least since 1948.
January 30, 2005
For the second time in only a few days, snow fell over the northwest, with Beaver reporting 6 inches of snow.
January 31, 2008
5-8 inches of snow fell in the north, while 1-3 inches fell near 1-40. Southern Oklahoma did not receive any snow.
January 31, 2007
Snow/sleet/freezing rain mix fell over the state, with highs only in the mid-20s to low 30s.
