Warm and dry November drives drought expansion

November 2025 was a warm and mostly dry month across Oklahoma, much like the climatological fall season as a whole (Sept. 1–Nov. 30). Those conditions allowed drought to flourish across the southern half of the state, only a few months after Oklahoma had enjoyed a mostly drought-free summer. The dryness is expected to persist through the end of the year and may even expand. Some rain and bouts of severe weather did occur, including a weak tornado near Broken Arrow on Nov. 20. The preliminary tornado count for the year rose to 105, according to the National Weather Service — nearly double the 1951–2024 annual average of 58.8 for Oklahoma. An arctic blast during the month’s final weekend then brought a sharp jolt of winter, driving wind chills into the single digits and teens and giving the state its first true taste of the coming season.

Drought spreads across southern Oklahoma

Drought coverage nearly doubled from the end of October through November, increasing from 19% on Oct. 28 to 33% by month’s end, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Severe to extreme drought (D2 to D3) also expanded, rising from 3.5% to more than 11% over the same period. The state saw its first extreme drought designation since Oct. 29, 2024, with D3 conditions introduced in southwest Oklahoma on the Nov. 11 report. The extreme areas on the Drought Monitor map were centered on Kiowa County and stretched from Stephens County to Seminole County. The Oklahoma Mesonet continued to receive reports of dry farm ponds, stressed or dying winter wheat, and other agricultural impacts associated with the worsening drought conditions.

November deficits compound a dry fall

November’s statewide average rainfall of 1.78 inches fell 0.54 inches below normal — a dry finish to an already dry fall. Deficits of 1 to 2 inches were common during the month, which is normally the fourth-driest calendar month in Oklahoma. Fall deficits of 5 to 7 inches were centered southeast of the Oklahoma City metro, with broader deficits of 3 to 5 inches across surrounding areas. Jackson and Tillman counties had gone nearly 60 days without at least a quarter-inch of daily rainfall by Nov. 17 before light rains finally ended the streak. Climatological fall — September through November — finished as the 39th-driest on record statewide at nearly 2.5 inches below normal. Some parts of Oklahoma were more fortunate, however, with far northwestern and southeastern areas enjoying November surpluses of 1 to 3 inches. Northwestern Oklahoma also recorded fall surpluses of similar amounts. 

Unusual fall warmth continues into November

Statewide temperatures during November were notably warm, ranking seventh-warmest at 4.5 degrees above normal. That warmth helped push climatological fall to the sixth-warmest on record at 3.6 degrees above normal. The fall season’s highest temperatures reached 99°F at Grandfield on Sept. 11–12, and November itself climbed as high as 94°F at Tipton on Nov. 15. The month also saw 13 days reach at least 90°F statewide. Despite this persistent warmth, Oklahoma did not record a single triple-digit temperature during fall, a relatively uncommon outcome. 

November by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 54°F, 4.6°F above normal — the seventh-warmest November since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 94°F at Tipton on Nov. 15; low of 17°F at Eva and Goodwell on Nov. 29 and again at Goodwell on Nov. 30; lowest wind chill, 6°F at Eva on Nov. 29
• Warmest and coolest locations: Highest monthly average, 58.4°F at Durant; lowest, 46.8°F at Kenton
• Statewide average precipitation: 1.79 inches, 0.53 inches below normal — the 63rd-driest November on record
• Rainfall extremes: High of 7.5 inches at Smithville; low of 0.29 inches at Butler; highest daily total, 4.05 inches at Smithville on Nov. 20
• Rainfall totals under 2 inches: 79 instances recorded at the 120 Oklahoma Mesonet sites
• Highest wind gusts: Medicine Park, Nov. 29: 60 mph; Yukon, Nov. 20: 55 mph; Arnett and Okemah, Nov. 8: 51 mph

Climatological fall (September–November) by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 64.8°F, 3.6°F above normal — the sixth-warmest fall since 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 99°F at Grandfield on Sept. 11–12; low of 17°F at Eva and Goodwell on Nov. 29 and again at Goodwell on Nov. 30
• Statewide average precipitation: 6.53 inches, 2.47 inches below normal — the 39th-driest fall on record
• Rainfall extremes: High of 14.22 inches at Smithville; low of 2.19 inches at Putnam

Drought likely to persist through December

The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) December outlook indicates equal chances of above-, below- or near-normal temperatures across most of Oklahoma, along with increased odds of below-normal precipitation across all but the far southeast corner of the state. The CPC’s December drought outlook calls for drought to persist in areas where it existed at the end of November and for additional development in far southwestern and south-central Oklahoma.