Oklahoma weather is classified as temperate, humid subtropical, owing its patterns to the city’s location within the appropriate climate zone. The northern parts of Oklahoma are under the influence of semi-arid conditions, whereas in the north patterns veer towards a humid continental type of weather.
Another major characteristic of weather in Oklahoma is its tendency to change between conditions, not only on a seasonal but also on a daily basis. During the months of summer however, Oklahoma weather retains a unique disposition, remaining hot and humid throughout the season.
The uncomfortable sense that lingers in the air throughout the whole summer season can be attributed to the influence of the winds that consistently blow through the city – on most occasions, coming in from the south or south-southeast – which push temperatures to their peak. During winter, winds change direction, blowing in from the northern and in the process steer Oklahoma weather towards intensively cold conditions.
Severe weather sets in with the arrival of March, finally bidding its goodbye when September rolls in. During this time Oklahoma weather is marred by the constant threat of tornadoes that tend to intensify between April and May, making the city one of the most tornado prone in the whole of the USA. In 1999 the intensity of this phenomenon reached its peak and is now known as the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. And if conditions were appealing the largest part of the year, on May 3 conditions became even more freighting when parts of southern Oklahoma City and nearby communities were hit by what is considered to be one of the most severe cases ever recorded, reaching an amazing F-5 on the Fujita Scale, with winds picking up speeds of over 318 mph (510 km/h).
As mentioned earlier, Oklahoma weather during the winter season is typified by the prevailing cold conditions. During January – by far the coldest month of the year – average temperatures drop to a cold 2.6 °C, while in July mercury rises to an average of 27.8 °C. Weather in Oklahoma is blessed with ample amounts of sunshine, averaging 5.8 hours daily during winter, and 11.5 hours in July, which bring the city’s annual average to 3090 hours of sunshine. In regards to precipitation, the city receives about 35.9 inches (912 mm) annually, as well as 8.6 inches (21.8 cm) of snow.
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