Weather in Oklahoma City

Planning a trip or simply interested in the weather in Oklahoma City? In this section, you will find up-to-date meteorological data, forecasts, and useful charts to keep you informed of all changes.

Oklahoma City is characterised by a climate with distinct seasons, which can be described as temperate-continental. The city experiences significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year, which is important to consider when planning a trip. Summers here are hot, whilst winters are cool, occasionally cold, with rare but possible frosts.

The summer months, particularly July and August, are distinguished by high temperatures, with the thermometer often rising above 30°C. During this period, rainfall is low. Winter, conversely, brings coolness: average temperatures in January and December hover around 5-7°C, and night-time temperatures can drop below freezing. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons with milder and more comfortable temperatures. Notably, May stands out with the highest amount of rainfall and rainy days, indicating a wetter period at the end of spring.

Overall, the weather in Oklahoma City offers variety throughout the year. The most comfortable times to visit, in terms of temperature, tend to be the spring months (April, early May) and autumn months (September, October), when the heat has not yet arrived or has already subsided, and the severe cold has not yet set in. However, it is worth being prepared for changeable weather, especially during the transitional seasons.

The temperature regime in Oklahoma City demonstrates distinct seasonal fluctuations typical of a continental climate. The annual range of average temperatures spans from cool winter values to hot summer ones. The coldest month is usually January, when the average temperature is around 5.0°C, and the average minimum temperature drops to -0.4°C. February also remains cold, with an average temperature of 6.3°C and a minimum of 0.5°C. In contrast, the peak of summer heat occurs in July, with an average temperature of 29.2°C, and August, where the average temperature is 28.8°C. These two months are the hottest of the year.

The summer months in Oklahoma City, from June to August, are characterised by consistently hot weather. Average maximum temperatures during this period stably exceed 30°C: reaching 32.2°C in June, 34.6°C in July, and 34.0°C in August. Nights also remain very warm, with average minimum temperatures varying from 21.7°C in June to 23.8°C in July. This indicates that even at night the air remains warm, which is typical for the summer season in this region.

Winter in Oklahoma City brings significant cooling. In December, the average temperature is 7.7°C, with night-time lows around 2.7°C and daytime highs up to 12.8°C. January, as the coldest month, shows average daily highs of around 10.4°C, whilst nights can be frosty. In February, the weather remains cool, with average minimum temperatures of 0.5°C and maximums of 12.1°C. Throughout the year, a noticeable diurnal temperature range is observed: the difference between average maximum and minimum values is often 10-12°C. This means that even after a relatively warm day, the evening and night can be significantly cooler.

Precipitation in Oklahoma City is distributed unevenly throughout the year; however, its general level can be characterised as moderate, with distinct periods of lower humidity. The wettest month is May, when an average of 5 mm of precipitation falls. In other months, the amount of precipitation usually fluctuates in the range of 1 to 3 mm, indicating predominantly dry weather or periods with insignificant rainfall.

A clear seasonality in precipitation distribution is observed in Oklahoma City. Spring, and especially May, stands out as the wettest period. March (2 mm of precipitation, 9 days with precipitation) and April (3 mm of precipitation, 8 days with precipitation) also show some increase in rainfall compared to winter. The winter months, particularly January and December, are the driest: only 1 mm of precipitation falls in each of them. In summer, despite high temperatures, the amount of precipitation remains low (2-3 mm). A similar pattern is observed in autumn; for example, in October, 3 mm of precipitation falls, distributed over approximately 8 days.

The frequency of precipitation also varies noticeably by season. May leads not only in total moisture volume but also in the number of days with precipitation – averaging 14. The fewest days with precipitation occur in December (only 4 days) and January (5 days). In the winter months, considering the possibility of sub-zero night-time temperatures (for example, in January the average minimum is -0.4°C), small amounts of precipitation may fall as light snow or freezing rain, although it will predominantly be rain. In summer months, such as July and August, precipitation falls on average 7 days per month. Given the small total amount (2 mm), these are likely to be light or short-lived showers.

When planning a trip to Oklahoma City, it is important to consider significant seasonal weather fluctuations. Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes will be your best companion, as the city is conducive to walking. The principle of layering clothes is the key to comfort, allowing you to easily adapt to temperature changes throughout the day, which can be quite noticeable. Summers here are hot, whilst winters can be quite cool, so your wardrobe must be ready for these contrasts.

For the summer months (June-August), when the average maximum temperature often reaches 32-34°C, pack light, breathable clothing made from natural fabrics: shorts, t-shirts, dresses, and sandals. Do not forget sunscreen with high SPF, headwear (a hat or cap), and sunglasses, as the sun can be very intense. In winter (December-February), the weather in Oklahoma City is cool, with average temperatures around 5-7°C, and nights can drop below freezing. You will need a warm jacket or coat, jumpers, fleece tops, jeans or warm trousers, as well as a hat, gloves, and a scarf. Although winter precipitation is low (1-2 mm), the windy weather characteristic of the region can intensify the feeling of cold.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) in Oklahoma City are transitional seasons with more moderate but changeable temperatures. During this period, it is worth taking a mid-season jacket (perhaps a windbreaker), light jumpers and cardigans, long-sleeved t-shirts, and jeans. May stands out as the wettest month, with approximately 14 rainy days and 5 mm of precipitation, so an umbrella or a light waterproof jacket will be very useful. In other months, precipitation is less abundant, but a small folding umbrella would not go amiss. Given possible winds, light windproof clothing may prove useful at any time of year, except, perhaps, the peak of summer heat.