Wall cloud near Ardmore. Late March, 2022 - Photo by Katherine Fox

WFO Norman Year in Review - 2022

Weather events from western Oklahoma and portions of north Texas in 2022.

January began cold, despite a very warm end to December 2021

Some light snow fell on January 1st, despite a high temperature in the 40s and 50s for most areas. A strong cold front moved across the region during the afternoon of the 1st. The map on the right shows the coldest temperatures reported during the first week of January 2022.

A series of cold fronts then moved through the area, which is typical for January. By the end of the month and beginning of February, we had more snow.

Measured snow in late January 2022 in northern Oklahoma City. Photo by Steve Thompson

Wind associated with a cold front on January 14, 2022. Image courtesy of Oklahoma Mesonet

Coldest temperatures recorded across Oklahoma & north Texas in early January 2022
Coldest temperatures recorded across Oklahoma & north Texas in early January 2022

More snow to start out February

Satellite image shows the snowfall from Feb 2-3, 2022

cattle in snow

Photo by KSWO-TV. Snowfall near Lawton

Accumulated snow - February 2, 2022

snow covers the ground at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma on February 3, 2022
snow covers the ground at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma on February 3, 2022

March 20-21, 2022 Wildfires

The drought continued to worsen through mid- March, as very little rainfall occurred since January. On the afternoon of March 20th, a volatile combination of strong winds, dry air, and warm temperatures combined to spark several fires across several states.

US Drought Monitor - March 15, 2022

Multiple fires broke out across several states. On the satellite loop to the right, you can see the smoke plumes and fire signatures (yellow) as seen from space. Also of note is a dust storm in West Texas, roughly between Midland, Lubbock, and Amarillo. Unfortunately, the fires led to one firefighter death in southwest Oklahoma

NWS Norman Twitter, early morning on March 20th. The forecast was for extreme fire weather conditions throughout the afternoon.

NWS Norman on Twitter: "4:35PM - Critical to Extreme Fire Danger Ongoing...Strong south winds gusting to 40-45 mph across west & west-central OK over the past hour. Several wild fires have been reported today. #okwx #texomawx pic.twitter.com/sRhKtUVlhn / Twitter"

Mason Brighton on Twitter. Used with permission. Fire near Wichita Falls on March 20, 2022

Wildfires seen on satellite - March 20, 2022
Wildfires seen on satellite - March 20, 2022

Red River Tornadoes - March 21, 2022

Tornadoes occurred near the Red River, beginning in Grayson County, Texas before moving into southern Marshall County, Oklahoma. The storm system produced 5 tornadoes. More information found here:  The Severe Weather Event of March 21, 2022 

NWS Norman Twitter - March 21st. Highlighting the area of potential tornadoes approximately an hour before the storms occurred

Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma

EF-2 Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma

EF-1 Damage to a church in southern Marshall County, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma

EF-2 Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

Severe weather reports from March 21, 2022

More thunderstorms and more tornadoes

500 mb chart

Meteorological features that helped spawned severe weather on April 23rd. 500 mb Heights, temperature, and wind at 7 PM on April 23, 2022

Meteorological features that helped spawned severe weather on April 23rd. 300 mb Heights, temperature, wind speed, and wind at 7 PM on April 23, 2022

More information can be found on this event on this website:  The Severe Weather Event of April 23-24, 2022 

Tornadoes and ratings, April 2022

Tornadoes and ratings from April 23rd and 24th, 2022

May 2 - 4, 2022 Tornadoes

Numerous severe thunderstorms developed across portions of northern and central Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of May 2, 2022. Storms developed along and just ahead of a fast-moving cold front. As such, storms tended to form into a line quickly after initiation. Still, a pair of semi-discrete supercells persisted across central and north central Oklahoma during the late afternoon into early evening. Given cold temperatures aloft (associated with the main upper-level system), large hail was the main severe hazard type observed with these storms during this event, though a few tornadoes and sporadic wind damage also occurred across the NWS Norman warning area.

The pair of semi-discrete supercells that traveled across central into north central Oklahoma both became weakly tornadic. The first storm tracked across northern Blaine and Kingfisher counties producing a few brief and weak tornadoes near the town of Loyal, OK. An additional supercell thunderstorm tracked along the U.S. Interstate Highway I-44 corridor from northern Comanche County to Seminole County, OK. The first tornado from this storm significantly damaged a mobile home near the town of Cyril, OK in Caddo County. An additional tornado occurred as the parent supercell began to merge with an expansive quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) along the cold front. This EF-1 tornado moved just south of Seminole, OK, where similar areas would be affected by a significant tornado two days later on May 4, 2022. Additional (weak) tornadoes occurred with the QLCS across Noble and Payne counties.

Damage from tornado near Truscott, Texas

Damage near Truscott, Texas from a tornado on May 4, 2022

Radar loop - May 4, 2022

Satellite loop - May 4, 2022

Additional pictures and data on the link below

Several rounds of heavy rain in June.

Multiple rounds of nighttime thunderstorms occurred over the first half of the month of June. Over 5 inches of rain fell across a large swath of the area, with a few exceptions.

NWS Norman on Twitter June 8, 2022: 8:41 AM radar update - severe storms with hail, damaging wind and torrential rain continue to move across central Oklahoma

Pottawatomie County Emergency Operations Center on Twitter: South Canadian River at the 177 Bridge south of Asher.

flooding on the Washita River

The Washita River near Clinton went into moderate flood on June 2nd and again on June 8th

The Canadian River near Bridgeport went into moderate flood state on June 1st and again on June 7th.

Heat Wave after Heat Wave

After several rounds of thunderstorms and localized flooding, the rain stopped, and the heat started building.

The rains did make it extremely humid and unbearable for a time.

NWS Norman post on June 19, 2022

After about a month, record highs started to be in danger of falling.

NWS Norman on Twitter, July 19, 2022

By the end of July, the drought had come back, thanks to extremely little rain since the flooding of early June.

US Drought Monitor at the end of July 2022

hottest temperatures in 2022

Hottest temperatures recorded across Oklahoma and north Texas in 2022.

Fall Severe Weather and Tornadoes

Radar mosaic in late October 2022

Radar mosaic from late October, 2022, showing one of the storm systems which moved through the region.

NWS Norman Twitter, October 27th.

More information about the tornado near Calera on November 4th at this website:  November 4, 2022 Tornado (arcgis.com) 

damage to trees near Calera, Oklahoma, November 4th

Damage near Calera, Oklahoma November 4th

November Cold and First Snow of the season

The first strong front of the season moved through the region in mid-November, producing a band of snow across northwestern Oklahoma.

NWS Norman Twitter, November 14th

NWS Norman Twitter, November 15th

December Bitter Cold

After a generally mild fall and early December, temperatures dropped rapidly just before Christmas. On the 22nd, an arctic cold front moved through the south plains, dropping temperatures around 20 degrees in a few hours. Temperatures dropped to around 20, but the wind chill readings dropped to -30 or below.

The cold air was no surprise, as the forecast for several days showed the temperature and the wind chill to be falling rapidly.

forecast graphic of temperature and wind chill

Temperature and wind chill forecast graphic sent on Monday, December 19th

air temperature at 7 PM on December 21, 2022

Air temperature at 7 PM on December 21st, before the cold air spilled into Oklahoma on the 22nd.

NWS Norman Twitter, December 21st. Progression of cold front across Oklahoma and north Texas

Temperature drop over one hour on the morning of December 22, 2022

NWS Norman Twitter, December 21st.

On the right are two maps - one for the highest temperatures recorded in 2022...across WFO Norman's area of responsibility. The other is the coldest temperature recorded in 2022. Swipe left or right to see the highest and lowest values for your area in the past year (2022). If you zoom in far enough, you can see the date that these temperatures were reported.

2022 Climate

Oklahoma City

  • Lowest Temperature: 2 o 
  • Date of Lowest Temp: Dec 22
  • Highest Temperature: 110 o 
  • Date of Highest Temp: July 19
  • Number of 100-degree days: 24
  • 2022 Rainfall: 26.26
  • Normal Rainfall: 36.29
  • Difference: -10.03

Wichita Falls

  • Lowest Temperature: 9 o 
  • Date of Lowest Temp: Dec 22, 23
  • Highest Temperature: 115 o 
  • Date of Highest Temp: July 19
  • Number of 100-degree days: 63
  • 2022 Rainfall: 19.37"
  • Normal Rainfall: 27.81"
  • Difference: -8.44"

Lawton

  • Lowest Temperature: 7 o 
  • Date of Lowest Temp: Jan 21
  • Highest Temperature: 114 o 
  • Date of Highest Temp: July 19
  • Number of 100-degree days: 54
  • 2022 Rainfall: 27.20"
  • Normal Rainfall: 27.39"
  • Difference: -0.19"

Oklahoma City Records

February 23, 2022

New record coldest high temperature of 19 degrees

April 20, 2022

New record high of 93 degrees

May 8, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 72 degrees

May 9, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 73 degrees

May 10, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 74 degrees

May 13, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 71 degrees

May 15, 2022

New record high of 93 degrees

May 23, 2022

New record coldest high temperature of 57 degrees

May 25, 2022

New record coldest high temperature of 59 degrees

May 29, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 74 degrees

July 19, 2022

New record high of 110 degrees

July 20, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 82 degrees

October 22, 2022

New record high of 91 degrees

November 9, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 65 degrees

November 20, 2022

New record low of 18 degrees

Wichita Falls Records

January 18, 2022

New record high of 79 degrees

February 3, 2022

New record cold high temperature of 19 degrees

February 16, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 56 degrees

February 23, 2022

New record cold high temperature of 24 degrees New record low temperature of 16 degrees

April 5, 2022

New record high temperature of 95 degrees

April 20, 2022

New record high temperautre of 99 degrees

April 26, 2022

New record low temperature of 40 degrees

May 8, 2022

New record high temperature of 103 degrees New record warmest low temperature of 75 degrees

May 9, 2022

New record high temperature of 99 degrees New record warmest low temperature of 75 degrees

May 10, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 76 degrees

May 12, 2022

New record high temperature of 97 degrees

May 13, 2022

New record high temperature of 98 degrees

May 15, 2022

New record high temperature of 102 degrees

May 20, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 76 degrees

May 23, 2022

New record coldest high temperature of 68 degrees

May 26, 2022

New record low temperature of 50 degrees

July 8, 2022

New record high temperature of 110 degrees

July 17, 2022

New record high temperature of 110 degrees

July 18, 2022

New record high temperature of 110 degrees

July 19, 2022

New record high temperature of 115 degrees

July 27, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 83 degrees

July 28, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 81 degrees

August 1, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 83 degrees

August 21, 2022

New record coldest high temperature of 74 degrees

September 19, 2022

New record high temperature of 100 degrees

October 22, 2022

New record high temperature of 97 degrees

November 8, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 65 degrees

November 9, 2022

New record warmest low temperature of 64 degrees

December 5, 2022

New record high temperature of 81 degrees

December 28, 2022

New record high temperature of 75 degrees

2022 Drought Monitor Loop

yearly rainfall for 2022

Yearly rainfall across Oklahoma - 2022

Credits

WFO Oklahoma City / Norman, Oklahoma

Cover photo: Katherine Fox

End photo: James LaDue

WFO Oklahoma City / Norman, Oklahoma

Measured snow in late January 2022 in northern Oklahoma City. Photo by Steve Thompson

Wind associated with a cold front on January 14, 2022. Image courtesy of Oklahoma Mesonet

Satellite image shows the snowfall from Feb 2-3, 2022

Photo by KSWO-TV. Snowfall near Lawton

Accumulated snow - February 2, 2022

US Drought Monitor - March 15, 2022

EF-2 Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

EF-1 Damage to a church in southern Marshall County, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

EF-2 Damage near Buncombe, Oklahoma on March 21, 2022

Severe weather reports from March 21, 2022

Meteorological features that helped spawned severe weather on April 23rd. 500 mb Heights, temperature, and wind at 7 PM on April 23, 2022

Meteorological features that helped spawned severe weather on April 23rd. 300 mb Heights, temperature, wind speed, and wind at 7 PM on April 23, 2022

Tornadoes and ratings from April 23rd and 24th, 2022

Damage near Truscott, Texas from a tornado on May 4, 2022

Radar loop - May 4, 2022

Satellite loop - May 4, 2022

The Washita River near Clinton went into moderate flood on June 2nd and again on June 8th

The Canadian River near Bridgeport went into moderate flood state on June 1st and again on June 7th.

US Drought Monitor at the end of July 2022

Hottest temperatures recorded across Oklahoma and north Texas in 2022.

Radar mosaic from late October, 2022, showing one of the storm systems which moved through the region.

Damage near Calera, Oklahoma November 4th

Temperature and wind chill forecast graphic sent on Monday, December 19th

Air temperature at 7 PM on December 21st, before the cold air spilled into Oklahoma on the 22nd.

Temperature drop over one hour on the morning of December 22, 2022

Yearly rainfall across Oklahoma - 2022