Like the villain in a ‘90s action movie, winter struck back with a vengeance in January following the unusual warmth that closed out 2024. Several strong cold fronts delivered blustery winds, snow, ice, and some of the coldest air the state had seen since the generational freeze of January 2021.
It seems every year is a momentous one for weather in Oklahoma, and 2024 was no exception, with two all-time records either tied or broken during the year. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed at least 152 tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma, surpassing the previous record of 149 set in 2019. This year’s total was bolstered by record-breaking monthly totals of 56 in April and 33 in November. Most of the tornadoes were of the weaker EF0 and EF1 variety, accounting for 34 and 71 events, respectively.
The Mt. Herman Mesonet station will soon be on the move! Due to the need for relocation, the station will go offline starting Wednesday, December 11th, until a new host site is secured.
We are looking for a landowner in the Mt. Herman area to host the station. Hosting requires:
November 2024 will enter Oklahoma’s vast and storied weather lore as one of the most extreme months in state history, shattering records for both the highest statewide average rainfall and the most tornadoes ever recorded in November. This unprecedented combination of rain and storms has left an indelible mark on the state’s already dynamic weather narrative. The month also saw another extreme, drought—which had been rapidly intensifying since mid-summer—nearly eradicated by the historic rainfall.
As October drew to a close, much of Oklahoma had gone over a month without significant moisture—and for some areas, over two months. A new record for the all-time driest October seemed inevitable. However, a remarkable storm on October 30 changed that trajectory, bringing much-needed rain and a severe weather threat. A confirmed EF1 tornado touched down near Fairland in Ottawa County, damaging homes and destroying outbuildings along an 8-mile path, according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service.
