January Brings Tornadoes, Snow and Arctic Cold

January 2026 delivered a little bit of everything Oklahoma weather is known for — a rare January tornado outbreak, a major winter storm accompanied by arctic cold, and continued drought across much of the state. The month featured both destructive severe weather and prolonged freezing conditions, including one of the most impactful snow and ice events in recent memory. By month’s end, more than two-thirds of Oklahoma was in drought, even as snow cover lingered across the northern half of the state. It was a month defined by sharp contrasts and high-impact weather from start to finish.

Late-month winter blast impacts state

After several near-misses with wintry weather earlier in the season, Oklahoma snow lovers finally struck gold with a major winter storm during Jan. 23–25. A powerful upper-level low combined with the coldest air of the season to produce a broad swath of 6 to 12 inches of snow across the northwestern half of the state and 2 to 4 inches of sleet across southeastern Oklahoma. Snowfall totals were led by Sayre with 14 inches, while a corridor of 8 to 12 inches stretched from west-central through northeast Oklahoma. Fort Towson led the sleet totals with 6 inches. The frigid air that accompanied the storm proved just as impactful as the snow and ice. Many sites reported record low maximum and minimum temperatures. Highs remained in the single digits to teens on Jan. 24, and lows dropped below zero at numerous locations on Jan. 25. Wind chills fell to between 10 and 20 degrees below zero. Some areas remained below freezing for more than 130 consecutive hours, and snow cover persisted through the end of the month. By Jan. 28, all areas of the state had finally risen above freezing. The storm caused widespread travel problems, hundreds of motor vehicle accidents, and power outages affecting more than 1,300 customers statewide. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported as many as 250 injuries associated with the storm, most related to falls and vehicle accidents. 

January tornadoes match state record

At least five tornadoes were reported in Oklahoma on Jan. 8, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service, tying the previous January record set in 2023. January is typically the least active month for tornadoes in Oklahoma, averaging just 0.4 tornadoes since 1950. The storms developed shortly after sunrise on Jan. 8. The strongest tornado of the day, rated EF2, touched down southwest of Purcell and tracked northeast, injuring one person and damaging homes and businesses before dissipating northeast of Lexington. Additional tornadoes were reported near Lake Thunderbird, in and around Shawnee, and near Wynona. The tornado near Wynona produced an 88 mph wind gust at the Wynona Mesonet site. All of the tornadoes caused damage to structures, power lines and trees. Scattered severe wind gusts and some large hail were also reported with the storms. 

January by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 37°F, 1.3°F below normal — the 61st-coolest January since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 83°F at Hollis on Jan. 5; low of 12°F at Kenton on Jan. 26; lowest wind chill, –24°F at Kenton on Jan. 26
• Temperatures of 10 degrees or below: 633 instances recorded at the 120 Oklahoma Mesonet sites, including 103 below zero
• Wind chills of zero degrees or below: 728 instances, including 21 below –20°F
• Warmest and coolest locations: Highest monthly average, 41.6°F at Hugo; lowest, 33°F at Vinita
• Hours below freezing: High of 360 hours at Beaver and Hooker; low of 188 hours at Durant
• Statewide average precipitation: 1.04 inches, 0.53 inches below normal — the 51st-driest January on record
• Rainfall extremes: High of 2.55 inches at Broken Bow; low of 0.23 inches at Boise City
• Highest wind gusts: Wynona, Jan. 8: 88 mph; Oklahoma City East, Jan. 8: 60 mph; Yukon, Jan. 8: 60 mph; Shawnee, Jan. 8: 59 mph

Drought likely to persist through February

Drought expanded across Oklahoma for the fourth consecutive month, increasing from 54% of the state at the end of December to 72% by the end of January. Higher-intensity drought categories also grew, rising from 14% to 23% during the month. The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) February outlook indicates slightly increased odds of below-normal precipitation across Oklahoma, along with increased odds of above-normal temperatures across the Panhandle and southwestern third of the state. The CPC’s February drought outlook calls for drought to persist where it existed at the end of January, with some additional expansion possible to the northwest.