Cold/Wind Chill, Harper
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Harper forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.789, -99.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold in Oklahoma, January 18 to 20, 1996
A strong arctic air mass settled in across Oklahoma early in the morning of the 18th, and remained over the state through the 20th, resulting in two deaths. Low temperatures fell into the single digits and high temperatures rose only to around 20 degrees on the 19th.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 50 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 50
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.
A strong arctic air mass settled in across Oklahoma early in the morning of the 18th, and remained over the state through the 20th, resulting in two deaths. Low temperatures fell into the single digits and high temperatures rose only to around 20 degrees on the 19th. Wind chill values fell as low as 35 to 40 degrees below zero. A fifty-one year old man died of hypothermia overnight after apparently sitting down against a north-facing wall in Midwest City early on the 18th.A fifty-six year old man also died of hypothermia on the 20th when he took refuge in an unheated shack in Oklahoma City.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
50 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Cold/Wind Chill, Woods
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Woods forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.767, -98.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Alfalfa
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Alfalfa forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.731, -98.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Grant
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Grant forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Kay
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kay forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Ellis
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.218, -99.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Woodward
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.423, -99.265 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Major
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Major forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.312, -98.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Garfield
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Garfield forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Noble
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Noble forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Roger Mills
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Roger Mills forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.688, -99.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Dewey
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Dewey forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.988, -99.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Custer
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Custer forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Blaine
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Blaine forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.875, -98.433 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Kingfisher
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kingfisher forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Logan
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Logan forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Payne
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Payne forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 36.077, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Beckham
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.269, -99.682 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Washita
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Washita forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.290, -98.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Caddo
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Caddo forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Canadian
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Canadian forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Oklahoma
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Oklahoma forecast zone
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Lincoln
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lincoln forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.703, -96.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Grady
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Grady forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.017, -97.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, McClain
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- McClain forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.009, -97.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Cleveland
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Cleveland forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Pottawatomie
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pottawatomie forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.207, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Seminole
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Seminole forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Hughes
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hughes forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 35.048, -96.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Harmon
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.744, -99.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Greer
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Greer forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Kiowa
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Jackson
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.588, -99.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Tillman
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tillman forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Comanche
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Comanche forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Stephens
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Stephens forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Garvin
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Garvin forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Murray
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Murray forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.482, -97.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Pontotoc
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pontotoc forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.728, -96.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Coal
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Coal forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.588, -96.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Cotton
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Cotton forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.290, -98.372 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Jefferson
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jefferson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Carter
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.251, -97.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Johnston
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Johnston forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.317, -96.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Atoka
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Atoka forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.374, -96.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Pushmataha
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pushmataha forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.416, -95.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Love
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Love forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 33.950, -97.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Marshall
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Marshall forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.025, -96.769 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Bryan
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Bryan forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 33.962, -96.260 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Choctaw
- When
- January 18, 2:00 AM CST to January 20, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Choctaw forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 34.027, -95.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold/Wind Chill, Oklahoma | 1996-01-18 | 56 | Male | Other | Direct |
| Cold/Wind Chill, Oklahoma | 1996-01-18 | 51 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
What these are
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Blizzard in Iowa, January 18, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Washington, January 18 to 19, 1996
- Cold in Wisconsin, January 18, 1996
- High Wind in Indiana, January 18, 1996
- Flash Flood in Virginia, January 18 to 19, 1996
- Tornado in Missouri, January 18, 1996
- Flash Flood in Virginia, January 18 to 19, 1996
- Flash Flood in New York, January 18, 1996
- High Wind in Alabama, January 18 to 19, 1996
- Tornado in Kentucky, January 18, 1996
- Tornado in Arkansas, January 18, 1996
- High Wind in North Carolina, January 18 to 19, 1996
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, January 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5547769, 5547770, 5547771, 5547772, 5547773, 5547774, 5547775, 5547776, 5547777, 5547778, 5547779, 5547780, 5547781, 5547782, 5547783, 5547784, 5547785, 5547786, 5547787, 5547788, 5547789, 5547790, 5547791, 5547792, 5547793, 5547794, 5547795, 5547796, 5547797, 5547798, 5547799, 5547800, 5547801, 5547802, 5547803, 5547804, 5547805, 5547806, 5547807, 5547808, and more.