Oklahoma, 1997

Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, December 26, 1997

December 26, 1997 · NWS OUN · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Heavy snow began falling across south-central Oklahoma and western parts of north Texas late Christmas night and lasted until mid-morning on the 26th. Many areas saw snow accumulations of 2 inches or more, with isolated totals up to 4 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Heavy snow began falling across south-central Oklahoma and western parts of north Texas late Christmas night and lasted until mid-morning on the 26th. Many areas saw snow accumulations of 2 inches or more, with isolated totals up to 4 inches. The heavier amounts of 4 inches were reorted in southern Caddo County near Apache and in Garvin County at Hennepin. Pauls Valley and Healdton measured 3 inches, while much of the remainder of south-central Oklahoma saw 1 to 2 inches. The snow melted rapidly during the late morning and afternoon as temperatures rose into the 40s.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Carter

When
December 26, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Carter forecast zone
Coordinates
34.251, -97.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Caddo

When
December 26, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Caddo forecast zone
Coordinates
35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Garvin

When
December 26, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Garvin forecast zone
Coordinates
34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Murray

When
December 26, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Murray forecast zone
Coordinates
34.482, -97.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Stephens

When
December 26, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Stephens forecast zone
Coordinates
34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, December 1997

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: 5624077, 5624078, 5624079, 5624080, 5624081.