Drought in Oklahoma, January 1 to 31, 2026

Name: Drought in Oklahoma, January 1 to 31, 2026
Start: 2026-01-01T00:00
End: 2026-01-31T23:59
Location: Oklahoma

January 1 to 31, 2026 · NWS OUN · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

While occasional precipitation events occurred in January 2026, including an impactful winter storm in the late month, most areas saw continued precipitation deficits relative to January normals. Rather widespread severe (or worse) drought conditions continued in areas near and south of the Interstate 40 corridor.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 16 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 8:58 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Updated at 849 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025
Above normal temperatures and generally dry conditions expected into early next week.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 8:58 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
858 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 849 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

 - Above normal temperatures and generally dry conditions expected
   into early next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 1215 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

The warming trend continues today with rising midlevel heights
and higher low-level temperatures (e.g., 850 to 925 mb). High
temperatures this afternoon are expected to be in upper 50s to mid
60s deg F, which is 10 to 15 deg F above-normal for late
December.

A weak/relaxed surface pressure gradient associated with light
and variable winds will become predominantly southerly with lee
cyclogenesis east of the Rockies.

By late tonight, a weak cold front/northerly wind shift--
currently moving southward across South Dakota--will approach
northern Oklahoma.

Mahale

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Thursday through Friday night)
Issued at 1215 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

The aforementioned cold front will stall near I-40 on Thursday as
surface cyclogenesis strengthens across the High Plains with the
approach of a shortwave trough.

As a result, there will be a north to south temperature gradient
Thursday afternoon. Even so, temperatures are still expected to
generally be above normal north of the front with the strongest
cold air advection remaining to the northeast as the attendant
surface high moves toward the Great Lakes. Highs across northern
Oklahoma are forecast to be in the 50s deg F with 60s to near 70
deg F across the south. There is a chance some locations near the
Oklahoma/Kansas border could stay in the upper 40s deg F.

Lift associated with the approaching shortwave trough and
isentropic ascent/warm air advection ahead of the surface low may
result in the development of some showers Thursday evening into
the overnight hours. However, as a result of a very dry subcloud
layer, the probability of measurable precipitation is low (15 to
20%). It'll likely be a scenario where there will be a lot of
echoes on the radar mosaic, but most of precipitation is
evaporating before reaching the ground (i.e., virga). The primary
impact of the approaching mid-latitude cyclone will be increasing
mid to high level clouds. Skies are expected to become broken to
overcast tomorrow afternoon into the evening.

By Friday, the mid-latitude cyclone will depart the area with
clearing skies and northerly winds in its wake. However, with no
appreciable cold air advection, no significant cool down is
expected. As a matter of fact, the advection of a downslope-warmed
air mass and more insolation (sunshine) may result in temperatures
a few degrees warmer for some locations.

Mahale

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through Tuesday)
Issued at 1218 AM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

Upper ridging will build over the central US this weekend, with
rising heights and warming mid-level temperatures leading to the
return of well above normal temperatures. Highs Sunday and Monday
are forecast to range from the mid 60s to near 80 degrees. The
general longwave pattern is highly likely to persist into next
week, meaning above normal temperatures and dry conditions are
favored to continue for the next 7-10 days.

Ware

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 849 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

A weak cold front will stall across north-central Oklahoma
overnight with light north winds at PNC/SWO. There is a small
chance for a few low clouds to develop behind the front.
Otherwise southerly winds will prevail along with VFR conditions
at all sites. Increasing mid-to-high clouds from west to east are
expected through the day tomorrow.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  35  61  42  61 /   0   0  20   0
Hobart OK         31  62  36  65 /   0   0  10   0
Wichita Falls TX  34  66  41  68 /   0   0   0   0
Gage OK           28  60  32  62 /   0   0  10   0
Ponca City OK     30  55  40  59 /   0   0  10   0
Durant OK         38  65  48  69 /   0   0  10   0

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

NEAR TERM...10
SHORT TERM...10
LONG TERM....08
AVIATION...23

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Cleveland

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cleveland forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Beckham

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Beckham forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.269, -99.682 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Comanche

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Comanche forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cotton

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cotton forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.290, -98.372 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Garvin

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Garvin forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Grady

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Grady forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.017, -97.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Greer

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greer forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jackson

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.588, -99.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jefferson

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kiowa

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kiowa forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, McClain

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McClain forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.009, -97.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pontotoc

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.728, -96.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pottawatomie

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.207, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Seminole

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Seminole forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Stephens

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Stephens forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Tillman

When: January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tillman forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, January 2026

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: 1303103, 1303105, 1303107, 1303108, 1303109, 1303111, 1303112, 1303113, 1303114, 1303116, 1303117, 1303118, 1303119, 1303120, 1303121, 1303122.