Oklahoma City enjoys a favorable, seasonally varied climate throughout the year. Summers are sunny and warm, winters are bright and cold, autumn is crisp, and springs are often wet. During the average year, skies are clear or partly sunny 65 percent of the time. And the air is clean. In fact, Oklahoma City is the largest geographic urban area in the U.S. that is in attainment with air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Oklahoma Storms: The Facts
While Oklahoma may be well known for some of its more dramatic weather, in reality, damaging storms are simply not that common. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the chance of being struck by a tornado at any given point in Oklahoma is once in about 1400 years - and you would have to wait 4,000 years for a chance at being struck by a significant (F2+) tornado. As a comparison, the chance of a Category 1 (75+ mph) hurricane to strike a given point along the gulf or Atlantic coasts is once every 10 years. And since 1980, national damage estimates from hurricanes have totaled 8 times that of severe storms. The truth is, Oklahoma City boasts a great balance of weather.
Weather Statistics
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Cutting Edge Meteorology
The Oklahoma City region is also a haven for meteorologists. The National Weather Center on the campus of the University of Oklahoma houses a unique confederation of University, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and state organizations that work together in partnership to improve understanding of weather events. At 244,000-square-feet, it is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world.
For more information about living in Oklahoma City, visit our Relocation site.
