Early Freeze For Oklahoma?
By Mark Shafer, Director of Climate Information
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
October 10, 2006
It’s hard to believe that just a few days ago we were withering in 90-degree heat and now we’re talking about a freeze. But, this is October in Oklahoma. While freezes in early October are unusual, they are by no means unheard of. In fact, looking at 88 long-term stations spanning the state, every single one of them has recorded a freeze on or before October 11. The earliest freezes have occurred in northwestern Oklahoma, while southern and eastern Oklahoma have held out longer.
For most of the state, if temperatures dip below freezing later this week, the first freeze would be roughly a one-in-ten chance. This means that taking the first freeze date for all years on record and ranking them, 90 percent of those years did not record a freeze until after mid-October. The normal, or 5-in-10 chance of freezing, occurs in about the 3rd week of October in northern Oklahoma to the first week of November in southern parts of the state.
Even if temperatures do not dip to 32 degrees, it may still be cold enough in some places for frost to form. Official temperature records are recorded at a height of about 5 feet. On a clear night with light winds temperatures at the ground can be as much as 4 degrees colder than at the recorded measuring height. So even if forecast temperatures are for the mid-30s, it might be wise to cover up flowers and other sensitive plants.
To find out how unusual early freezes are, visit the Oklahoma Climatological Survey at http://climate.ocs.ou.edu/ and look for County Climate Summaries. Each county page lists stations that have long-term temperature records that will give you a range of freeze dates, plus a whole lot of other valuable climate information!
The Oklahoma autumn freeze data and maps have been compiled from NWS cooperative observer records by the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
Please scroll down the table to view first autumn freeze data for a particular location in Oklahoma.
The locations are ordered by region and county. |
| City/Location |
County |
Earliest |
1 in 10
Chance |
2 in 10
Chance |
Median |
8 in 10
Chance |
9 in 10
Chance |
Latest |
| Oklahoma Panhandle |
| Gate |
Beaver |
Sep 28 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 15 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 14 |
| Boise City |
Cimarron |
Sep 18 |
Sep 28 |
Oct 8 |
Oct 15 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 3 |
| Kenton |
Cimarron |
Sep 15 |
Sep 27 |
Oct 5 |
Oct 13 |
Oct 22 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 3 |
| Goodwell |
Texas |
Sep 21 |
Oct 4 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 12 |
| Hooker |
Texas |
Sep 20 |
Oct 5 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 27 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 14 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma |
| Great Salt Plains Dam |
Alfalfa |
Oct 7 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 19 |
| Arnett |
Ellis |
Sep 30 |
Oct 13 |
Oct 17 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 29 |
| Buffalo |
Harper |
Sep 24 |
Oct 8 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 22 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 16 |
| Alva |
Woods |
Sep 21 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 20 |
| Freedom |
Woods |
Sep 15 |
Sep 30 |
Oct 5 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 26 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 9 |
| Waynoka |
Woods |
Sep 21 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 13 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 17 |
| Fort Supply Dam |
Woodward |
Sep 19 |
Oct 2 |
Oct 7 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 15 |
| Mutual |
Woodward |
Sep 24 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 17 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 27 |
| North Central Oklahoma |
| Enid |
Garfield |
Oct 8 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 24 |
| Jefferson |
Grant |
Sep 17 |
Oct 7 |
Oct 11 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 17 |
| Blackwell |
Kay |
Sep 30 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 25 |
| Newkirk |
Kay |
Sep 27 |
Oct 13 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 15 |
Nov 25 |
| Ponca City |
Kay |
Sep 30 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 24 |
| Billings |
Noble |
Sep 26 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 20 |
| Barnsdall |
Osage |
Sep 23 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 11 |
| Bartlesville |
Osage |
Sep 22 |
Oct 7 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 11 |
| Pawhuska |
Osage |
Sep 29 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 26 |
| Mannford |
Pawnee |
Sep 25 |
Oct 3 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 25 |
| Ralston |
Pawnee |
Sep 26 |
Oct 8 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 21 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 11 |
| Northeastern Oklahoma |
| Vinita |
Craig |
Sep 20 |
Oct 8 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 21 |
| Kansas |
Delaware |
Oct 10 |
Oct 17 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 24 |
| Pryor |
Mayes |
Sep 30 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 21 |
| Spavinaw |
Mayes |
Oct 7 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 20 |
Nov 28 |
| Nowata |
Nowata |
Sep 27 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 17 |
| Miami |
Ottawa |
Sep 30 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 17 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 17 |
| Claremore |
Rogers |
Sep 29 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 21 |
| Bixby |
Tulsa |
Oct 6 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 23 |
| Tulsa |
Tulsa |
Oct 8 |
Oct 25 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 19 |
Nov 28 |
| West Central Oklahoma |
| Erick |
Beckham |
Sep 21 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 27 |
| Canton Dam |
Blaine |
Sep 26 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 19 |
| Geary |
Blaine |
Sep 22 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 22 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 17 |
Dec 9 |
| Okeene |
Blaine |
Oct 1 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 24 |
| Clinton |
Custer |
Oct 7 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 27 |
| Weatherford |
Custer |
Sep 26 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 22 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Dec 7 |
| Hammon |
Roger Mills |
Sep 15 |
Oct 6 |
Oct 11 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 16 |
| Reydon |
Roger Mills |
Sep 21 |
Oct 7 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 28 |
| Central Oklahoma |
| Bristow |
Creek |
Sep 30 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 15 |
Nov 25 |
| Chickasha |
Grady |
Oct 9 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 23 |
| Holdenville |
Hughes |
Oct 8 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 19 |
Dec 5 |
| Hennessey |
Kingfisher |
Oct 8 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 24 |
| Kingfisher |
Kingfisher |
Sep 26 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 24 |
| Chandler |
Lincoln |
Sep 27 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 30 |
| Meeker |
Lincoln |
Sep 21 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 25 |
| Guthrie |
Logan |
Sep 29 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 29 |
| Blanchard |
McClain |
Oct 7 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 23 |
Dec 8 |
| Okemah |
Okfuskee |
Oct 11 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 19 |
Nov 24 |
Dec 21 |
| Oklahoma City |
Oklahoma |
Oct 7 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 20 |
Dec 8 |
| Okmulgee |
Okmulgee |
Sep 29 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 17 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 15 |
Nov 23 |
| Cushing |
Payne |
Oct 7 |
Oct 25 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 20 |
Dec 8 |
| Stillwater |
Payne |
Sep 27 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 26 |
| Seminole |
Seminole |
Oct 7 |
Oct 24 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 23 |
Dec 5 |
| East Central Oklahoma |
| Stilwell |
Adair |
Sep 23 |
Oct 10 |
Oct 12 |
Oct 22 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 17 |
| Tahlequah |
Cherokee |
Sep 27 |
Oct 8 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 28 |
| Lake Eufaula |
Haskell |
Oct 6 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 26 |
Dec 6 |
Dec 21 |
| McCurtain |
Haskell |
Oct 1 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 20 |
Dec 5 |
| Eufaula |
McIntosh |
Sep 29 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 18 |
Nov 29 |
Dec 9 |
| Hanna |
McIntosh |
Oct 9 |
Oct 14 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 20 |
| Muskogee |
Muskogee |
Oct 7 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 21 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 18 |
Nov 28 |
| Webbers Falls |
Muskogee |
Oct 1 |
Oct 15 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 9 |
Nov 16 |
Dec 5 |
| McAlester |
Pittsburg |
Oct 9 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 21 |
Nov 27 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma |
| Carnegie |
Caddo |
Sep 24 |
Oct 9 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 27 |
| Chattanooga |
Comanche |
Oct 7 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 24 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 15 |
Nov 18 |
Dec 8 |
| Lawton |
Comanche |
Oct 8 |
Oct 19 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 23 |
Dec 8 |
| Wichita Mtn. Wildlife Refuge |
Comanche |
Sep 26 |
Oct 13 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 27 |
| Walters |
Cotton |
Oct 7 |
Oct 24 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 18 |
Nov 22 |
Dec 8 |
| Mangum |
Greer |
Sep 30 |
Oct 18 |
Oct 23 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 21 |
Dec 8 |
| Hollis |
Harmon |
Sep 21 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 22 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 11 |
Nov 16 |
Dec 8 |
| Altus |
Jackson |
Sep 30 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 20 |
Dec 8 |
| Altus Dam |
Kiowa |
Sep 30 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 23 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 20 |
Nov 25 |
| Hobart |
Kiowa |
Sep 30 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Nov 3 |
Nov 12 |
Nov 18 |
Nov 27 |
| Frederick |
Tillman |
Oct 13 |
Oct 26 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 21 |
Nov 24 |
Dec 9 |
| South Central Oklahoma |
| Ardmore |
Carter |
Oct 18 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 23 |
Nov 30 |
Dec 21 |
| Lindsay |
Garvin |
Oct 9 |
Oct 16 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 27 |
| Pauls Valley |
Garvin |
Oct 7 |
Oct 15 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 30 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 15 |
Nov 27 |
| Waurika |
Jefferson |
Oct 8 |
Oct 20 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 4 |
Nov 16 |
Nov 23 |
Nov 28 |
| Marietta |
Love |
Oct 8 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 21 |
Nov 28 |
| Madill |
Marshall |
Oct 11 |
Oct 25 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 22 |
Nov 27 |
Dec 9 |
| Ada |
Pontotoc |
Oct 7 |
Oct 22 |
Oct 29 |
Nov 6 |
Nov 18 |
Nov 21 |
Dec 8 |
| Duncan |
Stephens |
Oct 7 |
Oct 27 |
Nov 1 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 24 |
Dec 8 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma |
| Durant |
Bryan |
Oct 9 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 17 |
Nov 24 |
Dec 5 |
| Hugo |
Choctaw |
Oct 9 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 31 |
Nov 8 |
Nov 20 |
Nov 23 |
Dec 10 |
| Idabel |
McCurtain |
Oct 6 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 28 |
Nov 5 |
Nov 13 |
Nov 22 |
Nov 29 |
| Antlers |
Pushmataha |
Oct 8 |
Oct 23 |
Oct 26 |
Nov 2 |
Nov 10 |
Nov 16 |
Dec 4 |
|
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