2004 Weather and Climate Review

January

2004 began with above normal temperatures and slightly above normal precipitation. The average monthly temperatures for Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls finished 3.2 and 4.6 degrees above normal, respectively. On the 13th, 14th, and 16th, dense fog caused traffic accidents and forced the cancellation and delay of many flights across Oklahoma. The first significant winter weather of the year occurred on the 25th and 26th, as freezing rain and as much as 3 inches of snow occurred in areas north of Interstate 40.

February

After a warm and relatively benign beginning to the year, February took a turn toward the cold and wintry side. Both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls saw below normal monthly temperatures. Far northwest Oklahoma saw 5 to 6 inches of snow on the 1st, while north central Oklahoma took the brunt of a winter storm on the 4th and 5th. The most significant winter storm of the year occurred on Valentines Day, when up to 8 inches of snow fell across western north Texas and far southern Oklahoma. Wichita Falls received 5.5 inches of snow during this event. The snow did not last long, however, as the sun emerged shortly after the precipitation ended, melting much of the recently fallen snow.

March

The month of March was marked by unusually warm temperatures, and the beginning of an active severe weather season. To usher in the spring storm season, a large squall line affected much of the area on the 4th, and brought damaging thunderstorm winds and flash flooding. Numerous wind gusts in excess of 70 mph were reported across primarily southern Oklahoma and western north Texas, resulting in roof, power line, tree, and minor structural damage in some locations.

Rainfall totals in excess of 6 inches from this event led to significant flash and river flooding across parts of northern and western Oklahoma. Many homes and other structures were damaged or destroyed by the floodwaters. Flooding along the Cimarron River basin in Kingfisher County caused a major train derailment on a railroad bridge over of small tributary to the Cimarron River on the 5th, as floodwaters washed away portions of the railroad track. The first tornadoes of the year occurred across northwest Oklahoma on the afternoon and evening of the 27th.

April

Dry conditions and near normal temperatures were prominent during the month of April. Several rounds of severe storms affected the area during the last half of the month. A significant hailstorm affected the Oklahoma City metro area during the afternoon of the 21st. A large thunderstorm developed over Canadian County and moved to the east toward the city. Three-inch hail was reported in Yukon and also in Oklahoma City near the intersection of Wilshire and council. The hailstorm caused approximately 100 million dollars in damage to primarily the northern sides of the Oklahoma City. On the 23rd, heavy rains across Kay and Atoka counties resulted in moderate riverine flooding along the Chikaskia River, and clear boggy creek.

May

Dangerously dry conditions continued during the month of May. Oklahoma City saw its sixth driest and ninth warmest may on record this year. Although the first two weeks of the month were relatively quiet, several rounds of severe weather affected the region during the last portion of the month. On the 24th, a heat burst, resulting from decaying precipitation, caused wind gusts to 79 mph and significant damage across portions of Payne and Lincoln counties.

As often happens over the Memorial Day weekend in this part of the country, a significant severe weather outbreak affected portions of Oklahoma on the 29th. Several large supercell thunderstorms developed in western Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging winds as they moved to the east and northeast. One storm was particularly damaging, as it produced hail to the size of softballs, several tornadoes, and high winds on its trek from near Custer City in west central Oklahoma, to Piedmont, and across the northern sides of Oklahoma City in central Oklahoma.

June

After a couple of dry months, June was marked by above normal precipitation in the southern Great Plains. Wichita Falls saw its ninth coldest June on record this year. The most significant severe storms of the month occurred on the 2nd, producing large hail and very strong winds as the line moved from southern Kansas through Oklahoma and western north Texas.

July

Cool and wet weather prevailed across Oklahoma and western north Texas during July. Wichita Falls saw its fifth coldest and fourth wettest July on record. Several record low and minimum high temperatures were broken at both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. Wichita Falls also saw record daily rainfall amounts on the 6th and 28th. Several severe weather events affected the area during the first and last weeks of the month, producing primarily large hail and strong winds. Significant flooding affected Knox, Baylor, Archer, and Clay counties between the 28th and 30th, as rainfall amounts to 10 inches were reported in these counties. Many highways were flooded, and river flooding occurred along the Brazos, upper Wichita and Little Wichita river basins.

August

For the third month in a row, cool and wet conditions were prominent. Wichita Falls saw its second coldest and fifth wettest August on record, while Oklahoma City saw its sixth coldest August this year. Once again, several record low and minimum high temperatures were broken. The most significant weather event of the month occurred overnight on the 10th and the morning of the 11th, when a thunderstorm complex moved through central and southern Oklahoma, producing numerous high thunderstorm wind reports, and significant flooding in the Oklahoma City metro area.

September

September marked a return to dry weather, as both Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls saw well below normal precipitation totals. Oklahoma City saw its ninth driest September on record.

October

Warm and wet weather prevailed during the month of October. Several record high and maximum low temperatures were set in Oklahoma City. Heavy rains caused flash flooding in southwestern Oklahoma during the morning of the 7th.

November

Oklahoma and western north Texas saw very wet conditions during the month of November. Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls recorded monthly precipitation values that were 3.55 and 5.18 inches above normal, respectively. This was the wettest November in the period of record for Wichita Falls. Most of the area saw their first freezes of the 2004-05 winter season on Thanksgiving morning.

December

Dry conditions returned to the area during December, as only a few precipitation events affected the region during the month. Very cold arctic air filtered into the southern Great Plains and the first major winter storm of the season occurred just prior to the Christmas holidays. Snowfall totals up to 4 inches were observed across southern Oklahoma and western north Texas on the 21st and 22nd. The remainder of the area generally saw a dusting of snow. Low temperatures between the 22nd and 25th dropped into the teens and single digits in most areas, with a few temperatures below zero across northern Oklahoma.