Oklahoma City: Ground Zero for Extreme Weather in 2010
Cars are stranded and submerged by flood water in Oklahoma City, Okla. after heavy rain hit the area on Monday, June 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Since 2010 began, no other region of the United States has seen the variety of extreme weather that has ravaged the Oklahoma City region. Ice storms, blizzards, softball-sized hail, deadly tornadoes and now massive flooding have each hammered the region.
Since Sunday evening, the Oklahoma City area has received as much as 10 inches of rain, flooding streets and forcing dozens of water rescues.
The flooding is only the most recent form of extreme weather to strike the area in 2010.
The first of two weather-related federal disasters in Oklahoma was declared following an ice storm in late January that coated the southwestern and south-central portions of the state with three quarters of an inch of ice, according to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. Massive power outages affecting 180,000 customers resulted from the Jan. 28-29 storm.
Ice glaze on a stop sign 3 miles southeast of Hobart, Okla. Picture taken by Charles Kuster, Jan. 31, 2010. (Image courtesy of NOAA).
On March 20, blizzard conditions overtook the state. The death of one Oklahoman was blamed on the storm after it unloaded 8 to 12 inches of snow. The National Climatic Data Center states that late-season snowfall propelled Oklahoma to its fifth-snowiest winter with 23.3 inches.
A second federal disaster was issued because of weather after a deadly tornado outbreak occurred on May 10.
Of the 29 tornado reports that were filed in the state that day, the two strongest tore through the Oklahoma City metro area. Both of these twisters measured EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Each also took a life.
The storms on May 10 also brought huge hail to the region. Some stones were as large as softballs (4.75 inches), inflicting extensive damage to buildings and vehicles across central Oklahoma.
A few days later on May 16, another severe weather outbreak ripped through central portions of the state. Hail measuring 4.25 inches in diameter caused massive damage in Oklahoma City and surrounding locales.
Photo of golfball-sized hail in Oklahoma City on May 16, 2010. (Image courtesy of NOAA).
A recent article by The Oklahoman estimated the damage inflicted on these two days was likely to exceed a billion dollars.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma City may not be off the hook with this latest bout of extreme weather immediately. The National Weather Service has placed the area under a Flood Warning until 12:18 p.m. Wednesday when drier, but humid weather is expected to arrive.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 100° | Wink, TX |
| Low | 29° | Mullan Pass, ID |
| Precip | 1.17" | Chapel Hill, NC |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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