Oklahoma Among Many States Hit by December’s Deep Freeze as 235 Million Americans Experience Well Below-Average Temperatures
OKLAHOMA — New climate data for the first ten days of December shows that 235 million people across the United States have been living through unusually cold conditions, with much of the country recording temperatures far below their 30-year seasonal averages.
Oklahoma is one of the states affected, registering temperatures 5.2°F below normal, according to analysis using PRISM data from Oregon State University.
Nationwide Cold Grips More Than Two-Thirds of the U.S.
The temperature map for December 1–10 shows a vast stretch of blue covering the central and eastern United States — a visual indication of widespread cold anomalies.
States from the Midwest to the Northeast and down into the Southeast have been running 7°F to more than 11°F below average, marking one of the coldest early-December periods in recent memory.
The ten coldest states so far this month are:
- Vermont (-11.4°F)
- New York (-10.7°F)
- Wisconsin (-10.4°F)
- New Hampshire (-10.3°F)
- Illinois (-10.2°F)
- Minnesota (-10.2°F)
- Maine (-10.0°F)
- Indiana (-9.9°F)
- Iowa (-9.7°F)
- Michigan (-9.7°F)
These large anomalies reflect a strong early-winter pattern delivering persistent Arctic air, especially across the Great Lakes, Midwest, and New England.
Oklahoma Sees Significant Dip, Though Not Among the Extreme Coldest
Oklahoma ranks in the middle of the national list with temperatures 5.2°F below the 1991–2020 average.
This places the state solidly in the “below normal” category on the map, consistent with the broader southern cooling trend visible across the central U.S.
Neighboring and regional states show similar cold anomalies:
- Arkansas (-8.1°F)
- Texas (-3.5°F)
- Kansas (-3.1°F)
- Missouri (-7.3°F)
- Louisiana (-6.3°F)
Many of these states experienced multiple days of sub-freezing highs and unusually cold mornings during the early-December cold outbreak.
The East Freezes as the West Warms
While the central and eastern U.S. endure widespread cold, the western half of the country has trended in the opposite direction.
States with above-average temperatures include:
- California (+2.5°F)
- Arizona (+1.2°F)
- Nevada (+4.7°F)
- Idaho (+4.8°F)
- Washington (+5.4°F)
- Oregon (+5.8°F)
California’s Central Valley stands out as a notable warm anomaly, showing well-above-average temperatures despite surrounding regions trending cooler.
This contrast highlights a strong east-west temperature split, often driven by jet-stream patterns pushing cold Arctic air deep into the country while warmer Pacific air remains dominant in the West.
What This Means for Oklahoma Residents
For Oklahoma, the early-December cold has meant:
- More frequent freezes
- Colder daytime highs
- Higher heating demand
- Early-season winter feel across much of the state
While not as extreme as conditions in the Midwest or Northeast, Oklahoma’s 5.2°F below-average anomaly reflects a significant departure from normal for this time of year.
Forecasters say upcoming temperature swings will depend on how the jet stream behaves later this month, but early December clearly delivered a stronger winter punch than usual for much of the nation.
WaldronNews.com will continue tracking temperature trends, regional forecasts, and shifting winter patterns as December progresses.