What Is Weather?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place — temperature, precipitation, wind, and cloud cover. It changes from day to day.
Climate is the average weather pattern over a long period (30+ years). Oklahoma has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters, and tornado-prone spring seasons.
The Four Seasons
Earth orbits the Sun at a 23.5° tilt. This tilt causes the seasons because different hemispheres receive more or less direct sunlight throughout the year.
- 🌵 Spring — warming up, more rainfall, plants bloom
- ☀ Summer — hot, long days, direct sunlight
- 🍂 Fall/Autumn — cooling down, shorter days, leaves change
- ❄ Winter — cold, short days, possible snow and frost
🌊Oklahoma Weather
Oklahoma sits in "Tornado Alley" — where cold Arctic air meets warm Gulf moisture, creating powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially in spring. Oklahoma averages more tornadoes per square mile than any other state!