According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, August 2025 delivered a surprise to Oklahomans, wrapping up the summer with an unseasonably cool and wet finale. Instead of the usual late-summer heat, two strong cold fronts moved through the state, bringing fall-like conditions that broke multiple weather records. The final week of the month saw a notable chill and steady rainfall, marking the end of summer much earlier than expected.
A Record-Breaking Plunge into Fall
The last seven days of August were the coolest on record for that period in Oklahoma history. With a statewide average temperature of just 71.4 degrees, this stretch surpassed the previous record of 72.5 degrees set back in 1946. This cool-down resulted in numerous records for daily low maximum temperatures. Several long-term weather sites even saw their lowest maximum temperature ever recorded for the month of August, including:
- Bartlesville: 70 degrees on August 27 (records dating back to 1920)
- Norman: 68 degrees on August 27 (records dating back to 1894)
- Waynoka: 64 degrees on August 26 (records dating back to 1938)
Highs in the 60s were recorded on four of the final seven days of the month, with Cheyenne, Eva, and Hooker all hitting a low of 63 degrees on August 26.
Impressive Rainfall Totals
A significant amount of rain accompanied the unseasonal cold. The statewide average rainfall from August 25–31 was 2.58 inches, making it the second-wettest such period on record, falling just short of the 2003 record. For the entire month, August ranked as the 21st-wettest on record with a statewide average of 4.32 inches. Northwest Oklahoma saw the heaviest downpours, with some areas receiving 4 to 6 inches above normal rainfall. The May Ranch Mesonet site led the state with an impressive 11.01 inches.
This late-month rainfall was a welcome sight, providing relief from a developing drought. While drought had returned to a small portion of the state earlier in the month, the late August rains helped ease conditions, with further improvements expected in September.
Looking Ahead
McManus said Oklahomans can expect a slow warm-up through the current week, but another “bigtime cold front” is forecasted for the upcoming weekend, along with more rain. The Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for September suggests a likely chance of above-normal precipitation for the northwestern two-thirds of the state, which should continue to help improve drought conditions.
To read more from Gary McManus on his mesonet ticker, click here:
