Oklahoma Drought Update: Gary McManus Warns of “Flash Drought” Amidst January Warmth. According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, December 2025 will go down in the record books as a month of stark extremes, characterized by historic heat and a near-total absence of rainfall. Data from the Oklahoma Mesonet indicates the month ranked as the second-driest and fifth-warmest December since records began in 1895.
Record-Breaking Holiday Heat The month was punctuated by an unprecedented heat wave during the holiday season. Oklahoma experienced its warmest Christmas Day in history, with the Mangum Mesonet site recording a high of 89 degrees. The unseasonable warmth persisted through the end of the year, with the statewide average temperature finishing at 45 degrees—nearly 5 degrees above normal.
During the final two weeks of the month, temperatures surged 20 to 30 degrees above average. On December 27, cities including Norman, Tulsa, and Stillwater set new monthly high-temperature records, reaching the mid-80s.
Drought Intensifies This extreme heat, combined with a lack of precipitation, has accelerated drought conditions across the state. The statewide average rainfall was a meager 0.11 inches, a full two inches below normal. This narrowly missed the record for the driest December ever, set in 1950.
Northeastern and east-central Oklahoma did set new records for their driest December ever. Consequently, drought coverage has surged, expanding from 33% of the state at the end of November to 54% by the end of December.
2025 Year in Review Despite the dry finish, 2025 as a whole was statistically wet and warm. The year ranked as the 17th-warmest and 21st-wettest on record. It was also a volatile year for severe weather, with a preliminary total of 105 tornadoes reported statewide.
Outlook Looking ahead, McManus notes that while some rain is in the forecast for later this week, it will likely benefit only the eastern half of the state, leaving the west dry. A cooling trend is expected heading into the weekend. However, the Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for January suggests that above-normal temperatures are likely to continue, and drought conditions are expected to persist in the areas currently affected.
To read more from Gary McManus on his mesonet ticker, click here:
