One minute in Oklahoma, the sky is clear and calm – the next, phones buzz with urgent alerts as the infamous, unpredictable weather takes another sudden turn. For out-of-state students at Southern Nazarene University, the weather is one of the biggest adjustments. Known for its sudden temperature shifts and threat of severe storms, Oklahoma’s weather typically surprises newcomers who initially arrived with different expectations.
Genna Stringer, a junior graphic design major from Rogers, Arkansas, expected tornadoes before coming to Oklahoma. “I expected tornadoes since the state is known for that, but I thought that the wind would be more consistent throughout the year,” she stated. However, Stringer was surprised by how quickly severe weather situations can develop.
She recalled a recent storm that quickly escalated and resulted in her spending an hour sheltering in the basement of Beaver. “It was nasty,” she said with a laugh. Although she is accustomed to thunderstorms and heavy rain in her hometown, Stringer noted that destructive hail and strong winds were new experiences – “and fun for my car,” she added.
Megan Stevens, a freshman biology-chemistry major from Clearwater, Kansas, expected the Oklahoma weather to resemble a lot of what she experienced growing up. Instead, Stevens noticed warmer temperatures and increased precipitation. “I was surprised by the fact that Oklahoma was actually warmer than Kansas a significant amount of the time,” Stevens explained. Even short trips between the two states revealed noticeable differences. “Since I only live less than two and a half hours away, I was expecting the temperature to stay the same,” she shared.
Cassidy Guerrero, a pre-physical therapy major from Guam, experienced great change after moving from a tropical climate. “Before coming to Oklahoma, I expected the weather to be mostly warm and somewhat similar to Guam,” Guerrero said. Instead, she encountered dramatic seasonal changes and unpredictable storms. “In Oklahoma it can be warm one day and freezing the next.”
When comparing Guam’s typhoons to Oklahoma’s tornadoes, Guerrero said preparation is one of the biggest differences. “We experienced typhoons, which are very strong storms but usually come with some warning and preparation time,” she explained. “Tornadoes in Oklahoma feel different because they can form quickly and are more unpredictable even though they usually affect smaller areas.” When it comes to memorable moments from the Oklahoma weather, Guerrero recalled seeing snow for the first time. “I had never experienced snow before, so seeing everything covered in snow and feeling how cold it was was completely new to me,” she shared.
Whether it is hail, tornadoes, snowfall, or unexpected warm days in January, Oklahoma’s weather remains difficult to predict. All three students agreed that while conditions can change quickly, living in the state often means experiencing multiple seasons in a single day.
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma’s News 9.