Oklahoma May Shift Towards An Active Weather Pattern Around Christmas

If you're holiday plans take you anywhere near Oklahoma the week of Christmas, you may want to pay close attention to the weather forecast. Meteorologists are expecting a big weather pattern shift across the country the week of Christmas, and it may move Oklahoma into an active weather pattern.

We're officially two weeks out from Christmas, and Oklahoma is gearing up for another arctic blast over the weekend. If you're planning on more holiday shopping or any exterior decorating this weekend, you'll want to get your stuff done Saturday, Dec. 13 because temperatures will plummet Sunday and wind chills could be anywhere from negative four to 12 degrees.

Oklahoma could see storms around Christmas this year.

According to Chief Meteorologist Mike Collier, an upper level system may move into Oklahoma the week of Christmas, bringing with it moisture, upper level energy and stronger aloft winds. All of these ingredients make for stormier weather.

This could increase Oklahoma's potential for thunderstorms around Christmas and the weekend after. Depending on temperature, Oklahoma could see two different phenomena play out. If temperatures are on the warmer side, Oklahoma could see an increased potential for stronger thunderstorms.

Now, if Oklahoma sees another arctic blast as the moisture moves in, Oklahoma could see a white Christmas, ice storms or other types of winter weather. Either way, the weather is expected to be unsettled in Oklahoma around Christmas.

Oklahoma is known for blizzards and tornadoes in December.

Even thought snow storms and tornadoes are rare in Oklahoma during the month of December, it doesn't mean they don't happen! Oklahoma's last white Christmas was during the blizzard of 2009. And Oklahoma has seen 38 tornadoes in the month of December since 1950, with the most recent outbreak taking place in December 2022.

READ MORE: The Surprising History of Oklahoma's December Tornado Activity