Rain is a necessary part of the ecosystem across the globe, however, living in an extremely rainy location can be a disadvantage for some people. While crops appreciate a lot of rain, most people like to be prepared if they do have to experience a lot of rain! So let’s find out: What part of Oklahoma gets the most rain?
The southern strip of Oklahoma along the Texas border gets the most rain every year. While the county with the highest rainfall varies from year to year, in 2021 the town of Broken Bow, Oklahoma experienced the most precipitation with 60.6 inches.
If you want to learn a little more about how much the rainfall Broken Bow, Oklahoma gets every year, as well as where this town is located, how much rainfall the rest of the state gets, and even how these statistics compare to the rest of the country, keep reading! We have everything you need to know about Oklahoma rainfall right here!
What Part of Oklahoma Gets the Most Rain?
As you now know, the tiny town in the southeast corner of Oklahoma known as Broken Bow got the most rain in 2021 with 60.6 inches of rain.
While 2021 was certainly an extremely rainy year for Broken Bow, its yearly average is still an incredibly high 54 inches. To compare, the yearly average throughout the USA is only 38 inches.
It’s important to note that while Broken Bow certainly experienced the most inches of precipitation, it actually only had 90 days of rain. Comparatively, Seattle, Washington, a city known for its consistent rain, logged 150 rainy days last year, and the country’s average is 106 days per year.
That means that when it rains in Broken Bow, it really rains! Don’t expect light showers, in fact, their rainfall often comes in the form of severe storms.
Over the years, the exact location of the most rainfall in Oklahoma varies. For example, in 2015, the city of Tishomingo saw 80 inches of rain! However, the city with the most rain can almost always be found on the southern strip of the state.
Why Does it Rain so Heavily in the South of Oklahoma?
Even though Oklahoma is not technically a coastal state, the nearby Gulf of Mexico greatly affects the state’s weather, especially on the southern border with Texas.
As warm and humid air moves from the Gulf across Texas and into Oklahoma, humidity, cloudiness, and precipitation increase to extreme rates. This is why the state experiences such intense and muggy summers, ice and hail storms in the winter, flash floods, tornados, and other extreme weather throughout the entire year.
Overall, Oklahoma does not have the highest annual precipitation, in fact, it ranks number 29 on the list from 2021. However, because of the state’s various climates, and the lack of rain and snow in the northern panhandle, the average decreases immensely.
If you are traveling to Oklahoma, live there, or are thinking of moving, it’s important to understand that the entire state, but especially the southern half, will certainly produce a significant amount of rainfall every year, but it will mostly arrive in the form of storms.
When is the Rainy Season in Oklahoma?
Because of Oklahoma’s extreme weather patterns, the rainy season can vary from year to year. However, typically, you can expect the most rain from May to July.
In Broken Bow, the rain usually arrives at the end of March and will easily last until July. During this time, there is a 31% chance of rain every day and the month of May boasts the most rain with more than 12 days of rain throughout the month.
Once again, the average days of rain are quite a lot lower than in other places in the country, but as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours, especially in Broken Bow, Oklahoma!
If you are trying to avoid the rain completely on your trip to Oklahoma, it’s best to go in the winter, however that means you may experience some intense snow storms, so it might not be the best trade-off.
Realistically, the end of summer into the beginning of fall in September will allow for the best weather experience in southern Oklahoma.
Final Thoughts
So, what part of Oklahoma gets the most rain? Hopefully, you can now answer this question confidently!
Just to recap, while the entire southern half of Oklahoma gets quite a bit of rain during the months of May-July, Broken Bow in the southeast corner is the current location for most annual rainfall with 60 inches of rain in 2021.
Remember that the area only actually has about 90 rainy days a year, about a dozen less than the national average, so although there will certainly be a lot of precipitation, you can still enjoy plenty of sunny days!
