Oklahoma weather: What a difference a year makes

In contrast, Oklahoma entered the first of two significant winter storms on Jan. 31, 2011.

In January and February of last year, there were four fatalities related to a snowstorm that began Jan. 31, according to the state medical examiner's office. Up to 21 inches of snow fell in northeast Oklahoma during that first storm, and there were reports of 6 to 12 inches over much of the state.

But the snow was just one facet. Winds gusted to more than 50 mph through much of the state, combining with the snow to create blizzard conditions. The strong winds also caused drifting snow, paralyzing travel.

“The state stayed in the deep freeze for several days following that winter storm,” said Gary McManus, of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.

Kenton, in the Panhandle, had a wind chill on Feb. 1 of minus 36 degrees. It wasn't until Feb. 5 that Oklahoma City reached a high of 47 degrees after a high of only 27 degrees on Feb. 4.

This winter has been quite different, so far.

“The storms we have been seeing this winter, save for the blizzard in the Panhandle back in mid-December, have lacked the cold air necessary for the types of wintry weather from the last two winters,” McManus said. “And that same situation is occurring for much of the area in the U.S. that are used to winter snow. That lack of cold air, and therefore lack of as much snow as normal, goes all the way to the Canadian border.”