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Winter in Cotton County, Oklahoma
34 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Cotton County, Oklahoma, has 34 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 20 different years.
December is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 20 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,990 winter events recorded in Oklahoma; its 5.4 per 100 square miles compares with 5.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to winter storms and snow.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Oklahoma
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 34 | 3,990 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.4 | 5.8 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 62.0 | 10.0 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 78 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
5Feb
10Mar
3Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
4Dec
11
Recorded events
All 34 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2020 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2015 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2012 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | 3 | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2010 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2008 | Winter Weather | — | $10K | — | — | 4 | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2007 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2007 | Winter Storm | — | $98K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2004 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2001 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2000 | Ice Storm | — | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 1999 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 1996 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Cotton County had?
34 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Cotton County?
23 Feb 2022 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Cotton County?
The ice storm of 26 Dec 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does Cotton County compare with Oklahoma for winter?
5.4 events per 100 square miles against 5.8 statewide; the county holds 34 of the state's 3,990 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.