Oklahoma weather history for December 17, according to the National Weather Service, Norman

Daily Historical Weather for December 17

One of the most severe arctic outbreaks to affect the Great Plains gripped Oklahoma for more than two weeks in late December 1983. The prolonged cold wave, lasting from the 17th through the 31st, lowered Oklahoma City’s average temperature for the month to a cold 25.8 degrees, the coldest on record. A “normal” December would average 39.5 degrees. Water pipes and mains throughout Oklahoma froze, which left many people without water for more than a week. Periods of freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and snow occurred, but snow depths remained generally less than three inches.

A four-day snow and ice storm, described as the worst major ice storm in Oklahoma in more than a decade, ended during the morning on this day back in 1967. The storm affected all but the southeast part of the state, with ice accumulations of 1/2 to 1 inch. Local ice accumulations of 4 inches were reported in Cordell. More than 225 people were treated for injuries after slipping on the ice. At least 170 of these injuries were in the Oklahoma City area.

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