Well. I don’t know how ‘old’ exactly, but it’s commonly said around these parts.
“If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, wait five minutes.”
I’ve lived in Oklahoma since I was a year and a half old, when my parents dragged me with them from Idaho through a blizzard over the Rocky mountains to this special little state of existence. (Yes, this is a true story. At least according to my mother. But I don’t remember it. Because I was one.)
I know Oklahoma weather is finicky. I mean, we just built a chicken coop, and I spent more time outside this autumn than I had in a while. (Which is a bit sad, since I attempt to urban-farm.)
There was one day that started off with me wearing a tank top and shorts. By the time dusk fell, I had to go put on full-winter gear.
Yeah, Oklahoma weather is finicky.
The weather decided that even though most of Oklahoman’s KNOW this, we needed a reminder.
It started with some really, really dark clouds on the northern horizon.
They just kind of grew, and grew, and grew for a few hours in the afternoon.
Then, about 5:30 pm last night, I heard the typical slam against the side of the house that happens on a fairly normal basis.
This slam is not something hitting the side of the house.
Well, it is. Just, you know, not an OBJECT hitting the side of the house. It’s the wind.
It’d been fairly quiet all day. We’d had a snowfall Sunday night into Monday morning, but Tuesday the sun finally came out in full force most of the day and started melting a lot of it off.
And then the wind.
It was mild out, in the mid-40s, so well above freezing, and quiet.
And then very quickly NOT quiet.
I looked out the window..
The wind wasn’t just slamming into the side of the house as per usual.
The wind was whipping around the easily 30 feet tall juniper/cedar (not really sure which) and pecan trees in the neighbor’s yard. I watched the power lines strung between the poles and my house start to bounce, and I started praying that they would stay attached.
The wind was whipping around enough that Mr. Loper asked me “We’re not expecting tornado weather, are we?”
I said “No, but this is Oklahoma.”
Fortunately, there were no tornadoes.
Unfortunately, we lost part of the privacy fence in the front yard (the house next to us used to be a meth house, though it’s been vacant long since before we moved in).
Fortunately, we no longer need to hire a tree removal service for the dead tree in the front yard.
Fortunately, both my parent’s, and Mr. Loper’s dad have chain saws we can borrow.
Also, whenever I finally get my pizza oven and/or fire pit built-in the backyard… I won’t need to buy firewood at this rate.
Patricia Lynne (@plynne_writes)
February 18, 2015 - 5:00 pm ·We have that saying in Michigan too but it only really applies in the summer time. Wintertime the only thing you can expect is snow. And more snow. And more snow. We currently have the most snowfall in the nation (despite what the East coast is claiming. Sorry, but Marquette has you beat by a LOOOOONG shot.)
jeanmariebauhaus
February 18, 2015 - 5:27 pm ·Will Rogers was the one who said it first.
Sorry about your fence. 🙁
heylookawriterfellow
February 19, 2015 - 10:31 am ·Dang! I will never complain about New Jersey weather again.
Shel Harrington
February 19, 2015 - 12:14 pm ·It IS crazy around here – the “no white shoes after Labor Day” rule is irrelevant when you may get 80 degree weather in October. Not that wearing white shoes anywhere these days – unless they’re made of canvas – is a big problem. But it IS unpredictable. It looked sunshiny bright in my kitchen this morning and the chairs were sun-warmed to the point I decided to grab a sweater and read outside for a few. A sweater just didn’t cut it in the 20 degree temperature!! With all the family I have in the Boston area, I don’t dare complain about our “little” weather issues right now!
Maria Zannini
February 20, 2015 - 5:16 am ·Are you in northern or southern Oklahoma. Do you live in tornado alley?
The weather has been all over the place in Texas. In the same week I can see mid 70s and below freezing temps. It makes it hard to tend the animals because I have to make sure their water isn’t iced over.
Rebekah Loper
February 20, 2015 - 9:29 am ·I’m in Tulsa, so very NE OK. I’m only a couple hours from Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas, depending on which direction I drive, lol.
But yeah, definitely in tornado alley.
We’ve had mid 70s to freezing in the same day. It definitely makes gardening/livestock challenging!
jazzfeathers
February 20, 2015 - 2:21 pm ·My goodness O_O
Jeanne
February 20, 2015 - 4:42 pm ·I can hear an accent in your writing. Do you have one or am I just stereotyping?
Rebekah Loper
February 21, 2015 - 7:47 am ·Hahaha, I really don’t have one. Both my parents were from the west coast, and Tulsa has a lot of non-Oklahoma born people, so accents aren’t as prevalent here. I have picked up a lot of Okie ‘slang’ over the years, though, and it will often be more prevalent in my casual writing.