Oklahoma City: Geography and Climate

Surrounded by gently rolling prairie and plains along the North Canadian River, Oklahoma City is at the geographic center of the state. With a climate influenced by the Great Plains region, Oklahoma City is one of the sunniest, windiest cities in the country. Summers are long and hot; winters, short and mild. Tornadoes are not uncommon; in May 1999 central Oklahoma was hit by the most devastating tornadoes in its history, a series of twisters that flattened entire neighborhoods in the city and caused $40 million in damage in central Oklahoma.