Early Spring in Oklahoma Means One Thing, Check Your Tornado Plan

Even though it happens pretty regularly throughout the Sooner State, an early start to spring in Oklahoma always feels a little suspicious. Seventy-five degrees one day, a forecast of severe weather, before you know it, sirens become the sound of the plains. That's life as an Okie.

We've already had tornadoes in 2026, but none recently. Call us fortunate in that way, given how the weather has been. You've probably already seen it, but we do have severe weather in the forecast, and the meteorologists are doing that thing where one says “marginal,” and another says “let’s keep an eye on it.” When they start preparing for the worst, we all typically start paying attention.

Right now, hail looks like the main threat. Dented trucks. Shredded roofs. That sort of thing.

Hail May Lead the Risk, But Tornado Season Is Here

Still, early spring in Oklahoma is as good a time as any to brush up on your tornado plan. Not because we need to panic. Just because it is easier to think clearly on a calm Tuesday afternoon than it is when the sky turns that shade of green and starts spitting out the fingers of God.

We have talked before about the lack of public storm shelters here in Lawton, but it's also true of most Oklahoma towns. The reality is, your family tornado safety plan lives inside your own four walls. That means knowing exactly where you are going before you ever need to go there.

Unless you have a built-in shelter or one in the backyard, you should plan on heading to the smallest interior space you have. Ground floor, as close to the center of the house as possible. A small bathroom. A tight hallway. The goal is to put as many walls between you and a twister as possible. Small spaces tend to hold together when the spicy winds blow.

Walk around your house today and actually choose the spot. Do not just say “we’ll figure it out.” Pick it. If you have a shelter out back, even better.

Teach your kids the plan. Show them the space. Clean it out, make it a normal place you guys can all go. Toss a few basics in there now while the sun is shining. Extra blankets, pillows, flashlights or a lantern, power banks, etc... Maybe even a deck of cards or Uno.

Keep it simple. You're not turning your hallway into a makeshift bunker, it's just a safe space your entire family can gather when the sirens wail. And when they do, even after so many storm seasons in Oklahoma, there's a little "gulp" moment to it all.

Practice Makes Storm Season Easier

That is why you practice. If your kids are really small, make this part of game night. Sit in the space for a few minutes and play a hand of Uno. Let them see that it is just another room in the house, not some scary "we're all going to die" last chance to live.

Practice is preparedness. Preparedness is calm.

We can't control what the weather does. We can control whether we are running around in circles when it does it.

Early spring is here. The storms will come when they come. You might as well be ready.