Altus is in the southwestern corner of Oklahoma, deep into the southern Plains, and the climate runs to extremes. Summer (June through early September) is brutal — daytime highs regularly above 100°F (38°C) and not infrequently breaking 105°F, with low humidity but unrelenting sun. Winter (December through February) brings cold snaps that can drop nighttime temperatures into the teens (-10°C) but is mostly dry and clear.
Spring (March to May) is the best window — warm days, cool nights, wildflowers across the prairie, and the lakes filling up. Autumn (late September into November) is similar but drier; the surrounding cotton fields turn cream-coloured as harvest approaches in October.
This is part of Tornado Alley. The peak season for severe weather is April through June, and the Altus area gets the full menu of supercells and hail storms. The town's public storm shelters are well-marked and locals take warnings seriously.