Oklahoma sits at the heart of Tornado Alley. Moore alone has been hit by major tornadoes in 1999, 2003, 2010, and 2013. Even without a direct tornado hit, Oklahoma averages 50+ severe thunderstorm days per year with winds exceeding 60 mph.
Your fence is one of the most wind-exposed structures on your property. Here's how to build one that holds up.
The Oklahoma Wind Problem
Oklahoma wind isn't just about tornadoes. The daily and seasonal wind is relentless:
- Average wind speed: 12–15 mph (one of the windiest states in the U.S.)
- Spring storm season: 60–100+ mph straight-line winds from supercell thunderstorms
- Tornado risk: Oklahoma averages 56 tornadoes per year
- Winter: Ice storms add weight and stress to fence structures
- Year-round: Sustained 20–30 mph winds are common, especially in western Oklahoma (Lawton, Enid, Yukon)
A fence built to "standard" specifications in Oklahoma will fail within 5–10 years. You need to build for Oklahoma conditions specifically.
The #1 Rule: Let Wind Through, Don't Block It
This is the single most important principle for Oklahoma fencing:
A solid fence panel acts like a sail. Wind pushes against the entire surface, putting enormous force on your posts. A fence that lets wind pass through distributes force and stays standing.
This is why board-on-board cedar fences outperform solid panel fences in Oklahoma by a factor of 3:1 in storm survival rates.
Board-on-Board vs. Solid Panel
Board-on-board (recommended): Pickets overlap but don't touch, creating small gaps that allow wind to push through. From 10 feet away, it looks solid and provides privacy. But in a 70 mph wind event, the air pressure difference between the two sides of the fence is dramatically reduced.
Solid panel / dog-ear (not recommended for Oklahoma): Pickets are butted against each other with no gaps. This creates a wall that catches full wind force. In a severe storm, the force on a 6-foot solid panel fence in 70 mph wind is approximately 20 pounds per square foot — for a standard 8-foot section, that's nearly 1,000 pounds of lateral force on two posts.
Shadow box (good alternative): Pickets alternate on front and back sides of the horizontal rails, creating a pattern with gaps. Excellent wind resistance while still providing visual privacy from most angles.
Post Construction: Where Oklahoma Fences Live or Die
Your posts are the foundation. In Oklahoma conditions, they need to exceed standard construction practices.
Post Depth
- Standard (not enough for Oklahoma): 24 inches
- Oklahoma recommended: 30–36 inches minimum
- Why: Oklahoma's expansive clay soil (present across most of the state) swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Shallow posts get pushed and pulled out of alignment. Deeper posts anchor below the active soil zone.
Post Material
- Wood posts in ground (worst): Rot at ground line in 8–12 years in Oklahoma clay. The moisture cycle of the expansive soil accelerates rot.
- Wood posts with gravel base (better): Gravel around the base improves drainage and extends life to 12–15 years.
- Steel posts in concrete (best): Galvanized steel posts set in concrete last 25–30+ years. This is the Oklahoma standard for any fence built to last.
Concrete Footings
- Use at least 50 pounds of concrete per post hole
- Post hole should be 10–12 inches in diameter
- Top of concrete should slope away from the post to shed water
- Let concrete cure 24–48 hours before attaching panels
Best Fence Materials for Oklahoma Wind
Tier 1: Best Wind Resistance
Cedar board-on-board with steel posts
- Wind passes through gaps between overlapping boards
- Steel posts handle soil movement and wind force
- Individual boards are cheap to replace after storm damage
- 20–25+ year lifespan
- Cost: $30–$50/ft installed
Chain link
- Wind passes through completely — virtually no wind resistance
- Galvanized steel handles all weather conditions
- Near-zero storm damage risk
- 25–40+ year lifespan
- Cost: $15–$30/ft installed
Ornamental iron/aluminum
- Open design creates zero wind sail effect
- Strongest structural integrity of any fence type
- Handles hail, ice, and heat with no damage
- 30–50+ year lifespan
- Cost: $35–$70/ft installed
Tier 2: Good Wind Resistance
Cedar shadow box with metal posts
- Alternating board pattern breaks wind effectively
- Good privacy while allowing significant airflow
- Cost: $28–$45/ft installed
Composite (SimTek, Trex)
- Engineered for strength and weather resistance
- Some brands (SimTek) are molded concrete — extremely wind-resistant
- Newer to the market but performing well in Oklahoma conditions
- Cost: $35–$60/ft installed
Tier 3: Poor Wind Resistance (Not Recommended for Oklahoma)
Solid vinyl panels
- Act as a wind wall
- Vinyl becomes brittle in cold snaps and snaps under wind force
- Most common type of fence to blow down in Oklahoma storms
- If you must use vinyl, choose semi-privacy panels with gaps
Solid wood panels (dog-ear style)
- Full wind catch with no relief
- Cheaper than board-on-board but won't survive Oklahoma storm seasons
Storm Season Preparation Checklist
Every March, before Oklahoma's severe storm season kicks off:
- Walk your fence line. Look for loose boards, leaning posts, and rot at the base of wooden posts.
- Tighten hardware. Screws back out over time. Re-tighten or replace any that are loose.
- Check post bases. Push on each post — if it moves more than an inch at the top, it needs reinforcement.
- Trim vegetation. Trees and bushes growing against your fence add weight and create wind-catch points.
- Photograph your fence. Current photos make insurance claims faster and easier.
After a Storm: What to Do
Oklahoma fence contractors are slammed after major storm events. Here's how to handle damage:
- Document everything. Photos and video from multiple angles.
- File insurance immediately. Most Oklahoma homeowner's policies cover fence damage from storms, wind, and hail.
- Don't wait for the rush. Contractors book up fast after storms. Call the same week.
- Repair vs. replace. If your posts are still solid and straight, you may only need new panels — saving 40–60% of full replacement cost.
- Consider upgrading. If your standard fence blew down, this is your opportunity to rebuild with metal posts and board-on-board design.
Moore: A Special Case
Moore, Oklahoma has been hit by five significant tornadoes since 1999, including the devastating EF5 events in 1999 and 2013. Moore residents know the value of storm-resistant construction better than anywhere in America.
What Moore fence contractors recommend:
- Steel posts in concrete, 36 inches deep
- Board-on-board cedar or shadow box design
- Three-rail construction (top, middle, bottom rail) instead of two-rail
- All connections with structural screws, never nails
- Consider ornamental iron for front yards — it survives anything short of a direct hit
After the 2013 tornado, fence companies in the OKC metro reported that board-on-board fences with metal posts suffered 60–70% less damage than solid panel fences with wood posts in areas with the same wind speeds.
Find Storm-Experienced Oklahoma Contractors
The best Oklahoma fence contractors build for Oklahoma weather by default. Find experienced professionals near you: