Miami's LeBron James (center) guards Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant as Durant tries to get a pass from teammate Russell Westbrook (right) in the Thunder's 103-87 win over the Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena back in March. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World File
The Oklahoma City Heat and the Miami Thunder.
Looking at weather statistics provided by the National Weather Service, it makes perfect sense.
Thunder
First, let's look at thunder. Here's a map showing the average number annually of thunderstorm days across the United States.
Florida has the highest number in the country, with an average of 80 to more than 100 per year.
NWS Miami office weather service specialist Bob Ebaugh said that heat actually helps create thunder in the Miami area.
"Sea breeze and heat combine to create thunderstorms," Ebaugh said.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, averages about 50 thunderstorm days per year.
"However, we have a much higher number of severe thunderstorms," said Gary McManus, associate state climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
Heat
The highest temperature in Miami history was 100 degrees, recorded on July 21, 1942. Ebaugh said that in general, Miami reaches the upper 90s each summer.
"Typically, our warmest months run from mid-June to mid-September," Ebaugh said.
Oklahoma City's hottest temperature? 113 degrees, recorded Aug. 11, 1936.
"We're in more of an interior location," said NWS Norman meteorologist Ken Gallant. "In Oklahoma, we don't have an ocean nearby to moderate the hot weather."
Or the cold weather. Miami's "heat" has staying power, with daily record highs in the 80s in January, as well as some record highs in the 90s in March, according to the weather service.
So, what should the NBA team's nicknames be, meteorologically?
"I think (Oklahoma City Thunder) is pretty appropriate, given the severity of the thunderstorms that we've had," Gallant said.
"I think of tornadoes," Ebaugh said, referring to Oklahoma. "I don't know if the Thunder can beat the Heat."
"Oklahoma's costliest hazard is drought, but "the OKC Drought" doesn't really strike fear into opponents," McManus said.
--Althea Peterson
