Heat in Oklahoma, July 17 to 20, 2023

Name: Heat in Oklahoma, July 17 to 20, 2023
Start: 2023-07-17T11:00
End: 2023-07-20T19:00
Location: Oklahoma

July 17 to 20, 2023 · NWS OUN · 52 events in 33 counties and zones

Heat and humidity combined to yield 105 110-degree heat indices across portions of the area during the afternoon/evening of the 17th through 20th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 52 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 52

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

Heat and humidity combined to yield 105 110-degree heat indices across portions of the area during the afternoon/evening of the 17th through 20th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 17, 2:57 AM CST, 8 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 2:57 AM CST, 8 hours 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
357 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 332 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

Some convection developing in south central Nebraska may be the
source of what some models believe will be some storms that brush
the northeastern corner of our forecast area later this morning.
We will include some low POPs this morning in the Ponca City-
Stillwater corridor, although the higher potential looks to be
farther northeast. Otherwise the mid-level ridge begins building
into the area with associated warming temperatures. Will expand
the Heat Advisory north with the forecast heat index values today.
Lingering clouds with whatever convection approaches the area
later today may keep Kay County slightly lower with the
temperatures and heat index values. Western portions of the area
will likely not meet the higher Heat Advisory criteria that are in
place there.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Sunday)
Issued at 332 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

The ridge continues to build into the area on Tuesday with higher
temperatures expected. Dewpoints (and therefore relative humidity
and heat index values) are more in question tomorrow as recent
rainfall will likely contribute to significant evapotranspiration,
but will be offset by veering low-level winds enough low-level
dry air in forecast soundings that surface moisture could mix out
fairly well too. Given the recent trends, it seems like
forecasting higher dewpoints tomorrow that models would suggest
seems reasonable. The depth of this moisture may not be deep, but
would still be enough to affect RH and human comfort. The heat
advisory has been expanded into Tuesday and will also include Kay
County. Heat continues into Wednesday before a cold front moves
into northern Oklahoma on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. This
will bring some potential for storms as well as cooler
temperatures into the north. However, it likely will not make it
too far south, so the heat will persist in southern Oklahoma and
north Texas. A stronger wave is advertised for Thursday
night/Friday morning with higher storm chances and a bigger push
of the cold front south. The mid-level ridge shifts back primarily
to the Southwest and Intermountain West late week keeping the area
under northwesterly flow aloft, perhaps bringing back the
potential of thunderstorm complexes moving off the higher terrain
toward the area each night.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 355 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period. A few showers
and thunderstorms could move into north central Oklahoma, but
confidence in affecting KPNC or KSWO is low at this time. Winds
will pick up out of the south today, and may become gusty at
times. Mid and high level clouds are expected across much of the
area today.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  97  76 102  78 /  10   0   0   0
Hobart OK        101  75 105  76 /   0   0   0   0
Wichita Falls TX 105  78 109  80 /   0   0   0   0
Gage OK          100  75 104  74 /   0   0   0   0
Ponca City OK     93  74 102  75 /  20  10   0   0
Durant OK         97  76 102  79 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM CDT Tuesday for OKZ007-012-
     013-018>020-024>032-039>048-050>052.

     Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM CDT Tuesday for OKZ008.

TX...Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM CDT Tuesday for TXZ086-089-
     090.

&&

SHORT TERM...26
LONG TERM....26
AVIATION...13

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 2:52 AM CST, 8 hours 8 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Norman OK
352 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-180900-
Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield-
Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-Kingfisher-Logan-Payne-
Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Oklahoma-Lincoln-Grady-McClain-
Cleveland-Pottawatomie-Seminole-Hughes-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson-
Tillman-Comanche-Stephens-Garvin-Murray-Pontotoc-Coal-Cotton-
Jefferson-Carter-Johnston-Atoka-Love-Marshall-Bryan-Hardeman-
Foard-Wilbarger-Wichita-Knox-Baylor-Archer-Clay-
352 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight...

.Heat...
High temperatures will reach 95 to 107 today with heat index
values between 100 and 110 this afternoon.

.Thunderstorms...
There is a slight chance of thunderstorms moving into north
central Oklahoma this morning. If storms do move in, there is some
potential for strong winds with the storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday...

.Heat...
Hot temperatures are expected again Tuesday and Wednesday
throughout the area, and into Thursday across north Texas and
southern Oklahoma.

.Thunderstorms...
There is a chance of storms across northern Oklahoma Wednesday
night, and Thursday night into Friday with storms possible through
most of the area on Saturday.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 10:37 AM CST, 23 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
1137 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

OKZ008-171700-
Kay OK-
1137 AM CDT Mon Jul 17 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Kay
County through NOON CDT...

At 1135 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a severe thunderstorm 4
miles south of Burden, moving south-southwest at 30 mph.

IMPACT...Severe thunderstorm warnings may be issued for portions Kay
         county before noon. Damaging hail and winds would be the
         primary concern.

Locations impacted include...
Kaw City, Hardy, and Kaw Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If on or near Kaw Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3678 9675 3678 9679 3677 9679 3677 9682
      3675 9682 3674 9683 3675 9687 3675 9689
      3673 9691 3669 9693 3670 9699 3700 9692
      3700 9675
TIME...MOT...LOC 1632Z 003DEG 26KT 3725 9675

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

11

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

52 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Alfalfa

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Alfalfa forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.731, -98.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Atoka

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Atoka forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.374, -96.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Cotton

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Cotton forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.290, -98.372 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Custer

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Custer forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Hughes

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hughes forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.048, -96.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jackson

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.588, -99.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Johnston

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Johnston forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.317, -96.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Lincoln

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.703, -96.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Major

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Major forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.312, -98.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Murray

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Murray forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.482, -97.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Noble

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Noble forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pontotoc

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.728, -96.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pottawatomie

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.207, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Seminole

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Seminole forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Tillman

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tillman forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Washita

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Washita forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.290, -98.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Woods

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Woods forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.767, -98.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Woodward

When: July 17, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Woodward forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.423, -99.265 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Canadian

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Canadian forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Cleveland

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Cleveland forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Garfield

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Grant

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jefferson

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kay

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kay forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kingfisher

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kingfisher forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Logan

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Noble

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Noble forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Oklahoma

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Tillman

When: July 18, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tillman forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Canadian

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Canadian forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Cleveland

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Cleveland forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Garfield

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Grant

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kingfisher

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kingfisher forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Logan

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Noble

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Noble forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.389, -97.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Oklahoma

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Payne

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Payne forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.077, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pottawatomie

When: July 19, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.207, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Garvin

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Garvin forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Grady

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grady forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.017, -97.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Grant

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Harmon

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Harmon forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.744, -99.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Hughes

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hughes forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.048, -96.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jefferson

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kay

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kay forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kingfisher

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kingfisher forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.945, -97.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Logan

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, McClain

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: McClain forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.009, -97.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Payne

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Payne forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.077, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Seminole

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Seminole forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Stephens

When: July 20, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Stephens forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, July 2023

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1110669, 1110670, 1110671, 1110672, 1110673, 1110674, 1110675, 1110676, 1110677, 1110678, 1110679, 1110680, 1110681, 1110682, 1110683, 1110684, 1110685, 1110686, 1110688, 1110689, 1110690, 1110691, 1110692, 1110693, 1110694, 1110695, 1110696, 1110697, 1110698, 1110745, 1110746, 1110747, 1110748, 1110749, 1110750, 1110751, 1110752, 1110753, 1110754, 1110757, and more.