The combination of hot, dry and breezy conditions created favorable conditions for fire starts and spread.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.
The combination of hot, dry and breezy conditions created favorable conditions for fire starts and spread.
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 Aug 15, 1:19 PM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
219 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 217 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
- Dangerous heat continues.
- Slight risk for severe storms today and Friday.
- Fire weather conditions increase late in the weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 217 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
Satellite shows several areas of cu bubbling from north central OK
southwestward to parts of SW OK/western north TX with radar showing
a few showers/storms have already developed in NE OK early this
afternoon. Scattered showers/storms are expected to develop in the
fa in this corridor this afternoon and evening as heating continues
across the area. Severe storms will be possible late this afternoon
and evening with damaging downburst winds as the main concern
although some hail could also be possible. Locally heavy rain could
also be a concern, especially in those areas that have received
several inches of rain in the last 7 days. The potential for storms
and severe storms is expected to decrease/end later this evening
with the loss of heating.
The heat and high heat index values are expected again Friday with
heat index values of 105+ expected across all but parts of NW OK. A
heat advisory is now in effect from noon to 8 pm Friday. Will need
to keep an eye on heat index values Friday as portions of the area
(mainly eastern portions) could climb to 110+ Friday afternoon. If
it looks like this will occur, an upgrade to an excessive heat
warning will be needed.
Models show a sfc boundary across northern parts of the fa Friday
afternoon. Heating and this boundary will bring another chance for
storms Friday afternoon and evening with the potential once again
for severe storms. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary concern
on Friday.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday night through next Wednesday)
Issued at 217 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
Dangerous heat will continue to be the story over the weekend into
at least early next week. Heat index values of 105+ will likely be
common across much of the area over the weekend. Actual air
temperatures could also approach 110 degrees in SW parts of the fa
this weekend. The persistent high heat index values will mean that
at least a heat advisory will likely continue into early next week.
After today and Friday, the forecast will remain dry for most of the
area through early next week except for maybe some very low chances
near the KS/OK border during the overnight hours early next week.
With the persistent heat and not as much rain in SW parts of the fa,
vegetation continues to dry out in this area. The dry vegetation
along with lower humidities and hot temperatures could lead to
increasing fire weather concerns late this weekend into early next
week across parts of SW OK and western north TX.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1210 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
Scattered thunderstorms will form along a weak front from west
central to north central Oklahoma late this afternoon and drift
southward. VCTS has been included in these TAFs for the
isolated/scattered coverage. Otherwise VFR conditions are expected.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK 74 99 77 101 / 40 0 10 0
Hobart OK 73 104 77 106 / 40 0 0 0
Wichita Falls TX 79 104 80 106 / 20 0 0 0
Gage OK 69 103 71 103 / 10 10 10 0
Ponca City OK 72 99 71 98 / 30 20 40 10
Durant OK 80 102 78 103 / 10 10 0 0
&&
.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for OKZ005>008-011>048-
050>052.
Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM CDT Friday for OKZ006>008-
011>013-017>048-050>052.
TX...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ083>090.
Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM CDT Friday for TXZ083>090.
&&
SHORT TERM...25
LONG TERM....25
AVIATION...09Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 226 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-161930- 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- 226 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... .Thunderstorms... Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, especially from north central and central Oklahoma southwestward into southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas. Some of these storms could become severe with damaging winds the primary concern although hail could also be possible. Locally heavy rain will also be possible. The potential for severe storms is expected to end later this evening. .Heat... Widespread 105 to 110-degree heat indices are expected across much of Oklahoma and western-north Texas this afternoon and early evening. A Heat Advisory is in effect. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... .Thunderstorms... Scattered thunderstorm potential will return on Friday afternoon and evening across northern Oklahoma. Once again, a few strong to severe thunderstorms (with a wind risk) will be possible. .Heat... Dangerous temperatures and heat indices are expected to continue through the weekend into early next week, especially across southern Oklahoma and north Texas. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
414 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
OKZ014-016-152145-
Roger Mills OK-Custer OK-
414 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Roger
Mills and northwestern Custer Counties through 445 PM CDT...
At 414 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Moorewood, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hammon, Butler, Strong City, Moorewood, and Foss Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3560 9962 3581 9956 3581 9888 3558 9899
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 276DEG 10KT 3570 9940
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WareSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
445 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
OKZ014-016-152215-
Roger Mills OK-Custer OK-
445 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Roger
Mills and northwestern Custer Counties through 515 PM CDT...
At 443 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles east of Moorewood, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hammon, Butler, Moorewood, and Foss Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3560 9953 3581 9950 3581 9908 3559 9911
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 276DEG 9KT 3574 9924
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WareSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
500 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
TXZ085-086-152230-
Wichita TX-Wilbarger TX-
500 PM CDT Thu Aug 15 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Wichita
and southeastern Wilbarger Counties through 530 PM CDT...
At 500 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Electra, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Electra.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3384 9904 3401 9904 3402 9884 3384 9884
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 276DEG 9KT 3392 9897
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WareThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The 'Salt Fork Fire' spread over 1,383 acres across western Greer County. End time is approximate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, August 2024
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: 1210540.