Oklahoma City is starting Thursday under clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, but the brief morning break is about to disappear. The city is headed for a sunny high near 98 degrees, with heat-index values across parts of the area reaching 105 to 110°F and a Heat Advisory from 1 to 7 p.m. Southeast to east-southeast winds could produce some afternoon gusts.
Heat Builds Through Thursday Afternoon
The hottest stretch arrives from midafternoon into early evening, when temperatures climb through the 90s and the heat index peaks. Safety measures include drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air conditioning, avoiding direct sun and checking on relatives and neighbors while the advisory is active. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there were 141 heat-related deaths in Oklahoma from 2013 to 2022.
Dry Forecast Adds To Outdoor Concerns
Rain is essentially off the table in Oklahoma City Thursday, with a 0% precipitation chance, and the forecast stays mostly dry through next Wednesday. Drought-stressed vegetation remains vulnerable to wildfire starts even as higher humidity keeps immediate fire-weather conditions lower.
Near 100 Degrees Through Labor Day
Friday brings another 98-degree high, followed by upper-90s to low-100s temperatures Saturday and Sunday. Labor Day is also forecast to reach 99, while the outlook from Sunday through Wednesday remains in the upper 90s to low 100s; Thursday night and Friday night lows are forecast near 73 and 74 degrees, respectively.
People who must work or exercise outside should plan demanding activity for the morning, take regular breaks and keep water close. Thursday night will have a low near 73, while southeast to east-southeast winds could produce some gusts, making this a hot, dry evening rather than much of a cooldown. The City of Oklahoma City says urban heat islands, which have less shade or tree cover, can be up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit hotter during the day and up to 5 degrees hotter at night.
