textproduct: Norman

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 127 PM CDT Fri Jul 31 2026

- Dangerous heat continues through early this evening.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts the main concern.

- Dangerous heat returns next week after a brief reprieve over the weekend.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of today and tonight) Issued at 127 PM CDT Fri Jul 31 2026

Another day of dangerous heat today with a chance for thunderstorms this afternoon as a front moves across parts of the area.

At mid-day, the front had moved through northern and west central OK with the boundary extending from near Ponca City and Enid, to Watonga and Erick OK. The front is expected to continue to move south and southeast across parts of the area this afternoon. Meanwhile, an upper low that caused the front to move into the area continues to move SE into parts of the Upper Midwest.

The "cooler" air is lagging a bit behind the front so initially the only affects are a wind shift to the NW and N. With the "cooler" air lagging, another hot to very hot afternoon is in store for much of the fa, especially for those areas that remain ahead of the front. Triple digit highs are expected, except for maybe NW OK. The hottest temperatures will likely be in the area just ahead of the front this afternoon where "pre-frontal torching" (low level thermal ridge) will likely aid in temperatures climbing to or above 105. High heat indices are also expected this afternoon. At mid-day, many of the locations in the fa have already seen triple digit heat index values. Heat indices of 105+ are expected this afternoon with some areas reaching 110+. Will maintain the current configuration of the heat advisory and extreme heat warning which is in effect through 9 PM.

Much of the scattered activity that moved across parts of the fa this morning is diminishing early this afternoon. Additional scattered storm development is expected near the front this afternoon. Some of the storms could become strong to severe, generally for locations along and south of I-40. Inverted-V soundings will suggest that strong or damaging wind gusts will be the primary concern with these storms late this afternoon and evening. The storms are expected to decrease/end later this evening/overnight.

SHORT TERM

(Saturday through Sunday night) Issued at 127 PM CDT Fri Jul 31 2026

Models show NW to N flow aloft the rest of today and through the weekend as the previously mentioned upper low continues to move across the Midwest and the upper high remains centered near the Four Corners region. At the surface, the "cooler" air will eventually move into the region behind today's front with northerly to northeasterly winds through the weekend. This will lead to a less hot weekend with temperatures around normal for early August. Saturday and Sunday's highs will be fairly similar with temperatures ranging from the low 90s in north central OK to the upper 90s/around 100 in southwest OK and western north TX. More mild nights are also expected this weekend with lows in the mid/upper 60s and low 70s both Saturday and Sunday night. Unfortunately this "less hot" period will be fairly brief with a return of the hotter temperatures expected next week.

LONG TERM

(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 254 AM CDT Fri Jul 31 2026

Excessive heat returns next week as the upper ridge advances from the west. Rain chances are not zero, but probabilities are low through Thursday.

Thompson

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1115 AM CDT Fri Jul 31 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the period. A cold front will continue to move across the area today. Winds behind this boundary will be be northerly and gusty at times. Showers and thunderstorms are expected along the boundary this afternoon, which may affect TAF sites along and south of I-40.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Oklahoma City OK 73 93 69 93 / 10 0 0 0 Hobart OK 72 97 67 98 / 20 0 0 0 Wichita Falls TX 75 99 69 99 / 30 0 0 0 Gage OK 68 94 64 96 / 0 0 0 0 Ponca City OK 70 91 67 92 / 0 0 0 0 Durant OK 77 96 71 96 / 20 0 0 0

OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OK...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for OKZ005-006-014>016- 021-033-034.

Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for OKZ007-008- 011>013-017>020-022>032-035>048-050>052.

TX...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for TXZ083>090.