textproduct: Norman

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1234 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

- Widespread dangerous heat continues today with high temperatures between 105-110 degrees.

- Fire weather conditions increase to an Elevated Risk today across parts of western and central Oklahoma and western north Texas.

- A weak cold front will restrict the dangerous heat to southern and parts of central Oklahoma & western north Texas on Thursday, but it will return and become widespread Friday into the weekend.

NEAR TERM

(Rest of today and tonight) Issued at 1234 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

The main hazards today will be heat and fire weather, with some relief starting to come in from the north with a cold front.

Most of Oklahoma and north Texas will see triple digit temperatures with much of central and southern Oklahoma and north Texas rising into the 105-110 degree range. The incoming front (and associated cloud cover) will introduce some uncertainty with temperatures in the north. Confidence is high enough to cancel our heat products for the northern row of Oklahoma counties.

Elevated fire weather will be driven by low RHs (mid to upper teens) coming in from the west into western Oklahoma and north Texas, potentially extending into central Oklahoma. The lowest RH values will likely be seen along an axis just ahead of the front where pre- frontal torching is expected. Meanwhile, the slightly cooler temperatures and higher dewpoints behind the front will limit fire weather in the north. Winds will be light to slightly breezy (10-15 mph with occasional gusts to 25 mph) through the day. ERCs remain above the 95th percentile.

The biggest uncertainty with today's forecast will be the front and its effects. We've seen a wind shift to northwesterly as far south as I-44 (farther than most models had placed it by this time). That said, we're also expecting some of the leading edge to mix back out this afternoon. Cloud cover and convection have also been a bit more aggressive than models had advertised, though the showers are quickly diminishing as we move toward afternoon. There's another signal (low chance) for a few isolated to widely scattered showers overnight across northern Oklahoma as well.

Day

SHORT TERM

(Thursday through Friday night) Issued at 1234 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Thursday will again be hot, but less hot north of I-40. Expect temperatures in the 100-105 range generally north of I-40, with 105- 110 degree temperatures continuing across southern Oklahoma and north Texas (a heat advisory and extreme heat warning has been issued for this area). Additionally, we will have a very low chance (10%) of showers through the day with the front in the area. Unfortunately, the "relief" will be short-lived with heat starting to return northward by Friday.

Light winds should keep fire weather limited mainly to low risk, though it is worth noting that RH values will fall into the upper teens to low 20s across western Oklahoma and western north Texas Thursday and Friday which could result in some patches of elevated RFTIs.

Day

LONG TERM

(Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 213 AM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Pressure heights continue to increase across our area as the upper high "heat dome" across the Southwestern U.S. expands eastward approaching the Southern Plains while being pushed by a Pacific trough coming ashore on the West Coast. With the surface front washed out southern low-level flow returns as our temperatures get even hotter with dangerous heating across our entire forecast area into the weekend. Shortwaves may develop in the ridge pushing our next "summer" cold into northern Oklahoma on Monday or Tuesday but too far out in time to determine any heatwave relief from this for early next week.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Wed Aug 19 2026

The cold front has progressed farther south than previously expected and some slow forward motion is possible over the next few hours before potentially stalling. VFR conditions will continue with low chances of showers/storms.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Oklahoma City OK 76 101 75 104 / 0 10 10 0 Hobart OK 76 105 75 106 / 0 0 10 0 Wichita Falls TX 79 107 78 107 / 0 0 10 0 Gage OK 70 98 71 103 / 10 0 0 0 Ponca City OK 71 98 71 100 / 20 0 20 0 Durant OK 81 107 77 106 / 0 10 10 10

OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OK...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for OKZ009-011-014>017- 021>023-033>038-044.

Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for OKZ012-013- 018>020-024>032-039>043-045>048-050>052.

Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Thursday for OKZ023-027>039- 044-045.

Extreme Heat Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Thursday for OKZ040>043-046>048-050>052.

TX...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ083>090.

Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Thursday for TXZ083>090.