Relentless heat, scant rainfall send drought surging statewide

Oklahoma baked beneath a relentless sun during the third-warmest and fifth-driest August on record. Vegetation withered and turned yellow, ponds dried up, lake levels fell and wildfires flared across the state. By month’s end, drought covered all of Oklahoma—more than double its coverage just four weeks earlier—as flash drought ran amok. 

Triple-digit heat digs in

August’s defining feature was the relentless heat. The statewide average temperature finished at 86.5°F, 5.7°F above normal, ranking as the third-warmest August since statewide records began in 1895. Regional heat was even more exceptional as the Panhandle and west-central Oklahoma each experienced their warmest August on record. At least one Oklahoma Mesonet site reached 100°F every day during the month, and the statewide average high finished at 100.8°F. That made August just the 11th calendar month—and fourth August—on record with a statewide average high above 100°F. The heat extended well beyond August, with the June-August statewide average temperature of 83.3°F, 3.3°F above normal, ranking as the sixth-warmest summer on record. The prolonged warmth also pushed the January-August statewide average to 66.9°F, 4.2°F above normal, the warmest such period on record. 

The heat also left a broad mark on the record books. A preliminary review of 21 long-term station histories identified at least 140 daily temperature records set or tied during August—including at least 55 record highs and 85 record warm lows. Oklahoma City broke five daily high or warm-low records and tied two others, while Tulsa broke two warm-low records and tied two. Month-end data ranked August as the fourth-hottest on record at Oklahoma City and the fifth-hottest at Tulsa.

Rainfall nearly disappears

Rain was remarkably scarce across Oklahoma during August. The statewide average precipitation total was 0.85 inches, 2.38 inches below normal, ranking as the fifth-driest August since records began in 1895. West-central Oklahoma was particularly parched, averaging just 0.16 inches for its second-driest August on record, while the southwest averaged 0.20 inches for its fourth-driest. The northeast also recorded its fifth-driest August. Of the Mesonet’s 120 sites, 109 received 2 inches or less, 81 received an inch or less and 52 received a half-inch or less. Smithville led the state with 4.51 inches, while Acme recorded no measurable rainfall.

The broader summer picture was less extreme, thanks largely to the generous rainfall Oklahoma received in June. The June-August statewide total finished at 9.41 inches, 1.28 inches below normal, ranking as the 56th-driest summer on record. Seasonal rainfall was near or above normal across portions of eastern Oklahoma, but deficits remained pronounced farther west. Despite June’s surplus, the January-August statewide total stood at 20.26 inches, 4.99 inches below normal, ranking as the 34th-driest such period on record. 

Flash drought engulfs Oklahoma

The combination of relentless heat and scant rainfall produced one of the most rapid drought deteriorations Oklahoma has experienced in recent years. Drought covered less than half the state at the end of July, but by Aug. 25 every inch of Oklahoma was classified in at least moderate drought. Severe drought or worse expanded from 35% to more than 70% of the state in just four weeks, while extreme-to-exceptional drought jumped from about 16% to 40%. Exceptional drought alone expanded from 2% to 12%. It was the first time since Nov. 1, 2022, that the entire state was in at least moderate drought. The 40% in extreme or exceptional drought was the most since Oct. 29, 2024, while the 12% in exceptional drought was the most since April 25, 2023.

Impacts quickly moved beyond the Drought Monitor map. Mesonet soil-moisture readings and satellite-based relative greenness fell sharply, while dryland crops, pastures and stock ponds deteriorated. Oklahoma Forestry Services reported 53 fires that burned more than 4,000 acres in its eastern initial-attack areas during Aug. 24–30 alone; by Aug. 31, burn-ban resolutions covered 51 counties. USDA drought disaster designations also encompassed all 77 counties.

August by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 86.5°F, 5.7°F above normal — 3rd-warmest August since 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 113°F at Chickasha, Grandfield, and Waurika on Aug. 24; low of 55°F at Beaver and Camargo on Aug. 2
• Highest heat index: 115°F at Nowata on Aug. 13
• 100-degree temperatures: 2,497 observations recorded at the 120 Oklahoma Mesonet sites, including 777 at or above 105°F and 76 at or above 110°F
• 100-degree heat index values: 2,864 readings, including 1,906 at or above 105°F and 390 at or above 110°F
• Warmest and coolest locations: Highest monthly average, 90.7°F at Grandfield; lowest, 80.6°F at Boise City
• Statewide average precipitation: 0.85 inches, 2.38 inches below normal — 5th-driest August since 1895
• Rainfall extremes: High of 4.51 inches at Smithville; low of 0.00 inches at Acme
• Rainfall totals 1 inch or less: 81 sites, including 52 at or below 0.5 inches

Climatological summer by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 83.3°F, 3.3°F above normal — the sixth-warmest summer since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 113°F on Aug. 24; low of 51°F at Eva and Kenton on June 12
• Highest heat index: 125°F at Okmulgee on July 21
• Statewide average precipitation: 9.41 inches, 1.28 inches below normal — the 56th-driest summer since 1895
• Rainfall extremes: High of 20.7 inches at Bristow; low of 2.8 inches at Goodwell

September offers little immediate relief

September offers little sign of an immediate break from August’s heat and drought. The Climate Prediction Center’s monthly outlook favors above-normal temperatures across all of Oklahoma and below-normal precipitation across most of the state. CPC’s September drought outlook calls for drought to persist statewide. After August’s rapid deterioration, that combination offers little opportunity for meaningful drought recovery and could allow further intensification during the first month of fall.