Mesonet Ticker for September 1, 2026

                
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September 1, 2026  September 1, 2026  September 1, 2026  September 1, 2026


30 100s hath September?




So close, yet so far away! Is this proof that Mother Nature is out to get us, and
by "us" I mean "me" because I'm the only one that matters.

Wait, this just in...I'm now being told I'm NOT the only one that matters, and
I actually matter LESS than everybody else.

That's okay, I have my Cherry Pop-Tarts and chocolate milk (skim, of course) to
keep me satisfied. My water is also skim and contains no fat, and unfortunately no
water either. Tropical Storm Edouard approaches the state, at least according
to the computer forecast models, and dissipates as it throws itself against the
Oklahoma drought and heat dome...a needless sacrifice, much like eating at Taco
Bell.

So onward we go with the Oklahoma drought and heat, although at least the heat
dome appears to be flattening out a bit as we get to mid-September.



But overall, the month still isn't looking good. These outlooks are influenced
heavily by the first couple of weeks, so they don't preclude something better
happening in later in the month, but still...



We did have a rather momentous August, however. Not for what happened, but for
what didn't (i.e., rain). Check it out below.

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Relentless heat, scant rainfall send drought surging statewide
Sept. 1, 2026

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: the Panhandle averaged 83.8°F, 5.9°F above normal, while west-
central Oklahoma averaged 88.2°F, 7.3°F above normal—both 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 of 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.





Gary McManus
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climate Survey
gmcmanus@ou.edu
                

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