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Tulsa, OK

Weather Forecast Office

Warm Nights in Summer 2010 and Dry August 2010

Weather.gov > Tulsa, OK > Warm Nights in Summer 2010 and Dry August 2010

Unusually Warm Nights Summer 2010 and

Very Dry August Across Eastern OK and Northwest AR

While afternoon temperatures and heat index values were hot this summer, it was actually the overnight low temperatures that had been exceptionally warm the entire summer across the area.  High pressure dominated the Southern Plains this summer, keeping a moist airmass in place over the region.  The higher humidity levels kept temperatures from cooling much during the overnight hours, allowing for many consecutive days with minimum temperatures at or above 70°F.  Both Tulsa, OK and Fort Smith, AR had the most consecutive days with temperatures at or above 72°F.  Summer 2010 ranked as the 3rd warmest summers on record in Fort Smith and as the 6th warmest summer on record in Tulsa due to these warm overnight temperatures combined with the hot afternoon high temperatures.  See the tables below for additional statistics.  Drought conditions also develop during August 2010 (click here to jump to dry August information below).

Also of note:

* In Tulsa, June 2010 was 11th warmest June (81.9°F) and ranked 3rd for warmest monthly average minimum temperature and ranked as 20th for warmest monthly average maximum temperature (since records began in 1905). 

* In Tulsa, July 2010 was 30th warmest July (84.4°F) and ranked 7th for warmest monthly average minimum temperature (since records began in 1905).

* In Tulsa, August 2010 was 15th warmest August (85.5°F) and ranked 9th for warmest monthly average minimum temperature (since records began in 1905)

* In Fort Smith, June 2010 was the 4th warmest June (83.6°F) and ranked 2nd for warmest monthly average minimum temperature and ranked as 8th for warmest monthly average maximum temperature (since records began in 1882).

* In Fort Smith, July 2010 was 19th warmest July (84.4°F) and ranked 2nd for warmest monthly average minimum temperature (since records began in 1882).

* In Fort Smith, August 2010 was 3rd warmest July (87.4°F) and ranked 3rd for warmest monthly average minimum temperature and ranked as 7th for warmest monthly average maximum temperature (since records began in 1882).

* In Fort Smith, there have been 18 days with high temperatures at or above 100°F in August 2010, which ties with 1980 as the 6th greatest number of days at or above 100°F in August since records began in 1882.

* In McAlester, there have been 17 days with high temperatures at or above 100°F in August 2010, which is the 6th greatest number of days at or above 100°F in August since records began in 1953.

 

Recent Average Low Temperatures

Tulsa, OK
Time Period

Average Low

Temp (°F)

 Rank Record
June 2010 72.9 3 73.1, 1980, 1953
July 2010 75.8 7 79.9, 1980
August 2010  74.1  9  77.8, 1980
June 1-August 31, 2010  74.3 2 77.0, 1980
Historical Records began in 1905
 
Fort Smith, AR
Time Period

Average Low

Temp (°F)

 Rank

Record
June 2010 73.1 2 73.3, 1925
July 2010 75.3 2 76.3, 1934
August 2010 75.5 3  76.3, 1934

June 1-August 31, 2010

 74.6 2 74.9, 1934
Historical Records began in 1882

 

Consecutive Days of Warm Low Temperatures (valid through August 31, 2010)

Fort Smith, AR

 
Low Temperature >= 70°F
 
Low Temperature >= 71°F
 
Low Temperature >= 72°F
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     62    8/20/1934
  2     54    8/24/2010
  3     48    8/23/1916
  4     46    8/15/1938
  5     44    8/11/1955
  6     42    8/18/1941
  7     40    8/23/1935
  8     39    8/17/1943
  9     39    8/18/1896
 10     38    8/ 9/1951
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     62    8/20/1934
  2     45    8/16/2010
  3     45    8/23/1916
  4     39    8/23/1935
  5     36    8/17/1943
  6     34    8/28/2006
  7     33    7/27/1969
  8     32    8/ 4/1932
  9     30    8/11/1896
 10     29    8/24/2007
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     45    8/16/2010
  2     37    8/20/1934
  3     36    8/17/1943
  4     29    8/13/1935
  5     29    8/22/1916
  6     29    8/11/1896
  7     28    8/13/1999
  8     27    8/21/2006
  9     26    7/30/1936
 10     24    7/13/1934
 
Low Temperature >= 73°F
 
Low Temperature >= 75°F
 
Low Temperature >= 76°F
 
 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1      35   8/16/1943 
  2      29   8/22/1916 
  3      29   8/11/1896 
  4      27   8/21/2006 
  5      26   7/30/1936 
  6      24   8/12/1935 
  7      23   8/24/2007 
  8      23   7/13/1934 
  9      21   8/16/2010
 10      21   8/ 8/2008

 Rank  # Days   End Date 
  1      18    8/16/1943 
  2      16    8/20/1934 
  3      15    7/22/1932 
  4      14    8/ 7/2008 
  5      14    8/22/1993 
  6      14    8/11/1935 
  7      13    7/26/1943 
  8      13    7/28/1934 
  9      12    7/25/2010 
 10      12    8/ 1/2001 
 11      12    8/29/1936 
 12      12    8/16/1936 
 13      12    8/ 2/1922 
 14      12    8/22/1916

 Rank  # Days   End Date 
  1      18    8/16/1943 
  2      16    8/20/1934 
  3      14    8/11/1935 
  4      12    8/16/1936 
  5      12    7/28/1934 
  6      12    8/22/1916 
  7      11    8/21/1993 
  8      10    8/16/2010 
  9      10    7/23/1943 
 10       8    7/ 4/1931 
 11       8    7/13/1909

Low Temperature >= 77°F
 
Low Temperature >= 78°F
 
Low Temperature >= 79°F
 
Rank  # Days   End Date 
  1     12    8/16/1936 
  2     11    8/21/1916 
  3     10    8/16/1943 
  4      8    8/15/2010 
  5      7    8/ 5/1943 
  6      7    7/23/1943 
  7      7    8/24/1936 
  8      7    8/12/1934 
  9      7    7/21/1932 
 10      6    7/24/2010 
 11      6    8/20/1934 
 12      6    8/ 7/1923

Rank  # Days   End Date
  1      9    8/16/1943
  2      8    8/15/2010
  3      7    8/12/1934
  4      6    8/ 4/1943
  5      6    7/23/1943
  6      6    8/13/1936
  7      6    8/20/1934
  8      5    7/18/1936
  9      4    8/23/2010
 10      4    8/ 4/2010
 11      4    7/17/2010
 12      4    9/ 4/1936
 13      4    8/22/1936
 14      4    7/27/1934
 15      4    7/22/1934
 16      4    7/12/1933
  17      4    8/ 5/1923 

Rank  # Days   End Date
  1      9    8/16/1943
  2      6    8/12/1934
  3      5    8/15/2010
  4      5    8/13/1936
  5      4    8/ 5/1923
  6      3    9/ 3/1936
  7      3    8/17/1934
  8      3    7/26/1934
  9      3    7/21/1934
Historical Records began in 1882

 

Tulsa, OK

 
Low Temperature >= 70°F
 
Low Temperature >= 71°F
 
Low Temperature >= 72°F
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     52    8/31/1983
  2     47    7/25/1977
  3     45    8/15/2010
  4     45    7/31/1954
  5     39    8/ 6/1981
  6     39    8/ 2/1966
  7     37    8/ 3/1993
  8     35    8/28/2006
  9     35    8/16/1943
 10     34    8/ 4/1998
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     52    8/31/1983
  2     45    7/31/1954
  3     44    8/15/2010
  4     35    8/16/1943
  5     33    7/27/1969
  6     31    8/25/2007
  7     31    7/22/1980
  8     30    8/13/1999
  9     30    7/28/1981
 10     30    8/ 2/1966
 
Rank  # Days   End Date
  1     36    8/15/2010
  2     34    8/15/1943
  3     32    7/26/1969
  4     31    7/22/1980
  5     30    8/24/2007
  6     30    8/13/1999
  7     29    8/ 1/1966
  8     29    8/ 4/1957
  9     28    8/12/2001
 10     28    8/ 7/1983
 
Low Temperature >= 76°F
 
Low Temperature >= 77°F
 
Low Temperature >= 79°F
 
 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1      28   7/21/1980 
  2      22   8/28/1936 
  3      21   8/30/1983 
  4      18   8/ 3/2001 
  5      17   8/21/1934 
  6      15   8/ 2/1999 
  7      14   8/11/1980 
  8      13   7/10/1990 
  9      12   8/ 9/1970 
  10     12   7/22/1934 
  11     11   7/20/1981 
  12     11   7/19/1954 
  13     10   8/ 5/2010 
  14     10   7/21/2003 
  15     10   7/15/1966
 
 
 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1      28   7/21/1980 
  2      22   8/28/1936 
  3      16   8/28/1983 
  4      14   8/11/1980 
  5      12   7/28/2001 
  6      11   7/20/1981 
  7      10   8/ 5/2010 
  8      10   7/21/2003 
  9      10   7/10/1990 
 10      10   7/19/1954

 Rank  # Days   End Date 
  1      25    7/21/1980 
  2      11    8/11/1980 
  3       8    7/10/1990 
  4       8    8/15/1936 
  5       8    8/13/1934 
  6       7    7/21/2003 
  7       7    8/ 1/1999 
  8       7    7/31/1986 
  9       6    7/23/2010
 10       6    7/20/1981
 11       6    8/ 8/1970
 12       6    8/22/1936

Low Temperature >= 81°F
 
Low Temperature >= 82°F
 
Low Temperature >= 83°F
 
 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1      17   7/20/1980 
  2       5   8/ 8/1980 
  3       5   8/13/1934 
  4       4   8/ 2/2006 
  5       4   7/29/1999 
  6       4   7/30/1986 
  7       4   8/16/1980 
  8       4   8/18/1954 
  9       3   8/14/2010 
 10       3   7/15/1956 
 11       3   7/23/1954 
 12       3   7/15/1954 
 13       3   8/15/1943 
 14       3   8/20/1936 
 15       3   7/20/1936 
 16       3   8/ 3/1934

 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1       8   7/19/1980 
  2       4   8/ 2/2006 
  3       4   8/18/1954 
  4       3   8/14/2010 
  5       3   8/ 6/1980 
  6       3   7/15/1956 
  7       3   7/23/1954 
  8       3   7/15/1954 
  9       3   8/20/1936 
 10       3   7/20/1936
 
 
 Rank  # Days   End Date 
  1       5    7/16/1980 
  2       3    7/23/1954 
  3       3    7/15/1954 
  4       2    8/13/2010 
  5       2    8/14/1980 
  6       2    8/ 2/1980 
  7       2    7/15/1956 
  8       2    7/19/1936 
  9       2    8/13/1934 
  10      2    8/ 2/1934 
  11      2    8/16/1909 
 
Low Temperature >= 84°F
     
 Rank  # Days  End Date 
  1       5   7/16/1980 
  2       3   7/15/1954 
  3       2   8/13/2010 
  4       2   8/ 2/1980 
  5       2   8/16/1909 
  6       1   8/ 3/2010 
  7       1   8/ 9/2006 
  8       1   8/31/1980 
  9       1   8/13/1980 
 10       1   8/ 4/1980 
 11       1   7/30/1980 
 12       1   7/10/1980 
 13       1   7/ 7/1980 
 14       1   7/ 4/1980 
 15       1   8/17/1956 
 16       1   7/22/1954 
 17       1   7/18/1954 
 18       1   8/ 8/1936 
 19       1   8/18/1934 
 20       1   8/ 1/1934
   
     
Historical Records began in 1905

 

Summer Average High and Low Temperatures (valid June 1 - August 31)

 Click here for the Ranked Average Mean Temperature for Fort Smith and Tulsa
 
Fort Smith, AR

Ave. Maximum Temp (°F)

Ave. Minimum Temp (°F)

 
Rank  Value  Ending Date
  1    98.9    8/31/1934
  2    98.7    8/31/1954
  3    98.0    8/31/1936
  4    96.4    8/31/1980
  5    95.7    8/31/1988
  6    95.6    8/31/2010
  6    95.6    8/31/1943
  8    95.4    8/31/1952
  9    95.0    8/31/1998
 10    94.9    8/31/1964
 
Rank  Value  Ending Date
   1    74.9    8/31/1934*
  2    74.6    8/31/2010
  3    73.4    8/31/1936
  4    72.5    8/31/1993
  5    72.4    8/31/1998
  5    72.4    8/31/1932
  7    72.2    8/31/1938
  8    72.1    8/31/1925
  9    71.9    8/31/1918
 10    71.8    8/31/1921
Historical Records began in 1882; *Min Temp from 8/21/1934 is missing
Tulsa, OK

Ave. Maximum Temp (°F)

Ave. Minimum Temp (°F)

 
Rank  Value  Ending Date
  1   101.2    8/31/1936
  2   100.4    8/31/1934
  3    99.0    8/31/1980
  4    97.5    8/31/1954
  5    96.9    8/31/1925
  5    96.9    8/31/1918
  7    96.0    8/31/1923
  8    95.6    8/31/1956
  9    95.2    8/31/1913
 10    95.0    8/31/1916
 11    94.9    8/31/1978
 12    94.8    8/31/1924
 13    94.6    8/31/1914
 14    94.5    8/31/1937
 15    94.3    8/31/1963
 15    94.3    8/31/1911
 17    94.2    8/31/2006
 18    94.1    8/31/2001
 18    94.1    8/31/1952
 18    94.1    8/31/1943
 21    93.9    8/31/1998
 21    93.9    8/31/1930
 23    93.7    8/31/1983
 23    93.7    8/31/1919
 25    93.6    8/31/2010
 25    93.6    8/31/1922
 
Rank  Value  Ending Date
  1    77.0    8/31/1980
  2    74.3    8/31/2010
  3    74.2    8/31/1934
  4    74.0    8/31/1954
  5    73.6    8/31/1936
  6    73.1    8/31/2001
  7    72.7    8/31/1983
  8    72.6    8/31/1990
  9    72.4    8/31/1998
 10    72.2    8/31/2007
 10    72.2    8/31/1943
Historical Records began in 1905

 

New Record Warm Minimum Temperature Set August 3, 2010 at Tulsa 

The temperature dipped to only 85° at 4:57 am CDT August 3, 2010 at the Tulsa International Airport . This sets a new record warm low temperature for August 3rd. The previous record was 81° set in 1987.  This was also one of the warmest overnight lows of all-time.  Record warm daily minimum temperatures were also set in June: 79° set on June 12, 2010 (previous record 78° in 2008) and 80° set on June 22, 2010 (previous record 79° in 2009).  A record high average temperature of 94° was also tied on August 3, with the previous record occurring in 1923.

All-time Record Warm Lows for Tulsa
Rank/Temperature Date
1.     87 07/16/1980

2.     86

 08/01/1980
2.     86 08/01/1934
2.     86 08/16/1909
5.  85 08/03/2010
5.     85 07/30/1980
5.     85 07/15/1980
5.     85 07/13/1980
5.     85 07/04/1980
5.     85 07/22/1954
5.     85 07/14/1954
5.     85 07/13/1954
 Historical Records began in 1905

New Record Warm Minimum Temperature Set August 12, 2010 at Tulsa 

The temperature dipped to only 84°F at 6:27 am CDT August 12, 2010 at the Tulsa International Airport . This sets a new record warm low temperature for August 12th. The previous record was 83° set in 1936.  This is the 16th occurrance of a minimum temperature of 84°F since records began in 1905.

 

New Record Warm Minimum Temperature  Tied August 13, 2010 at Tulsa

The temperature dipped to only 84°F at 5:46 am CDT August 13, 2010 at the Tulsa International Airport . This ties the record warm low temperature for August 13th. The current record is 84° set in 1980.  This is only the 17th occurrance of a minimum temperature of 84°F since records began in 1905.

 

Other Daily Records Set this Summer:
Tulsa, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 79°F set on 6/12/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 2008)
Tulsa, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 80°F set on 6/22/2010 (Previous record 79°F in 2009)
Tulsa, OK: Record Warm Average Temperature of 83°F tied on 6/1/2010 (Previous record 83°F in 1953)
Tulsa, OK: Record Daily Rainfall of 2.30" set on 6/3/2010 (Previous record 2.29" in 1926)
Tulsa, OK: Record Daily Rainfall of 3.03" set on 6/14/2010 (Previous record 2.58" in 1961)
Tulsa, OK: Record Daily Rainfall of 2.48" set on 7/8/2010 (Previous record 1.02" in 1906)
Fort Smith, AR: Record High Temperature of 107°F set on 8/02/2010 (Previous record 105°F in 2008)
Fort Smith, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 78°F set on 6/12/2010 (Previous record 75°F in 1981)
Fort Smith, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 79°F set on 8/23/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 1910)
Fort Smith, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 79°F set on 8/21/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 1993)
Fort Smith, AR: Record Daily Rainfall of 1.64" set on 8/5/2010 (Previous record 1.35" in 2009)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Low Temperature of 50°F set on 8/27/2010 (Previous record 52°F in 1962)
Fayetteville, AR: Record High Temperature of 93°F set on 6/21/2010 (Previous record 90°F in 2009)
Fayetteville, AR: Record High Temperature of 98°F tied on 8/23/2010 (Previous record 98°F in 1963)
Fayetteville, AR: Record High Temperature of 100°F set on 8/21/2010 (Previous record 99°F in 1972)
Fayetteville, AR: Record High Temperature of 100°F tied on 8/14/2010 (Previous record 100°F in 2007)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Cool Maximum Temperature of 79°F tied on 7/3/2010 (Previous record 79°F in 1968)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 75°F set on 6/12/2010 (Previous record 74°F in 2008)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 74°F tied on 7/24/2010 (Previous record 74°F in 1981)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 74°F tied on 8/13/2010 (Previous record 74°F in 1956)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 76°F set on 8/15/2010 (Previous record 75°F in 1978)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 75°F tied on 8/20/2010 (Previous record 75°F in 2007)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 77°F set on 8/21/2010 (Previous record 75°F in 2002)
Fayetteville, AR: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 73°F set on 8/30/2010 (Previous record 70°F in 1980)
McAlester, OK: Record Low Temperature of 54°F set on 8/27/2010 (Previous record 56°F in 1992)
McAlester, OK: Record High Temperature of 103°F tied on 8/23/2010 (Previous record 103°F in 1963)
McAlester, OK: Record High Temperature of 103°F set on 8/22/2010 (Previous record 102°F in 1983)
McAlester, OK: Record Cool Maximum Temperature of 78°F tied on 7/3/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 1987)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 78°F tied on 6/11/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 1958)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 78°F set on 6/13/2010 (Previous record 77°F in 1970)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 79°F tied on 6/19/2010 (Previous record 79°F in 1953)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 78°F tied on 7/17/2010 (Previous record 78°F in 2001)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 79°F tied on 8/13/2010 (Previous record 79°F in 1956)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 81°F set on 8/20/2010 (Previous record 80°F in 1980)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 78°F set on 8/21/2010 (Previous record 77°F in 2002)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Minimum Temperature of 77°F tied on 8/31/2010 (Previous record 77°F in 1980)
McAlester, OK: Record Warm Average Temperature of 88°F tied on 8/31/2010 (Previous record 88°F in 2000)
McAlester, OK:  Record Warm Average Temperature of 89°F set on 8/21/2010 (Previous record 88°F in 1969)
McAlester, OK: Record Daily Rainfall of 1.26" set on 7/8/2010 (Previous record 1.01" in 1988)
 

Dry August 2010

Rainfall was scarce across southeast and east central Oklahoma, and well as northwest Arkansas during August 2010.  In fact, much of Washington County Arkansas received less than 0.10" of rainfall during the entire month!  The weather observing site located at the Fayettville Drake Field Airport (FYV) only measured 0.02" of rain.  This equates to receive around 5% or less of the normal August rainfall for this area.  Most of the region along and southeast of Interstate 44 received 75% or less of the normal August rainfall, while locations northwest of I-44, received 100% - 200% of the normal August rainfall.  According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS), east central Oklahoma ranked as the 5th driest and southeast Oklahoma ranked as the 12th driest August on record (records began in 1921).

 

Some of the smallest precipitation reports (in inches) for August 2010 included:

Fayetteville, AR (ASOS)                       0.02        Cookson, OK (meso)          0.11        Stigler, OK (meso)                    0.11

Antlers, OK (coop)                                0.12        Westville, OK (meso)          0.13        Wilburton, OK (meso)               0.17       

Berryville, AR (coop)                             0.18        St. Paul, AR (coop)              0.30        Oktaha, OK (coop)                     0.34

 

Some of the larger precipitation reports (in inches) for August 2010 included:

Burbank, OK (meso)                            6.33        Foraker, OK (meso)            5.87        Bartlesville, OK (ASOS)            5.49

Pawnee, OK (meso)                            5.49        Ralston, OK (coop)              5.45        Burbank, OK (coop)                  4.26

Copan, OK (meso)                               3.91        Vinita, OK (meso)                3.80        Nowata, OK (meso)                  3.44       

 

 

Drought Monitor for Oklahoma Drought Monitor for Arkansas
   
August 2010 rainfall total August 2010 percent normal rainfall 
 Rainfall totals for August 2010 Percent of Normal Rainfall for 2010

 

Last Updated: September 2, 2010

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