Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Oklahoma City, OK
Issued by NWS Oklahoma City, OK
267 NOUS44 KOUN 121754 PNSOUN OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-130600- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Norman OK 1254 PM CDT Fri Apr 12 2024 ...NWS WFO Norman to change criteria for Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings... Effective on May 1st, 2024, the criteria for Heat Advisories for our western counties in our County Warning Area will change to 105 degrees for temperature and/or heat index values. Also, the criteria for Excessive Heat Warnings for our western counties in our County Warning Area will change to 110 degrees for temperature and/or heat index values. This area will include Alfalfa, Major, Blaine, Caddo, Stephens, Jefferson, and Clay counties and all counties west of this line. Criteria for our Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings in our eastern counties will remain unchanged. The previous criteria for Heat Advisories in these western counties (except for Stephens and Jefferson) was 110 degrees for temperature and/or heat index values; For Excessive Heat Warnings, this was 115 degrees for temperature and/or heat index values. For Stephens and Jefferson counties, the previous criteria for heat advisories was 103 degrees for temperature and/or 105 degrees for heat index values; for Excessive Heat Warnings, this was 105 degrees for temperature and/or 110 degrees for heat index values. The changes to the Heat Advisory criteria and the Excessive Heat Warning criteria will better reflect heat impacts across western Oklahoma and western north Texas. In addition, these changes will improve collaboration and consistency with our neighboring NWS offices in the state of Texas. As a reminder, a Heat Advisory is issued when the maximum temperature and/or heat index value is expected to reach criteria for one day or more, and/or when there is an elevated risk of heat related illnesses to those sensitive to the heat. An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when the maximum temperature and/or heat index value is expected to reach criteria for one day or more, and/or there is a significant risk of heat related illnesses to all of the population. For questions or comments regarding this change, please contact Mark Fox, Meteorologist-in-Charge, or Richard Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, at 405-325-3816. $$