Text Products for PNS Issued by OUN

Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Oklahoma City, OK
Versions: 1 2
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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.

$$
National Weather Service National Headquarters
