Heat — Carter, Oklahoma

1998-08-05 · Carter, Oklahoma

Wider weather episode

Excessive heat and drought conditions affected western and central Oklahoma from May through early October with the most intense heat and severe drought conditions occurring from mid-June through early September across central and southern Oklahoma. The excessive heat and drought was less severe across northwest and north central Oklahoma. There were 19 fatalities and at least 3 injuries directly related to the heat. Agricultural losses are estimated at nearly 2 billion dollars for the entire state of Oklahoma. Sixty of Oklahoma's 77 counties were declared federal disaster areas. Heat and drought conditions began in May, intensified in July and August, and diminished in September and early October. Oklahoma City experienced its 6th warmest and 16th driest May on record. Heat and drought conditions escalated after June 11th, which was the last day of widespread rainfall across western and central Oklahoma until early September. The heat and drought then ended in early October when widespread rain and cooler temperatures returned.The first fatality directly related to the heat occurred on June 21st , when an 81 year-old woman was found dead in her house in Oklahoma City (Oklahoma County). A 76 year-old man was then found dead in his Del City (Oklahoma County) home on June 29th. The heat claimed 15 lives in July. Two persons died on the 9th. A 46 year-old man was found dead in a hotel room in Oklahoma City with no air conditioning. The temperature in the room was 115 degrees. A 73 year-old man was then found dead in his Oklahoma City home. On July 10th , a 79 year-old man was found dead in his mobile home in Mulhall (Logan County). Another heat related fatality occurred on the 11th, when a 51 year-old woman was found dead in her home in Wewoka (Seminole County). On July 17th, in Altus (Jackson County), a 79 year-old man was found dead in his home, while on the 19th, there were 3 heat related deaths reported. The first fatality occurred to a man of unknown age. He was found dead in his vehicle in Oklahoma City. The second fatality occurred in Guthrie (Logan County) when a 55 year-old man was found dead in his house, while the 3rd fatality occurred to a 78 year-old woman when she was found dead in her Oklahoma City apartment. On July 20th, a 78 year-old woman was found dead in her Duncan (Stephens County) home, while on the 21st, another 78 year-old woman was found dead in her home, this time in Guthrie (Logan County). Two persons died in their homes from the heat on the 27th, the first, a 61 year-old man from Oklahoma City, the second, a 67 year-old man found from Cromwell (Seminole County). The last heat related fatality occurred on the 30th, when a 62 year-old woman was found dead in her Oklahoma City home.Three heat related fatalities were reported in August. The first occurred on the 2nd when a 53 year-old man was found dead inside his Oklahoma City home. The second heat related fatality occurred on the 3rd, when an 82 year-old man was found dead inside his Oklahoma City home. The last heat related fatality in August occurred on the 5th in Gene Autry (Carter County) when a 76 year-old man was found dead inside his home. Only one heat related fatality was reported in September, and occurred on the 4th. A 76 year-old man was found dead outside of a retirement home in Oklahoma City. He was found after he went for a walk and did not return.Only 3 heat related injuries were reported during the 5 month-long heat and drought. Three US Army troop members from Fort Sill (Comanche County) were rushed to a local hospital on July 22nd and treated for heat related injuries.Statistics provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture indicate economic losses of approximately 2 billion dollars to Oklahoma's agriculture business. Figures were not available for individual counties. Hay and cotton crops were particularly affected. Hay producers harvested only 30 to 80 percent of the normal yield, a loss of perhaps 80 million dollars. Cotton production was reduced by about 70 percent, a loss of 38 million dollars. Other crops such as grain sorghum, peanuts and soybeans also suffered major losses. In total, crop losses across Oklahoma were near 500 million dollars, but because of the multiplying effect on the overall economy, the ecomonic impact is closer to 2 billion dollars.The summer of 1998 (June-August) was the 4th hottest and 5th driest on record in Oklahoma City. The drought ended gradually in September and early October, but record warm temperatures continued through September. Oklahoma City recorded an average temperature of 81.2 degrees in September, 2nd hottest September on record. The summer of 1980, considered to be the last major period of excessive heat and drought to affect central and western Oklahoma, still ranks as the hottest summer ever for Oklahoma City, however Oklahoma City did experience a drier summer in 1998 than in 1980.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5672716. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.