Heat — Cleveland, Oklahoma

1999-07-27 · Cleveland, Oklahoma

Wider weather episode

A period of very hot temperatures with highs ranging from the upper 90s to near 105 and lows ranging from the lower 70s to near 80, affected portions of central and southwest Oklahoma from July 26th through July 31st. Eight persons died, and 1 serious injury resulted from the excessive heat. The first fatality from the excessive heat occurred on the 27th, when a 57-year old man was found dead in his home in Norman in Cleveland County. Two persons died from the heat on the 28th, a 65-year old woman found dead in her home in Shawnee in Seminole County, and a 73-year old woman found dead in her front yard in Altus in Jackson County. She collapsed and died while mowing her lawn. Three fatalities resulted from the heat on the 30th. The first was in Ponca City in Kay County, where a 73-year old man was found dead in his home, while the 2nd and 3rd fatalities were reported in Oklahoma City (Oklahoma County), where 2 women, ages 84 and 85, were found dead in separate homes. The last 2 heat related fatalities occurred on the 31st and were also reported in Oklahoma City. An 86-year old woman and an 82-year old man were found dead in their own homes. Except for the fatality in Altus (Jackson County), the majority of persons who died from the heat owned an air conditioner, but it wasn't being used, and the windows of their homes were closed. The only known serious injury occurred on the 26th in Oklahoma City, when a 12-year boy suffered from heat stroke while playing football. He spent several days in the hospital in critical condition before being released.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5715131. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.