Oklahoma roasting under heat dome after hurricane-force winds knock out power to thousands
The NWS reported several wind gusts in the 70-mph range Tuesday night into Wednesday. Those knocked down power lines, leaving folks without air conditioning during an Excessive Heat Warning.
Plains will feel like 110 degrees under heat dome
FOX News Multimedia Reporter Joy Addison tells us exactly how hot it will feel across the South and Plains today and how emergency crews and hospitals are getting ready for an influx of heat illnesses.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans have been forced to sweat it out Wednesday after hurricane-force winds knocked out power and air conditioning amid a heat dome that is roasting the state.
The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued an Excessive Heat Warning that doesn't expire until 9 p.m. Warm temperatures and high humidity will drive the heat index or feels-like temperature as high as 120 degrees.
"Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events," the NWS warned.
90-MPH WIND GUST LEAVES OMAHA AIRPORT AGAIN TARGET OF SEVERE WEATHER
As of noon Wednesday, almost 80,000 homes and businesses were still without power after overnight and morning storms swept through, according to PowerOutage.US. That means no air conditioning to beat the heat.
Thunderstorms churned up tropical-storm- and hurricane-force wind gusts across Oklahoma City, Tulsa and much of central and eastern Oklahoma. The morning commute was frustrating for many. Downed trees and power poles littered streets. Even a stoplight took a hit in Tulsa.
DIY AIR CONDITIONER: HOW TO MAKE YOURS WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Many in Tulsa had to find an alternate way to work Wednesday morning.
(City of Tulsa / FOX Weather)
Tulsa endured a 71-mph wind gust. Muskogee and Guthrie reported a 68-mph gust while Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City had a 73-mph gust.
"We’ve had multiple 70 mph wind gust reports in OKC!," said the NWS Norman.
Trees took out power lines and barely missed the hen house.
(Public Service Co. / FOX Weather)
A falling tree injured one person in Hochatown. Across Logan County, gusts tore shingles off homes and even destroyed a large barn.
Lightning from the storms started a house fire in Oklahoma City. The Fire Department reported they responded to more than 150 storm emergencies.
(Oklahoma City Fire / FOX Weather)
The lightning was constant in Edmund overnight.
The night in Edmund was hardly dark with all the lightning.
(@LaurieMit via Storyful / FOX Weather)
High temperatures through the rest of the week in Oklahoma City will straddle 100 degrees every day, and don't expect relief from the heat overnight. Low temperatures will stay in the upper 70s and low 80s.