Oklahoma Braces for Record Cold Snap to Kick Off September

Oklahoma weather has always had a flair for the dramatic. One week you’re frying an egg on the sidewalk, the next you’re digging out that one hoodie you swore you wouldn’t see again until October. And right on schedule, as soon as Labor Day is gone, here comes a record-setting cold snap to remind us all that Mother Nature is still in charge.

Record Cold Snap on the Way

Forecasts say we’ll ride out the upper 80s and low 90s through midweek, but then the real show starts.

A couple of strong fronts are lined up, ready to shove this shockingly mild summer heat out of most of the country. Meteorologists are talking 30s and 40s in September for portions of the Midwest... and here's where the obligatory reminder comes in that Oklahoma is not, nor will ever be, the Midwest.

How Low Will Oklahoma Temps Go?

This big push of Arctic air will swing through Oklahoma, though. By the weekend, highs are expected to tumble into the mid-70s in our Southwest corner of the Sooner State, with overnight lows nearing the upper 50s. Even lower in the Northern portions of OK.

That might not sound dramatic if you’re from Minnesota, but for early September in Oklahoma, this is the meteorological equivalent of slamming on the brakes.

And this isn’t just “a little cooler.” National maps are showing a plunge of polar air pushing deep into the states more Southern than us, dropping temps as much as 20 degrees below normal.

Why This Cold Front Is Different

For us, that means your iced tea might start tasting a little out of season, and your morning walk might require something more substantial than flip-flops. Lawton to Tulsa, folks are about to get a crash course in summer sweater weather, whether we’re ready for it or not.

I know I'm ready for it. You probably are too, but there are some who are super disappointed the heat has been cut off, and all clues indicate we're in for a long fall starting now... Hard-bodies and swimming pool/lake people.

What makes it even stranger is how fast the shift is happening. One day you’ll be wiping sweat off your forehead, the next you’ll be debating if it’s too soon to make chili. Only in Oklahoma do we measure seasons not by the calendar, but by how many outfits you have to change in a single week.

Enjoy It While It Lasts

Of course, you already know the drill... Enjoy this while it lasts. We've all seen a September cold snap before. Always refreshing and unexpected, but we all know there's a chance the heat will return. Oklahoma has four falls. We've already had the first, this will be the second. Meteorologists tend to get big predictions like this wrong, but there's no harm in being hopeful they actually get it right.

This is going to be prime shorts and hoodie weather. You're gonna have to wear socks with your sandals.

So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to light up the fire pit, dust off that crock pot, or indulge in pumpkin spice everything, this week’s forecast just handed it to you.

Oklahoma weather may be unpredictable, but at least it keeps life interesting.