URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
WED JUN 24 2009

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA:

OSAGE, WASHINGTON, NOWATA, CRAIG, OTTAWA, PAWNEE, TULSA, ROGERS, MAYES, DELAWARE, CREEK, OKFUSKEE, OKMULGEE, WAGONER, CHEROKEE, MUSKOGEE, MCINTOSH, SEQUOYAH AND LE FLORE.

AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES OF AROUND 105 DEGREES WILL BE COMMON ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA...AND IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY OF EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS THROUGH THURSDAY. ISOLATED HEAT INDEX READINGS MAY APPROACH 110 DEGREES. THESE HIGH TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES ONLY FALLING TO BETWEEN 75 AND 80 WILL RESULT IN A SERIOUS STRAIN ON THOSE WHO MUST BE OUTSIDE...AND THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY INCREASE INTO THURSDAY AND WILL LIKELY PERSIST INTO AND POSSIBLY BEYOND THE WEEKEND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: REMEMBER THE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT CAN ACCUMULATE OVER A NUMBER OF DAYS.

THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM IF POSSIBLE, STAY OUT OF THE SUN AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

NEVER LEAVE ANY PERSON OR PET IN A CLOSED PARKED VEHICLE. TEMPERATURES INSIDE CAN REACH OVER 150 DEGREES QUICKLY RESULTING IN HEAT STROKE AND DEATH. ENSURE PETS HAVE ADEQUATE WATER AND IF OUTDOORS A SHADY PLACE TO REST.