By Matt Dinger and Michael Kimball
The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA CITY — The blistering heat that apparently contributed to the deaths of two men and landed at least two dozen people in the hospital over the weekend is expected to continue until at least Tuesday, officials said.
Temperatures had hit 107 degrees in Clayton, Grandfield and Wister by 4:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet, while Mesonet sites in Fairview, Freedom, Newport, Walters and Waurika reported 106 degrees. All but 13 Oklahoma Mesonet sites had recorded 100 degrees by 4:30 p.m.
State residents are advised to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure, remain in air-conditioned rooms, drink plenty of fluids and check up on relatives, neighbors and animals.
One man died while driving a tractor Saturday night, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol attributed his death to the heat.
Pat Bunch, 76, of Lone Wolf was attempting to pull back onto a Kiowa County road after plowing a field six miles north of Lone Wolf about 8 p.m. Saturday when he died, according to a patrol report. The medical examiner has not determined the cause of death.
Bunch’s family members told The Oklahoman they believe a pre-existing condition may have contributed to his death.
Another man was found dead outdoors near downtown Tulsa about 3 p.m. Sunday, Tulsa Emergency Medical Services Authority vice president Tina Wells said. Though the medical examiner has not determined the cause of death, the man had symptoms of overexposure to the heat, she said.
EMSA issued its first heat alert for the year in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Eleven people had been treated for heat-related ailments during the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oklahoma City EMSA spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said.
The ambulance service reported at least 13 people were treated for heat-related ailments in Tulsa on Friday and Saturday. A heat alert was also activated for the Tulsa metro area.
On Friday, a 74-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, O’Leary said. She was apparently sitting on her porch for a while and the heat took its toll on her.
She remained in intensive care Sunday, O’Leary said, but details of her illness were not available.
The weather service said temperatures today could soar to as high as 108 degrees statewide. Overnight lows will range from the 70s to low 80s. Heat indices during the day will be well over 100 and could climb to around 110.
The state could begin to cool off as early as Tuesday, but the mercury could continue to top the century mark well into the coming week, according to the weather service.
A cold front will stall over Kansas early in the week and should spread through the state over several days, bringing a slight chance for showers with it.
Most Oklahoma counties were under an excessive heat warning or a heat advisory Sunday, according to the weather service. Both are activated when prolonged periods of excessive heat are forecast and overnight lows are not expected to provide much relief.
EMSA directors and sheriff’s offices in Delaware, Washington, Ottawa, Choctaw, Cimarron, Love, Comanche and Stephens counties reported no heat-related fatalities but temperatures were triple digits the past several days, with the heat index near 110 degrees.
“Several people have reported becoming overheated, but we have had no heat-related deaths,” said Rebecca Smith, Muskogee EMS spokeswoman.