Heat Advisory Thursday for North and Central Sebastian, Southern Crawford, Central and Southern Franklin and 10 More Arkansas-Oklahoma Zones
Heat index values between 100 and 105 are expected from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Thursday, August 20, 2026, in an advisory covering Fort Smith, Muskogee, McAlester and Poteau, according to the National Weather Service Tulsa OK alert record.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 19, 2026, 3:28 p.m. ET
A takes effect from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT on Thursday, August 20, 2026, across zones in northwest and west central Arkansas and east central and southeast Oklahoma, according to the alert record issued by at 12:28 PM CDT on August 19, 2026.
The record headline reads: .
The zones named in the record are North and Central Sebastian, Southern Crawford, Central and Southern Franklin and Southern Sebastian in Arkansas, and Okfuskee, Muskogee, McIntosh, Pittsburg, Haskell, Latimer, Northern Le Flore, Central and Southern Sequoyah and Central Le Flore in Oklahoma. Communities listed inside those zones include Fort Smith, Muskogee, McAlester, Poteau, Sallisaw, Ozark, Okemah, Wilburton, Stigler, Checotah, Charleston, Spiro, Panama, Pocola, Arkoma, Hartford, Huntington, Mansfield, Cecil, Cravens, Patterson, Jethro, Liberty, Lonelm and Watalula.
On expected conditions, the record states that for the , heat index values between 100 and 105 are expected; for the Extreme Heat Warning, it describes dangerously hot conditions with heat index values near 110. On timing, the record states that the Extreme Heat Warning runs until 9 PM CDT this evening, while the runs from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Thursday.
The alert record states that heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events, and that heat related illnesses are possible, especially impacting those not acclimated to the conditions or those performing strenuous activities.
The precautions listed in the record are to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. It also advises taking extra precautions when outside, wearing lightweight and loose fitting clothing, limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening, and taking action at the first symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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