Wind Chills Drop Into the Teens Across Oklahoma and North Texas as Arctic Air Grips the Southern Plains Thursday Morning

OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS — A surge of Arctic air combined with strong winds is driving dangerously cold wind chills into the teens early Thursday morning, creating one of the harshest cold starts of the season across parts of Oklahoma and North Texas.

Wind Chill Values Fall Well Below Actual Temperatures

Weather data shows “feels-like” temperatures dropping into the mid-to-upper teens across central and eastern Oklahoma, even where actual air temperatures remain in the 20s. Gusty northwest winds are stripping away heat rapidly, making outdoor conditions feel significantly colder than the thermometer indicates. In North Texas, wind chills are expected to hover in the upper teens to near 20 degrees, particularly during the early morning commute.

Early Morning Timing Increases Cold Exposure Risk

The coldest wind chills are expected around 6 a.m. Thursday, coinciding with peak travel hours. This timing increases the risk of cold stress for anyone spending extended time outdoors, including commuters, students, and workers starting shifts before sunrise.

Vehicles may also take longer to warm up, and exposed skin can become numb quickly under sustained wind.

Arctic Air Mass Driving the Cold Outbreak

This cold snap is being driven by a strong Arctic high pressure system pushing south through the Plains. The pressure gradient behind the system is generating persistent winds, which are preventing temperatures from rebounding overnight and amplifying the cold impact.

Unlike calm cold nights, the ongoing wind ensures that wind chills remain dangerously low even after sunrise.

Conditions Improve Slowly Later in the Day

While wind chills will gradually improve later Thursday morning as winds ease and temperatures climb, cold conditions will linger throughout the day, especially in shaded and open areas.

Residents are advised to dress in layers, limit time outdoors, and take precautions to protect exposed skin, particularly during the early morning hours. Stay with SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for continued updates as Arctic air continues to impact large portions of the southern United States.