Record warmth fuels wildfires and drought in February

February ended as the warmest on record across Oklahoma, a distinction that also pushed the climatological winter of 2025–26 to its warmest on record. The unusual warmth combined with expanding and intensifying drought to create critical fire weather conditions across much of the state. Those ingredients culminated in a mid-February wildfire outbreak that burned more than 300 square miles and forced evacuations across multiple counties. It was a month defined by record heat, deepening drought and wind-driven flames.

Record warmth shatters February, winter marks

Oklahoma’s statewide average temperature finished at 51.1 degrees in February, 8.7 degrees above normal and the warmest February since records began in 1895. The previous record of 50.6 degrees was set in 1954. That exceptional warmth also propelled climatological winter (December 2025 through February 2026) to its warmest on record at 44.3 degrees, 4.1 degrees above normal, surpassing the previous mark of 43.7 degrees set in 1999–2000. For comparison, Oklahoma’s coldest February occurred in 1905 at 27.6 degrees, and its coldest winter was 1979 at 31.2 degrees. Numerous individual locations also established records. Oklahoma City’s February average of 52.3 degrees exceeded its previous February record of 51.3 degrees from 1954, while its winter average of 44.7 degrees topped the 1999–2000 record of 44 degrees. Tulsa tied its warmest winter on record at 44.3 degrees; a mark previously set in 1921 and 1931.

February wildfire outbreak scorches Oklahoma

Wildfires burned nearly 200,000 acres across Oklahoma during February, with most of the destruction stemming from fires that ignited on Feb. 17 and spread over the following several days. Winds gusting up to 70 mph, combined with an abundance of dry fine fuels, fueled the rapid growth. The Ranger Road Fire, the largest of the outbreak, began in Beaver County and burned through northwest Harper County into Kansas, ultimately consuming more than 280,000 acres across the two states. The Stevens Fire in Texas County burned nearly 13,000 acres and forced the evacuation of several communities. The 43 Fire, which began southwest of Woodward, prompted the evacuation of approximately 4,000 residents from the city of nearly 12,000. Additional evacuations were ordered in Beaver, Carter, Osage and Washington counties. By Feb. 19, the Oklahoma Forestry Service reported 42 active fires across 23 counties. Public safety officials reported no homes were destroyed, though four volunteer firefighters were injured battling the blazes.

Drought expands to cover nearly entire state

Drought continued its nearly unconstrained spread across the state for the fifth consecutive month, covering nearly 92% of the state by the end of February according to the Feb. 24 U.S. Drought Monitor report. The current drought cycle began in August following nearly three months without drought. Coverage increased from 32% of the state at the beginning of winter and from 72% at the beginning of February. The current extent is the highest observed in Oklahoma since Dec. 6, 2022. Severe-to-extreme drought expanded to 32% of the state by the end of February. 

February by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 51.1°F, 8.7°F above normal — the warmest February since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 87°F at Waurika on Feb. 28; low of 6°F at Eva on Feb. 20; lowest wind chill, –5°F at Eva on Feb. 22
• Warmest and coolest locations: Highest monthly average, 55.6°F at Waurika; lowest, 45.8°F at Kenton
• Statewide average precipitation: 0.97 inches, 0.72 inches below normal — the 40th-driest February since 1895
• Rainfall extremes: High of 3.26 inches at Broken Bow; low of 0 inches at Arnett, Boise City and Eva
• Highest wind gusts (mph): May Ranch, 69; Beaver, 67; Boise City, 64; Buffalo, 64; Kenton, 64; Eva, 63 — all reported on Feb. 17

Winter by the numbers

• Statewide average temperature: 44.3°F, 4.1°F above normal — the warmest winter since records began in 1895
• Temperature extremes: High of 89°F at Mangum on Christmas Day; low of –12°F at Kenton on Jan. 26; lowest wind chill, –24°F at Kenton on Jan. 26
• Statewide average precipitation: 2.13 inches, 3.24 inches below normal — the seventh-driest winter since 1895
• Rainfall extremes: High of 6.17 inches at Broken Bow; low of 0.34 inches at Boise City

March outlook favors rain, drought relief

The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) March outlook indicates increased odds of above-normal precipitation across Oklahoma, especially in the northeastern half, along with increased odds of above-normal temperatures statewide. The CPC’s March drought outlook calls for drought to persist across the Panhandle and far northwest Oklahoma, but improvement, with possible drought removal, across other sections of the state.