Oklahoma turned 100 years old in the year 2007. Tulsa turns 100 degrees pretty much every summer.
The date is Oct. 4, 2005. The Tulsa mayor is Bill LaFortune. The event is the unveiling of the Centennial clock at Boston Avenue and Third Street. Tulsa World File
The Centennial time capsule at Veterans Park. I wonder what our future Tulsa residents will think about our weather now. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World File
I partially blame all of the hot weather for the 1957 Belvedere's condition, which was unearthed for Oklahoma's Centennial at Tulsarama 2007. Tulsa World File
Part of the Oklahoma Centennial celebration was creating statues in honor of OU's Heisman winners, including Billy Sims. Boomer! Tulsa World File
This "East Meets West" bronze sculpture will depict the Avery family riding in a Model-T as they encounter a horse-drawn carriage on its way from the west Tulsa oil fields. It will be installed in Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza this summer. Photo courtesy of the city of Tulsa
And then, to end the Oklahoma Centennial year, Tulsa had an ice storm in December 2007. This photo shows downtown Tulsa looking south toward the Arkansas River. That's one time when Tulsa could have used 100-degree weather. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World File
In honor of triple-digit heat forecasts hitting Tulsa right on schedule, here are some facts on 100 degrees in Tulsa. Information is provided by the National Weather Service.
1. Tulsa averages NINE days of triple-digit heat per year.
This might seem crazy after last year's 14-day streak of 100s, but on Tulsa's weather records dating back to 1905, Tulsa has averaged only 9 per season.
2. Most of Tulsa's days in the 100s happen in AUGUST.
On average, Tulsa has 4.9 days of triple-digit heat in the month of August, more than any other month of the year.
3. HALF the months of the year have had 100-degree heat in Tulsa.
No typo. Tulsa has had 100s happen in every month April through September. However, April and May have only had one occurrence, April 1972 and May 1934.
4. It is NOT always a guarantee that Tulsa will have 100s each year.
This first happened in 1905 (in records that started in 1905, yes) and most recently in 2004. The last seasonal month to not have 100s was September 2010.
5. The MOST 100-degree days in a MONTH was 27.
Although we have come close to beating it thrice, including 26 days in July of last year, July 1934 has the most 100-degree days in Tulsa. The other 26-day occurrences were July 1980 and August 1936.
6. The MOST 100-degree days in a YEAR was 65.
I am trying not to imagine how hot and miserable that summer of 1936 must have been. In comparison, our drought-filled summer of 2011 "only" had 44.
7. The most CONSECUTIVE days of 100s was 22.
And it happened twice. One streak ended Aug. 28, 1936. The other ended Aug. 22, 1918.
8. More than 20 times, Tulsa has had a 100s STREAK of 10 days.
The earliest recorded streak was 12 days, ending July 6, 1911. We had two of these streaks last year. One was 14 days, ending Aug. 8. The other was 11 days, ending July 24.
9. 32 years, Tulsa has had at LEAST 20 days with 100s.
Here are the ones that happened since the 1990s: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2011. Yes, that's it. No more. Seriously.
10. 16 years, Tulsa has had NO days with 100s.
Most of these happened before the 50s, but once again, here are the years since the 1990s: 1992, 1997, 2004.
11. Tulsa's HOTTEST temperature ever was 115 degrees.
It happened on Aug. 10, 1936. The coldest, minus-16 degrees, happened on Jan. 22, 1930.
12. Before Sunday, Tulsa's PREVIOUS day in the 100s was Sept. 13, 2011.
It reached 101 degrees that day. Sunday just recorded a high of 100 degrees. I think it's fair to assume that we are about to get some more triple-digit heat this week.
--Althea Peterson
