If you’ve lived in Green Country for more than five minutes, you know the drill. You leave the house in a parka and come home in short sleeves. This week is no different. Honestly, the 7 day tulsa forecast starting this Wednesday, January 14, is a textbook example of why Oklahomans have trust issues with their thermometers.
We are currently staring down a classic "January Thaw" that’s about to collide with a dry spell so intense it’s making the local ponds look a bit nervous. If you were hoping for a winter wonderland, I’ve got some bad news. It’s looking dry. Like, "static-shock-every-time-you-touch-a-doorknob" dry.
The Immediate Breakdown: Sun, Wind, and Dry Air
Right now, as we kick off Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the sky is clear, but don't let that fool you. It’s crisp. We’re looking at a high of 49°F today with a biting north wind gusting up to 20 mph. By the time the sun dips behind the skyline, that temperature is going to crater. Expect a low around 25°F tonight.
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Thursday offers a brief reprieve. It’ll be the warmest day of the front half of the week, topping out at 54°F. The wind flips to the south, which usually brings moisture, but this year the Gulf seems to be holding out on us.
- Wednesday (Jan 14): 49°F / 25°F (Sunny and windy)
- Thursday (Jan 15): 54°F / 25°F (Clear skies, slightly warmer)
- Friday (Jan 16): 49°F / 30°F (Partly sunny, turning colder again)
Friday is when things get a little "moody." We might see some periodic clouds, and there's a tiny 10% chance of a stray shower or even a few flakes overnight as a weak boundary pushes through. Don't go buying bread and milk just yet; it’s more of a "dusting" chance than a "snow day" chance.
The Weekend Outlook: A Chilly Reality Check
Saturday, January 17, is where the "winter" part of the 7 day tulsa forecast actually shows up. The high struggles to hit 42°F. That doesn’t sound too bad until you realize the overnight low is dropping to 16°F.
That is cold. Even for Tulsa.
If you have sensitive plants or pipes that like to act up, Saturday night into Sunday morning is your primary window of concern. Sunday stays chilly with a high of 44°F, though the wind finally dies down a bit, making it feel slightly more bearable for a walk at Gathering Place.
The Polar Vortex Whisperers
There’s been a lot of chatter among local meteorologists and hobbyist weather watchers about the Polar Vortex weakening. When that happens, the Arctic air that’s usually bottled up north starts to "leak" down into the Great Plains.
While the current 7 day tulsa forecast doesn't show a record-breaking "Deep Freeze" just yet, Monday, January 19, is looking particularly stout. We’re forecasting a high of only 32°F—right at the freezing mark.
It’s a sharp reminder that while we’ve had some 60-degree days lately, winter isn't finished with us.
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Rain is the Real Missing Piece
The most striking part of the current weather pattern isn't the cold; it's the lack of water. Oklahoma is currently in a bit of a "tinderbox" situation. According to recent reports from local outlets like Z94, the ground is so dry that burn bans are starting to pop up in counties surrounding Tulsa.
Usually, January gives us at least an inch and a half of precipitation. This week? We’re looking at a big fat zero for the most part.
This dryness affects more than just your lawn. It changes how the air holds heat. Dry air heats up and cools down much faster than moist air, which explains why we’re seeing these massive 30-degree swings between day and night. It’s basically desert rules in the 918 right now.
Comparing to Tulsa’s Wild History
Just to give you some perspective on how "normal" this weirdness is, let’s look at the record books. On January 14 back in 1952, it hit 75°F in Tulsa. Conversely, on this same day in 2024, the record low was a bone-chilling -4°F.
We are sitting right in the middle of those extremes.
The record high for any January in Tulsa is 82°F (set in 1909), and the record low is -16°F (1930). So, while 16°F this coming Sunday might feel like the end of the world, historically speaking, it’s just a standard Oklahoma winter Tuesday. Sorta.
Looking Toward Next Week
As we wrap up the seven-day window on Wednesday, January 21, the pattern seems to reset. We’ll likely see temperatures climb back into the mid-50s as a ridge of high pressure builds back in.
- Monday (Jan 19): 32°F / 23°F (The coldest afternoon)
- Tuesday (Jan 20): 51°F / 27°F (Quick rebound)
- Wednesday (Jan 21): 54°F / 38°F (Back to mild conditions)
How to Handle This Week
Since the air is so dry and the temperatures are bouncing around, your best bet is the "onion method." Layers. Start with a light base, add a sweater, and keep the heavy coat in the backseat of the car.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on the fire risk. With the humidity dropping into the 30% range this weekend and the grass being dormant and dry, a single cigarette butt or a spark from a brush pile can start a field fire in seconds. Most local fire departments are asking people to postpone any outdoor burning until we get a soaking rain—which, unfortunately, doesn't look like it's happening in this current forecast window.
Check your tire pressure too. These rapid drops from 50 to 16 degrees will almost certainly trigger that annoying "low tire" light on your dashboard. It’s not necessarily a leak; it’s just physics.
Actionable Steps for Tulsans this week:
- Drip your faucets on Saturday night when we hit that 16°F low.
- Avoid outdoor burning entirely until the wind dies down and humidity rises.
- Hydrate your skin and nasal passages; this dry air is brutal on the sinuses.
- Check your antifreeze levels before Monday’s freeze.
The Oklahoma weather rollercoaster is in full swing. Hold on tight, keep your coat handy, and maybe keep a bottle of lotion in the car. You’re gonna need it.