Honestly, if you've lived in Green Country for more than a week, you know the drill. You wake up to frost on your windshield and by lunchtime, you're considering a light jacket. It’s wild. Right now, looking at the tulsa ok weather 15 day forecast, we are staring down the barrel of a classic Oklahoma "see-saw" pattern that has everyone from suburban gardeners to fire chiefs on high alert.
The current situation is a bit of a shock to the system. As of early Saturday, January 17, 2026, the temperature in Tulsa is sitting at a crisp 24°F. But here’s the kicker: with a southwest wind moving at 6 mph, the "feels like" temperature is actually 17°F. It's the kind of cold that bites.
The Immediate Outlook: Fires and Flurries
You wouldn't think "fire" and "17 degrees" go together, but the National Weather Service in Tulsa has been pretty vocal about it. Because we've had such a dry stretch, those gusty winds we're expecting this weekend—hitting up to 17 mph from the west today—are turning our dormant grasslands into tinderboxes.
Today, Saturday, January 17, we're looking at a high of 41°F. It’ll be partly sunny, which sounds nice until you realize the low tonight is going to crater back down to 17°F.
Tomorrow is where the see-saw really starts to move.
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Sunday, January 18, brings us a high of 52°F. That’s an 11-degree jump in 24 hours. It’ll be bright and sunny, but don't get too comfortable. By Monday, a cold front pushes through, bringing a 20% chance of light snow and dropping our high to just 33°F.
Basically, keep your heavy coat and your windbreaker in the front seat of the car. You’ll probably need both before Tuesday.
Looking Into Next Week
Mid-January in Tulsa usually means navigating these weird little pockets of arctic air. The 15-day window shows a significant warm-up starting Tuesday, January 20. We’re talking highs rebounding to 52°F on Tuesday and climbing to 54°F by Wednesday.
Mid-Range Forecast Details
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Bright sun, high of 52°F, low of 23°F. Perfect for a walk at the Gathering Place if you time it for 3 PM.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Mostly sunny, high of 54°F. The winds shift north again, keeping the air feeling a bit sharper than the thermometer suggests.
- Thursday, Jan 22: High of 50°F. Humidity starts to creep up slightly to 46%, which often signals a change in the pressure system.
- Friday, Jan 23: This looks like the peak of the warm-up with a high of 56°F.
Then, things get messy.
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By Saturday, January 24, we’re seeing a transition. The forecast calls for light rain during the day with a high of 46°F, but as the sun goes down and the temperature drops to 25°F, that rain is expected to turn into snow showers. This is that classic "Oklahoman Rain-to-Snow" transition that makes the IDL and the Broken Arrow Expressway a nightmare for commuters.
The Long-Range Trend: Late January
Looking toward the end of the month, the "Almanac" and long-range models suggest we’ll stay on the colder side of the average. While the first half of January 2026 was unseasonably warm—with some days hitting the 60s and 70s earlier in the month—the last week of January looks to be dominated by "rainy periods south" and "chilly" conditions for us here in the north.
Specifically, for Monday, January 26 through Wednesday, January 28, expect highs to hover in the mid-40s with lows consistently below freezing, around 25°F to 26°F.
It’s not quite the "Snowpocalypse" some people fear every time a cloud appears, but it's consistent winter weather. The humidity will stay around 48% to 50%, which is relatively dry but high enough to make the cold feel "damp" and bone-chilling.
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Survival Tips for the Tulsa 15-Day Swing
Honestly, the most important thing right now isn't the snow—it's the fire risk and the plumbing.
First, let's talk about those "Fire Weather" warnings. When the NWS mentions "elevated fire weather," they aren't joking. With humidity dropping into the teens and 20s during the windy afternoons, a tossed cigarette or a spark from a lawnmower can start a brush fire that moves faster than you can run.
Second, those 17-degree lows are the danger zone for exposed pipes. If you’re in an older Midtown bungalow, you’ve probably already got your cabinets open and your faucets dripping. Keep doing that through Monday night.
Actionable Steps for the Next Two Weeks:
- Hydrate your evergreens: It sounds counter-intuitive, but plants need water to survive the freeze-dry effect of Oklahoma winters. Give them a drink on those 50-degree days.
- Check your tire pressure: These 30-degree temperature swings will make your "low tire pressure" light pop on like clockwork.
- Layer like a pro: Wear a moisture-wicking base, a fleece mid-layer, and a wind-resistant outer shell. The wind is the real enemy in Tulsa, not just the temperature.
- Monitor the Saturday, Jan 24 transition: If you have travel plans for that evening, keep a close eye on the rain-to-snow line. It only takes a two-degree difference to turn a wet road into an ice rink.
Tulsa weather is rarely boring. We’ve seen Januarys where we’re wearing shorts on the 15th and digging out of a foot of snow on the 20th. This year, the tulsa ok weather 15 day forecast suggests a more measured, but still volatile, trek through the rest of the month. Stay warm, keep the pets inside during those single-digit wind chill nights, and maybe keep a bag of ice melt by the front door—just in case that January 24th snow shower decides to get serious.