Today's Mosquito Risk in Oklahoma: Real-Time Forecast & Activity Map
Check your ZIP code for local mosquito activity, West Nile risk, and prevention insights.
Built from CDC and NOAA data
Mosquito Surveillance Insights
- Annual WNV Cases
- about 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 2: High Pressure
- Tornado-alley summer storms drive episodic Aedes vexans surges; Cx. tarsalis sustains background WNV.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Oklahoma, Tulsa, Cleveland, Comanche (WNV); western wheat-belt counties (Cx. tarsalis); southeastern corner counties (Aedes aegypti)
Current Situation in Oklahoma
Oklahoma runs a moderate WNV burden of roughly 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually, with risk distributed across the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metros and the Red River bottomlands. The state spans three habitat zones: the western High Plains and Black Mesa country, the Cross Timbers oak savanna across the central tier, and the Ouachita Mountains and Pineywoods of the southeastern corner. Cx. tarsalis dominates Culex transmission in the western half off irrigated wheat and alfalfa, while Cx. quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus take over east of I-35. Aedes aegypti is documented in the southeastern corner counties. EEE is rare. Tornado-alley summer storms produce sharp Aedes vexans pulses across the Arkansas River and Red River floodplains. Biting season runs May through October.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Oklahoma, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Moderate
- Peak Activity
- April through October
- Dominant Vector
- Western Encephalitis Mosquito (Culex tarsalis) western half; Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) eastern half
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Oklahoma
Oklahoma mosquito habitat splits between the Red River bottomlands along the Texas border, the Arkansas River corridor through Tulsa, and the Cross Timbers oak savanna across the central tier. The Red River floodplain and Lake Texoma shoreline sustain Aedes vexans and Cx. quinquefasciatus through summer. The Arkansas River bottomlands through Tulsa and Muskogee produce floodwater Aedes hatches after thunderstorm season. The Cross Timbers belt holds steady seasonal Cx. tarsalis and Aedes albopictus pressure across central counties. The Ouachita Mountains in the southeast and the Pineywoods around Broken Bow hold woodland Aedes off beaver ponds and forested wetlands. The Wichita Mountains in the southwest and Black Mesa in the panhandle stay drier with lower pressure. Lake Eufaula and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County carry seasonal hatches. Storm drains across Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, and Lawton carry the urban Aedes albopictus load.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City metro)
- Tulsa County (Tulsa, Arkansas River)
- Cleveland County (Norman)
- Comanche County (Lawton, Wichita Mountains edge)
- Lake Texoma and Red River bottomlands
- Lake Eufaula shoreline
- Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (Osage County)
- Ouachita Mountains and Pineywoods (southeast corner)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in early May across the Red River bottomlands, peaks late July through August, and tapers through October. WNV cases concentrate in August across the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metros and the western Cx. tarsalis counties. Cx. tarsalis populations build through July with the irrigation cycle on western wheat and alfalfa fields. Tornado-alley thunderstorm activity from May through July produces sharp Aedes vexans pulses across the Arkansas, Cimarron, and Red River bottoms. Aedes albopictus daytime biting in suburban yards runs heavy from June through September. The southeastern Ouachita and Pineywoods counties run a week behind the rest of the state on phenology.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Southwest)
Oklahoma Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- May through October
- Top urban risk areas
- Oklahoma City (Oklahoma)
- Tulsa (Tulsa)
- Norman (Cleveland)
- Broken Arrow (Tulsa)
Signature habitat: Cross Timbers, Red River bottomlands, Arkansas River floodplain, Wichita Mountains.
Climate driver: Tornado-alley summer storms drive episodic Aedes vexans surges; Cx. tarsalis sustains background WNV.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
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Common Mosquitoes in Oklahoma
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Oklahoma helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
Southern House Mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus
Risk: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Medium brown body with banded abdominal segments and no leg stripes.
Active: Year-round in the deep South; summer peak elsewhere. Most active from dusk through the first few hours after sunset.
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Risk: Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya.
Key feature: Black body with white lyre-shaped markings on the thorax.
Active: Year-round in southern Florida and the Gulf; summer-only further north.
West Nile Virus
Vector: Southern House Mosquito
West Nile Virus
The most common mosquito-borne illness in the US. About 80% of infections cause no symptoms; less than 1% develop neuroinvasive disease.
What to watch for
- Onset typically 2 to 15 days after a bite
- Most cases mild or asymptomatic, small fraction severe
- Neurological signs (severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion) need ER care
Breaking the Cycle in Oklahoma
The mosquito lifecycle takes about a week. These habits cut local biting pressure faster than anything else, building multiple layers of protection.
Drain the Yard Weekly
Empty buckets, planter saucers, kiddie pools, tarps, and clogged gutters. A week of standing water is one full mosquito generation.
Repel Before Going Out
EPA-registered DEET (20-30%), picaridin (20%), IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply before going outside, especially at dusk and dawn.
Seal the House
Window and door screens with no tears. AC and porch fans both work. Mosquitoes struggle to fly upwind even at 1-2 mph air speed.
Treat Outdoor Clothing
Permethrin-treated long sleeves and pants for evening yard work, hiking, or fishing. Remains effective through 70+ wash cycles.
If You Develop Symptoms
Most mosquito bites are harmless. A small fraction can transmit illness, and knowing the timeline matters more than panicking at every itch.Five things to know.
Watch for fever
Fever, body aches, headache, or fatigue 2 to 15 days after a bite. West Nile often feels like flu, and most infections never get diagnosed.
Note where and when
A rough record of where and when you got bitten helps your doctor decide what to test for. Date, location, mosquito-heavy areas you visited.
Get help fast for neuro signs
Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, vision changes, or sudden muscle weakness can mean neuroinvasive WNV or EEE. Both are medical emergencies.
Pregnant exposure?
If pregnant and bitten in an area with documented Zika or local dengue transmission, mention to your OB. Same goes for travel exposure.
Children and seniors
Higher risk of severe disease from WNV, EEE, and dengue in adults over 60 and children under 5. Early call to the pediatrician or PCP if symptoms appear.
When does mosquito season end in Oklahoma?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Oklahoma typically arrives around Nov 1. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Oklahoma first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Oklahoma?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Oklahoma tick forecast.
View Oklahoma tick forecastStay Safe in Oklahoma
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