Oklahoma drivers cautioned about road buckling during summer heat

ODOT is monitoring road blowouts caused by extreme heat and sudden weather changes, urging drivers to stay alert for potential hazards

KOCO

Joseph Neubauer Jun 10, 2026

As summer heat grips Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is warning drivers about "blowouts" or "pop-ups," where concrete and pavement expand upward due to extreme temperatures.

"We usually see this during the really, really hot months, so late July, August, September," said Emily Long, with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

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These road issues often occur after a hot day followed by a significant rain event and cooldown, conditions that may happen this week. ODOT noted that a few blowouts have already been reported this spring.

"We typically see these on older roads, just because roads now are built with continuously reinforced steel," Long said.

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