Hot temperatures arrive early this year in Okla.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hot temperatures have arrived earlier than usual this year in Oklahoma, but forecasters say that's not necessarily indicative that the summer will be warmer than usual. Temperatures have reached 104 degrees in Oklahoma four times this month, including on Tuesday in Hollis and Cherokee. Highs have been in the 90s or low triple digits for much of the state for nearly a week and are expected to rise to that level again Wednesday.

Associate state climatologist Gary McManus says it's usually late June and into July before Oklahoma normally starts experiencing such high heat. But he says it appears there will be periodic stretches of relief from the heat during the summer. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center's long-range forecast calls for typical summertime heat for most of Oklahoma.