Alert archive / Oklahoma / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 147, NWS Norman, OK
NWS Norman, OK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 1997, 6:10 PM CDT for Seminole County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 50 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 26, 1997, 6:10 PM CDT (23:10 UTC)
- Expired
- May 26, 1997, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 50 min
- Issued by
- NWS Norman, OK
- Area
- Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction
County Seminole County, OK
The radar
The Norman radar (KTLX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 6:25 PM CDT | Hail 0.75 | Cromwell, OK | |
| May 26, 6:45 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Cromwell, OK | A tornado was seen 1 mile north of Highway 99A on Highway 56. The tornado blew the roof off of a detached garage, destroyed a storage shed and its contents, pulled sections of chain-link fence from the ground, and caused minor tree damage at a residence. A n |
| May 26, 6:47 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Cromwell, OK | Emergency managment officials reported a tornado moving from southwest of Cromwell to about 1 mile east of Cromwell. No damage was reported along this path. |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 6:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 72 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 62 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -359 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2056 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 37 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.2
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 26, 3:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 3:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 345 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997 MODELS IN GNRL AGREEMENT...WITH NGM AND RUC HAVING BEST TIME WITH SFC LOW MOVING NEWD ACRS CNTRL OK. ETA KEEPS LOW MOVG ACRS RED RVR. TRICK THIS PKG WL BE POPS. NOTHING HAPPENING YET AND THINK BEST CHC FOR WDSPRD CONVECTION WL BE ACRS NERN PTN OF FA AND AREAS TO THE NORTH AND EAST. WL PUT IN SLGT CHC TO CHC POPS ACRS NRN...CNTRL AND SERN ZNS. FEEL SLGT CHC POPS WARRENTED ACRS NWRN OK WITH PROX TO SWRN KS ACTIVITY AND SPC WATCH. WITH MAIN WAVE COMING THRU TUES AND TUES NIGHT...WL LEAVE AT LEAST CHEAP SLGT CHC POPS ACRS CNTRL AND ERN ZNS AS MSTR IS NOT TOTALLY GONE. TEMPS WL COOL DOWN OVR NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE WARM UP IN LATE WEEK. WL GO CLOSER TO FWC GUID DUE TO FAN BIAS. FCSTID = 11 OKC 63 80 58 77 / 20 20 20 10 HBR 57 82 56 80 / 20 10 10 0 SPS 62 85 59 81 / 10 10 10 10 GAG 53 74 51 78 / 20 10 10 0 PNC 63 79 59 77 / 30 20 20 10 DUA 66 86 61 80 / 30 20 30 10 .OKC... OK...NONE. TX...NONE.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 26, 12:30 PM CDT, 5 hours 40 minutes before
OKZ004>053-TXZ083>090-271230- THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 1230 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997 ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GENERALLY TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...TO THE WEST OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF A LINE FROM FROM WAURIKA TO CHEROKEE... EARLY THIS AFTERNOON A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM AROUND BARTLESVILLE A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA WITH A DRY LINE EXTENDING FROM THE LOW SOUTHWARD THE BIG BEND. AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND DRYLINE RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE. WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE BY MID AFTERNOON. THE SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE DRY LINE PUSHING EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA. DAYTIME HEATING...COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO SHOULD COMBINE TO CAUSE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN THE VICIITY OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARIES THIS AFTERNOON. VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE EASTWARD INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. EMERGENCY MANAGMENT OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON. 02
Special weather statement, May 26, 12:30 PM CDT, 5 hours 40 minutes before
OKZ004>053-TXZ083>090-271230- THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...CORRECTED FOR TYPOS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 1230 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997 ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GENERALLY TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...TO THE WEST OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF A LINE FROM FROM WAURIKA TO CHEROKEE... EARLY THIS AFTERNOON A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM AROUND BARTLESVILLE TO A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA WITH A DRY LINE EXTENDING FROM THE LOW SOUTHWARD THE TEXAS BIG BEND. AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND DRYLINE RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE. WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE BY MID AFTERNOON. THE SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE DRY LINE PUSHING EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA. DAYTIME HEATING...COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO SHOULD COMBINE TO CAUSE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN THE VICIITY OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARIES THIS AFTERNOON. VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE EASTWARD INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. EMERGENCY MANAGMENT OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON. 02
Special weather statement, May 26, 12:42 PM CDT, 5 hours 28 minutes before
OKZ004>053-TXZ083>090-271230- THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 1230 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997 ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GENERALLY TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...TO THE WEST OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF A LINE FROM FROM WAURIKA TO CHEROKEE... EARLY THIS AFTERNOON A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM AROUND BARTLESVILLE A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA WITH A DRY LINE EXTENDING FROM THE LOW SOUTHWARD THE BIG BEND. AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND DRYLINE RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE. WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE BY MID AFTERNOON. THE SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE DRY LINE PUSHING EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA. DAYTIME HEATING...COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO SHOULD COMBINE TO CAUSE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN THE VICIITY OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARIES THIS AFTERNOON. VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE EASTWARD INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. EMERGENCY MANAGMENT OFFICIALlS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON. 02
Special weather statement, May 26, 12:53 PM CDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
OKZ004>053-TXZ083>090-271230- THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...CORRECTED FOR TYPOS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 1230 PM CDT MON MAY 26 1997 ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GENERALLY TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...TO THE WEST OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF A LINE FROM FROM WAURIKA TO CHEROKEE... EARLY THIS AFTERNOON A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM AROUND BARTLESVILLE TO A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA WITH A DRY LINE EXTENDING FROM THE LOW SOUTHWARD THE TEXAS BIG BEND. AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND DRYLINE RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE. WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 80S AND LOWER 90S THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE BY MID AFTERNOON. THE SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE DRY LINE PUSHING EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA. DAYTIME HEATING...COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO SHOULD COMBINE TO CAUSE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN THE VICIITY OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARIES THIS AFTERNOON. VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE EASTWARD INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. EMERGENCY MANAGMENT OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON. 02
The office that day
Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 7:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Murray | 62 min |
| May 25, 7:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin | 46 min |
| May 25, 7:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Pontotoc | 60 min |
| May 25, 7:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Johnston, Pontotoc | 48 min |
| May 25, 7:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Carter | 33 min |
| May 25, 7:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Carter | 46 min |
| May 25, 8:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Coal, Johnston, Pontotoc | 55 min |
| May 25, 8:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Johnston, Marshall | 39 min |
| May 25, 8:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Carter | 44 min |
| May 25, 8:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Atoka, Johnston | 31 min |
| May 25, 9:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Kay | 38 min |
| May 25, 9:15 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Bryan, Marshall | 45 min |
| May 25, 9:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Atoka, Pushmataha | 35 min |
| May 25, 9:39 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Kay | 51 min |
| May 25, 9:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Atoka | 48 min |
| May 25, 10:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Bryan | 45 min |
| May 25, 10:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Kay | 44 min |
| May 25, 10:45 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Atoka, Pushmataha | 45 min |
| May 25, 11:30 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Choctaw, Pushmataha | 45 min |
| May 26, 6:30 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Seminole | 30 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Oklahoma, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.