Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Watches in 2003
Tornado Watch 304
The Storm Prediction Center issued this tornado watch at May 8, 2003, 1:35 PM CDT for 11 counties in Kansas; 30 counties in Oklahoma; Wichita County, Texas. It was in force for 7 hr.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 8, 2003, 1:35 PM CDT (18:35 UTC)
- Expired
- May 8, 2003, 9:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 7 hr
- Issued by
- the Storm Prediction Center
All 42 counties
Butler County, KS, Chautauqua County, KS, Cowley County, KS, Elk County, KS, Greenwood County, KS, Harper County, KS, Harvey County, KS, Kingman County, KS, Reno County, KS, Sedgwick County, KS, Sumner County, KS, Alfalfa County, OK, Blaine County, OK, Caddo County, OK, Canadian County, OK, Carter County, OK, Cleveland County, OK, Comanche County, OK, Cotton County, OK, Creek County, OK, Garfield County, OK, Garvin County, OK, Grady County, OK, Grant County, OK, Jefferson County, OK, Kay County, OK, Kingfisher County, OK, Lincoln County, OK, Logan County, OK, Major County, OK, McClain County, OK, Murray County, OK, Noble County, OK, Oklahoma County, OK, Osage County, OK, Pawnee County, OK, Payne County, OK, Pottawatomie County, OK, Seminole County, OK, Stephens County, OK, Tillman County, OK, Wichita County, TX
The radar
The Norman radar (KTLX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:39 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.
Warnings issued inside it
21 tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for its counties while it was in force.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 4:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Grady | 50 min |
| May 8, 4:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Canadian | 38 min |
| May 8, 4:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Grady | 43 min |
| May 8, 4:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Butler, Sedgwick | 61 min |
| May 8, 4:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Oklahoma | 45 min |
| May 8, 4:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Cleveland, McClain, Oklahoma | 56 min |
| May 8, 5:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Cowley, Sumner | 46 min |
| May 8, 5:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Lincoln, Pottawatomie | 59 min |
| May 8, 5:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garfield, Noble | 43 min |
| May 8, 5:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ICT | Butler | 67 min |
| May 8, 5:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Greenwood | 62 min |
| May 8, 5:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Oklahoma | 31 min |
| May 8, 5:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TSA | Osage | 55 min |
| May 8, 5:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Kay | 39 min |
| May 8, 5:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Noble | 50 min |
| May 8, 5:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ICT | Greenwood | 63 min |
| May 8, 6:01 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TSA | Creek, Okfuskee | 59 min |
| May 8, 6:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TSA | Osage, Pawnee | 54 min |
| May 8, 6:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Chautauqua, Cowley | 44 min |
| May 8, 6:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Elk | 55 min |
| May 8, 6:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TSA | Osage | 67 min |
Discussions around it
SPC mesoscale discussions over the same counties from four hours before the watch to its end.
The nearest sounding before it
Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 64 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
- 2594 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -55 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 646 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 55 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 164 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 213 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.1
- Supercell composite
- 11.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WWUS20 KWNS 081834
SEL4
SPC WW 081835
KSZ000-OKZ000-090200-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 304
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
135 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 135 PM UNTIL
900 PM CDT.
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 55 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF HUTCHINSON KANSAS TO 50
MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF FORT SILL OKLAHOMA.
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 300...WW 301...WW 302...WW
303...
DISCUSSION...RAPID SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AS CAP ERODES EAST OF THE DRY LINE.
DEVELOPMENT MAY OCCUR AS FAR SOUTH AS THE RED RIVER. VERY STRONG
SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS. IN ADDITION...LOW
LCL HEIGHTS AND SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL SHEAR SUGGEST LONG-LIVED
TORNADIC SUPERCELLS WITH A THREAT OF STRONG/VIOLENT TORNADOES.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25035.
...EVANS
382,0954 335,0965 335,0991 382,0980
WWUS20 KWNS 081834
SEL4
SPC WW 081835
KSZ000-OKZ000-090200-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 304
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
135 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 135 PM UNTIL
900 PM CDT.
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 55 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF HUTCHINSON KANSAS TO 50
MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF FORT SILL OKLAHOMA.
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 300...WW 301...WW 302...WW
303...
DISCUSSION...RAPID SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AS CAP ERODES EAST OF THE DRY LINE.
DEVELOPMENT MAY OCCUR AS FAR SOUTH AS THE RED RIVER. VERY STRONG
SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS. IN ADDITION...LOW
LCL HEIGHTS AND SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL SHEAR SUGGEST LONG-LIVED
TORNADIC SUPERCELLS WITH A THREAT OF STRONG/VIOLENT TORNADOES.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25035.
...EVANS
382,0954 335,0965 335,0991 382,0980SPC that day
Everything else SPC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 7:01 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cheyenne, Greeley, Sherman, Wallace, Wichita | 89 min |
| May 8, 1:18 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Allen, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua and 21 more | 3 hr |
| May 8, 1:55 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Allen, Anderson, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler and 44 more | 5 hr |
| May 8, 3:51 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Atchison, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler and 50 more | 3 hr |
| May 8, 4:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Atchison, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Doniphan, Douglas and 19 more | 7 hr |
| May 8, 7:50 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth and 6 more | 85 min |
| May 8, 7:55 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth and 6 more | 95 min |
| May 8, 12:49 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Harper, Sumner | 3 hr |
| May 8, 1:07 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Barton, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth and 16 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 1:10 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cheyenne, Decatur, Graham, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan and 2 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 1:30 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Cheyenne, Decatur, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton and 6 more | 6 hr |
| May 8, 1:50 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Anderson, Atchison, Brown, Chase, Clay, Cloud and 31 more | 7 hr |
| May 8, 3:26 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Brown, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Geary and 22 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 3:34 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cowley, Elk and 10 more | 116 min |
| May 8, 3:35 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cheyenne, Decatur, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton and 6 more | 115 min |
| May 8, 4:16 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford and 11 more | 29 min |
| May 8, 4:40 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford and 13 more | 6 hr |
| May 8, 6:38 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Brown, Butler and 46 more | 2 hr |
| May 7, 8:01 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Harmon and 4 more | 59 min |
| May 7, 10:35 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Alfalfa, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee, Cleveland and 29 more | 55 min |
| May 7, 10:35 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Beckham, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Comanche, Cotton and 13 more | 5 hr |
| May 7, 10:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Adair, Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian and 39 more | 5 hr |
| May 7, 11:51 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Beckham, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Comanche, Cotton and 13 more | 54 min |
| May 8, 1:57 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Comanche and 14 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 3:50 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal and 25 more | 3 hr |
| May 8, 5:02 AM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adair, Atoka, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Creek and 24 more | 2 hr |
| May 8, 6:20 AM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Haskell, Latimer, LeFlore, Sequoyah | 3 hr |
| May 8, 4:47 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain and 3 more | 58 min |
| May 8, 5:31 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Adair, Cherokee, Coal, Craig, Creek, Delaware and 17 more | 59 min |
| May 8, 5:45 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Adair, Cherokee, Coal, Craig, Delaware, Haskell and 17 more | 5 hr |
| May 7, 8:15 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Bosque, Coryell, Ellis, Erath, Freestone, Hamilton and 7 more | 6 hr |
| May 8, 2:43 PM CDT | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Archer, Bosque, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Clay and 28 more | 62 min |
| May 8, 3:40 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | Archer, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coleman, Comanche and 18 more | 5 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Watches in Oklahoma, 2003Tornado Watches in Kansas, 2003Tornado Watches in Texas, 2003Every tornado watch in 2003
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.