Alert archive / Oklahoma / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 145, NWS Tulsa, OK

May 8, 2003Osage County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 8, 2003, 5:50 PM CDT for Osage County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 55 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 2003, 5:50 PM CDT (22:50 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2003, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Osage County, OK

The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:50 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 1:35 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 171 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2003-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2594 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2003-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 164 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

430 
WUUS54 KTSA 082250
SVRTUL
OKC113-082345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
550 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  OSAGE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 550 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 28
  MILES WEST OF FAIRFAX...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...SHIDLER...
  FAIRFAX...BURBANK...PEARSONIA...BIGHEART...FORAKER AND GRAINOLA.

HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED 
IN THE WARNED AREA. STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE 
STORM HAS PASSED.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP SUDDENLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.

LAT...LON 3652 9732 3637 9703 3697 9602 3710 9655

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 Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 8, 5:43 PM CDT, 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 5:43 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
MESOSCALE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OKLAHOMA
543 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003

...DANGEROUS SITUATION DEVELOP FOR EASTERN OKLAHOMA...

A SECOND THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING IN NOBLE COUNTY.  THIS
STORM WILL QUICKLY BECOME A SUPERCELL WITH A TORNADO THREAT FOR
PAWNEE AND OSAGE COUNTIES.

TORNADO PARAMATERS ARE HIGH ACROSS THE EASTERN OKLAHOMA. THIS IS A
DANGEROUS SITUATIN FOR PEOPLE IN OSAGE...PAWNEE... CREEK...TULSA AND
OKMULGEE COUNTIES AND PERHAPS OKFUSKEE COUNTY.  ALL INTERESTS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE AT THE HIGHEST STATE OF READINESS.

FORECAST ID= 08

.TSA...
AR...NONE.
OK...NONE.
Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 5:00 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-091100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
500 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS
MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK

...SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORNADOES WILL LIKELY
   AFFECT PORTIONS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING...

...DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION DEVELOPING ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE DRYLINE AND
ADVANCE INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA BETWEEN 6 AND 7 PM.  PARAMETERS REMAIN
FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO DEVELOP WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.  THE
GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ACROSS NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA HOWEVER...GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF STORMS A TORNADO THREAT
EXISTS ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS.  ADDITIONALLY...BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 80
MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  THE THREAT FOR SEVERE
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AND ADDITIONAL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOKS WILL PROVIDE UPDATES REGARDING THIS
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

WARNING PROBABILITIES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES CAN BE
FOUND IN THE OUTLOOK SECTION AT: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA. GIVEN
PROBABILITIES REPRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED AT
YOUR LOCATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AS THE DRY LINE
REMAINS TO OUR WEST AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE...BUT IT
APPEARS A THIS TIME THAT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN CAPPED ENOUGH TO
REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING
ACROSS THE PLAINS SATURDAY WILL CAUSE THE DRY LINE TO PUSH EAST...
BRINGING YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER TO MUCH OF THE
AREA. DRIER AND COOLER WEATHER WILL FINALLY PREVAIL SUNDAY AND
MONDAY...THEN THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED BY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE
LATEST WARNINGS AND STATEMENT FOR CRITICAL WEATHER INFORMATION.

ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT...
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 8, 1:32 PM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
OKZ054-059-064>065-090200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
132 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH #304 UNTIL 900
PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA:

OKFUSKEE

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA:

CREEK                 OSAGE                 PAWNEE

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BRISTOW...OKEMAH...PAWHUSKA AND PAWNEE.
Local storm report, May 8, 1:38 PM CDT, 4 hours 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0138 PM CDT THU MAY 08 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0630 AM    HOWE                      OK   1.00 IN HAIL
05/08/03   LE FLORE

0543 AM    RED OAK                   OK   WIND DAMAGE
05/08/03   LATIMER                        TREES DOWN.

0658 AM    POTEAU                    OK   WIND DAMAGE
05/08/03   LE FLORE                       2 TREES DOWN.

0622 AM    SUMMERFIELD               OK   WIND DAMAGE
05/08/03   LE FLORE                       BARN LEVELED. POSSIBLE
                                          TORNADO.

0448 AM    BLANCO                    OK   0.88 IN HAIL
05/08/03   PITTSBURG

RJS
Local storm report, May 8, 2:23 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0223 PM CDT THU MAY 08 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0545 PM    1 W KEEFETON              OK   0.75 IN HAIL
05/06/03   MUSKOGEE

0920 PM    HARTFORD                  AR   1.00 IN HAIL
05/06/03   SEBASTIAN

RJS
Special weather statement, May 8, 5:48 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
ARZ001-010-019>020-029-OKZ055>058-060>063-066>076-090400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
548 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH #311 UNTIL 1100
PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

IN ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS:

BENTON                CRAWFORD              WASHINGTON

IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

FRANKLIN              SEBASTIAN

IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 19 COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA:

CHEROKEE              MUSKOGEE              SEQUOYAH

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA:

ADAIR                 CRAIG                 DELAWARE
MAYES                 NOWATA                OKMULGEE
OTTAWA                ROGERS                TULSA
WAGONER               WASHINGTON

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA:

HASKELL               LATIMER               LE FLORE
MCINTOSH              PITTSBURG

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARTLESVILLE...BENTONVILLE...BROKEN
ARROW...CEDARVILLE...CLAREMORE...EUFAULA...FAYETTEVILLE...FORT
SMITH...JAY...MCALESTER...MIAMI...MOUNTAINBURG...MUSKOGEE...NATURAL
DAM...NOWATA...OKMULGEE...OZARK...POTEAU...PRYOR...ROGERS...
SALLISAW...SAND SPRINGS...SILOAM SPRINGS...SPRINGDALE...STIGLER...
STILWELL...TAHLEQUAH...TULSA...VAN BUREN...VINITA...WAGONER AND
WILBURTON.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tulsa, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 1:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSATulsa50 min
May 8, 3:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPittsburg55 min
May 8, 4:20 AM CDTTornado WarningTSAPittsburg55 min
May 8, 4:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSALatimer63 min
May 8, 5:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAHaskell41 min
May 8, 5:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSALatimer, LeFlore49 min
May 8, 6:04 AM CDTTornado WarningTSALeFlore56 min
May 8, 6:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSALeFlore34 min
May 8, 6:01 PM CDTTornado WarningTSACreek, Okfuskee59 min
May 8, 6:06 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAOsage, Pawnee54 min
May 8, 6:53 PM CDTTornado WarningTSAOsage67 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Oklahoma, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.