Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Norman, OK

May 16, 2017Beckham County, Washita County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 16, 2017, 6:54 PM CDT for Beckham County, Washita County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 51 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 16, 2017, 6:54 PM CDT (23:54 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2017, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Norman, OK
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 1.75 in

Counties Beckham County, OK, Washita County, OK

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:55 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 16, 6:57 PM CDT	HAIL 4	5 N Carter, OK
May 16, 7:08 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 N Carter, OK	POWER LINES AND DEBRIS ON HWY 34.
May 16, 7:10 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 68	5 S Elk City, OK
May 16, 7:15 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 74	5 S Elk City, OK

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 16, 1:54 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 173 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 133 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -523 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 989 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 243 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 246 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

470 
WFUS54 KOUN 162354
TOROUN
OKC009-149-170045-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0025.170516T2354Z-170517T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Norman OK
654 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Washita County in western Oklahoma...
  East central Beckham County in western Oklahoma...

* Until 745 PM CDT

* At 653 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located just north of 
  Carter, moving east-northeast at 40 mph. This tornado will affect 
  areas south of Elk City and between Carter and Burns Flat.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf ball size hail. 

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. 

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Burns Flat, Dill City, Canute and Foss. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
storm shelter, safe room or an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3527 9960 3547 9917 3547 9904 3544 9900
      3528 9913 3522 9958
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 246DEG 34KT 3527 9951 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

..speg.

2 follow-up statements

841 
WWUS54 KOUN 170003
SVSOUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
703 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

OKC009-149-170045-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-170517T0045Z/
Washita OK-Beckham OK-
703 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN WASHITA AND EAST CENTRAL BECKHAM COUNTIES...
    
At 701 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was 
located 6 miles north of Carter, moving northeast at 30 mph. People 
south of Elk City and between Elk City and Burns Flat should take 
shelter now! This storm also has a history of producing softball 
size hail.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado. 

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. 

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible. 

Locations impacted include...
Elk City, Burns Flat, Canute and Foss. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, an extremely dangerous and potentially deadly tornado is
on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm
shelter, safe room, or an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3530 9953 3547 9917 3547 9904 3544 9900
      3530 9911 3527 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 237DEG 25KT 3531 9947 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...4.00IN

$$

..speg.

508 
WWUS54 KOUN 170036
SVSOUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
736 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

OKC009-170045-
/O.CAN.KOUN.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-170517T0045Z/
Beckham OK-
736 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BECKHAM COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of Beckham County. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled for 
Beckham County.

LAT...LON 3547 9917 3547 9904 3545 9902 3540 9929
      3541 9930
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 237DEG 30KT 3544 9922 

$$

OKC149-170045-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-170517T0045Z/
Washita OK-
736 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN WASHITA COUNTY...
    
At 735 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located northeast of Canute, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely. 

Locations impacted include...
Canute and Foss. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter, safe room, or an interior
room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you
are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 9917 3547 9904 3545 9902 3540 9929
      3541 9930
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 237DEG 30KT 3544 9922 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.75IN

$$

..speg.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 16, 6:16 PM CDT, 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 6:16 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
616 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

.AVIATION...
Isolated severe storms entering western Oklahoma may pass near
western TAF sites. Later tonight, after 3z, a line of storms is
expected to form and march eastward through the area, eventually
affecting most TAF sites. Ceilings will continue to bounce between
MVFR and VFR into the evening before clearing out with the
approaching convection. Winds will remain southerly and gusty.

Day

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 216 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017/

DISCUSSION...
We are getting the package out early as things will start getting
busy before too long. As as been discussed for days, a severe
weather event is setting up for this evening, and storms have
already formed on the dryline in the Texas panhandle. Expected
isolated to widely scattered storms along the dryline this evening
moving into western sections of the area. Supercells will be
likely. The airmass will be conducive to tornado potential as
well, especially in the far west. High-resolution models weaken
these storms by mid-late evening as they move northeast, but am
somewhat skeptical how fast these initial storms will diminish.
Regardless, also expect a second wave of storms to form out west
in the mid-late evening. This wave of storms will likely be more
widespread and perhaps become a linear system as they spread east
and northeast. Severe weather will continue to be possible with
these storms overnight.

We will see a break in the thunderstorm activity on Wednesday as
the initial wave moves northeast of the area. But alas, this
respite will be short-lived as the next longwave trough approaches
the area. Severe storms will again be possible Thursday and
Friday. The cold front associated with this system moves through
the area overnight Friday night and Saturday morning with cooler
weather moving in. But the we will continue to have broad
troughing in the Plains, so precipitation chances will persist
into next week.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  63  83  63  85 /  70  10  10  30
Hobart OK         59  86  58  87 /  70   0   0  40
Wichita Falls TX  63  89  64  89 /  70   0   0  40
Gage OK           57  82  55  85 /  50   0   0  20
Ponca City OK     64  83  61  85 /  60  20   0  20
Durant OK         68  86  70  86 /  50  20  10  20

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

14

Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 12:05 PM CDT, 6 hours 49 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Norman OK
1205 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-171715-
Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-
Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield-Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-
Kingfisher-Logan-Payne-Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Oklahoma-
Lincoln-Grady-McClain-Cleveland-Pottawatomie-Seminole-Hughes-Harmon-
Greer-Kiowa-Jackson-Tillman-Comanche-Stephens-Garvin-Murray-
Pontotoc-
Coal-Cotton-Jefferson-Carter-Johnston-Atoka-Love-Marshall-Bryan-
Hardeman-Foard-Wilbarger-Wichita-Knox-Baylor-Archer-Clay-
1205 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight...

.Thunderstorms...
There is a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms for portions of
western Oklahoma and western sections of north Texas. There is
also a slight to enhanced risk over a broader area of central and
western Oklahoma and western north Texas.

Location...
The moderate risk is west of a line from Freedom Oklahoma to
Seiling to Clinton to Altus Oklahoma to Crowell Texas.

East of the moderate risk area, there are slight and enhanced
risks of severe weather west of a line from Stroud to Pauls Valley
to Ardmore, and also includes the remainder of the western section
of north Texas.

There is a marginal risk of severe storms across southeast
Oklahoma.

Timing...
The most likely time for severe weather is 5 PM through sunrise
Wednesday morning.

Impacts...
Hail up the size of tennis balls and thunderstorm wind gusts over
70 mph will be the primary threats. Tornadoes will also be
possible, especially across the moderate risk area of far western
Oklahoma and western north Texas.

Discussion...
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon
near a dry line in the eastern Texas panhandle, then move
northeast into western Oklahoma and western north Texas late this
afternoon and this evening. Instability will be high and wind
shear will be sufficient to produce supercell thunderstorms with
the associated risk of large hail, damaging winds and the
possibility of tornadoes. The highest potential of severe weather
will be across the moderate risk area.

Another round of thunderstorms is expected to develop across the
eastern panhandles or western sections of Oklahoma and north Texas
late this evening. These thunderstorms will likely develop into a
line of storms that moves northeast and east across much of the
area overnight. This line of storms will be capable of producing
damaging winds and hail with the severe weather potential
persisting through the overnight hours.

Spotter and Emergency Management Statement...
Storm spotter groups and emergency management personnel across
western and central Oklahoma and adjacent parts of north Texas
should prepare for severe weather operations late this afternoon
and overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday...

.Thunderstorms...
Thunderstorms may linger into the morning hours Wednesday before
moving out of the area.

Storm chances return on Thursday and will persist at times through
the weekend and into Monday. Severe weather will be possible
Thursday and Friday.

.Heavy Rainfall...
There is a potential for high rain totals late Thursday through
Friday night, mainly over south-central and southeast Oklahoma. If
you live in an area that is prone to flash flooding, pay close
attention to the forecasts and warnings later this week.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 5:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
545 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

OKZ014-162315-
Roger Mills OK-
545 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR western Roger Mills County Until
615 PM CDT...

AT 544 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles south of
Allison, moving northeast at 50 MPH.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...

Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, Reydon, Crawford, Roll and Durham.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the situation closely. Be ready to act quickly if a warning
is issued or if storms threaten you.

&&

LAT...LON 3580 10000 3594 9981 3591 9980 3588 9976
      3578 9966 3557 9964 3546 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 238DEG 43KT 3555 10012

KURTZ

Local storm report, May 16, 6:17 PM CDT, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
617 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0611 PM     TORNADO          11 NNE MADGE            35.05N 99.91W
05/16/2017                   BECKHAM            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

Local storm report, May 16, 6:33 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
633 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0631 PM     HAIL             1 SW SAYRE              35.29N 99.65W
05/16/2017  E2.50 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0631 PM     HAIL             2 SW SAYRE              35.28N 99.66W
05/16/2017  E2.75 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

JPIKE

Local storm report, May 16, 6:40 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
640 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0638 PM     HAIL             SAYRE                   35.30N 99.64W
05/16/2017  E1.00 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

JP

Local storm report, May 16, 6:47 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
647 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     HAIL             6 S ERICK               35.13N 99.87W
05/16/2017  E1.75 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ON SH 30

0612 PM     HAIL             5 SSW ERICK             35.15N 99.90W
05/16/2017  E3.50 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   TRAINED SPOTTER

0644 PM     HAIL             1 ESE SAYRE             35.29N 99.62W
05/16/2017  E2.75 INCH       BECKHAM            OK   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JPIKE

Local storm report, May 16, 6:48 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
648 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0647 PM     TORNADO          5 SE SAYRE              35.25N 99.57W
05/16/2017                   BECKHAM            OK   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FROM KWTV

&&

JPIKE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 16, 5:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Beckham	29 min
May 16, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Beckham, Greer, Harmon	46 min
May 16, 5:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Roger Mills	30 min
May 16, 5:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Beckham, Greer, Harmon	27 min
May 16, 5:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Harmon, Jackson	51 min
May 16, 5:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OUN	Roger Mills	50 min
May 16, 6:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OUN	Beckham, Greer	47 min
May 16, 6:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Roger Mills, Woodward	66 min
May 16, 6:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Greer, Harmon, Jackson	47 min
May 16, 6:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Roger Mills	46 min
May 16, 6:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Beckham, Custer, Washita	42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 2017 Every tornado warning in 2017 Tornadoes in 2017

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.