Alert archive / Oklahoma / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 169, NWS Norman, OK
NWS Norman, OK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 17, 2018, 2:31 PM CDT for Caddo County, Washita County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 17, 2018, 2:31 PM CDT (19:31 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2018, 3:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 44 min
- Issued by
- NWS Norman, OK
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Caddo County, OK, Washita County, OK
The radar
The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:34 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 274 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
- 784 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -326 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1460 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 246 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 294 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.6
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 17, 12:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 12:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 1237 PM CDT Thu May 17 2018 .DISCUSSION... The 18Z aviation discussion follows.... && .AVIATION... A small cluster of thunderstorms over far northwest Oklahoma will move slowly east early this afternoon. It is currently expected to diminish and dissipate by late afternoon, although it is possible that it could survive and continue east into north- central Oklahoma by evening. A much larger area of showers and thunderstorms is forecast to develop this afternoon over the High Plains of New Mexico/Colorado/Texas, and move quickly east. If this storm area develops as expected, it will move into western Oklahoma around 00Z, and pass across KWWR, KCSM, and KSPS by 06Z. There is a possibility that KLAW may also see TSRA toward 06Z, but the system is expected to diminish substantially by the time it reaches that area. Winds will be light from the east and southeast through tonight, before strengthening tomorrow morning from the south to southeast. Gusty winds are, of course, expected near the stronger thunderstorms. CmS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1038 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ DISCUSSION... Scattered strong/severe thunderstorms have developed along a mid- level convergence line extending from southwest Kansas into the Texas Panhandle, just west of Ellis County, Oklahoma. Short-range models suggest that this convection will die out quickly late this morning, which seems highly improbable, given current radar/satellite trends. It is unclear how far south this convection will develop, since building cumulus is visible all the way to the Red River. We have updated the forecast to account for the most probable evolution of this precipitation. The update also includes some minor adjustments to temperatures and dew points. CmS PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 554 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ DISCUSSION... The May 17-18, 2018 12 UTC TAF discussion follows: AVIATION... Generally expect unrestricted ceilings and visiblities at most terminals through the TAF period with brief visibility reduction possible with convection. Patchy fog may briefly impact KPNC this morning. Otherwise, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across western Oklahoma this morning. The most likely terminals that could see temporary impacts are KCSM and KWWR. There is a lower probability that terminals farther south and east (KOKC/KOUN/KLAW) could be impacted by the remnants early this afternoon. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected to move eastward from the Texas panhandle into western Oklahoma this evening. Once again, KCSM and KWWR are the most likely terminals that could be impacted. These thunderstorms could be strong to severe with gusty, variable winds and hail. There is a chance convection could affect KLAW and KSPS as well, but confidence is too low to include in these TAFs for now. Outside of thunderstorms, winds will generally remain from to east to southeast through the TAF period and are forecast to become gusty across western terminals later this morning. Mahale PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 418 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ DISCUSSION... Rain/storm chances and possible strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall remain the primary forecast challenges. The biggest changes to the previous forecast was to add 20-40% rain chances today across western Oklahoma and western north Texas as well as to add patchy/areas of fog before 9 am this morning east of a Cherokee to Guthrie to Seminole to Ardmore line. Some fog has formed near Ponca City, Blackwell, and Chandler in the past few hours with visibilities generally 1/4 to 3 miles. Thus, added the mention of patchy/areas of fog. Locations near Ponca City, Blackwell, Perry, and Medford where storms with heavy downpours occurred yesterday afternoon have the highest potential for locally dense fog (visibilities 1/4 mile or less). Doubt fog will get too dense or widespread in these areas to warrant the issuance of a Dense Fog Advisory. Today, latest CAMs/models including the NAM12/HRRR/HRRRX have been consistently depicting the formation of high based elevated showers and storms over the far eastern Panhandles into western Oklahoma and possibly western north Texas after 6 am this morning. This appears to be a result of mid level (between 500 and 700 mb) isentropic lift just east of the mid-level ridge axis. Added rain chances to the forecast to account of this activity. Severe potential from this activity appears to be low due to marginal instability (MUCAPE below 1500 J/kg). Gusty winds and small hail are possible with this activity that should weaken this afternoon as isentropic lift weakens. Highs today may be tricky due to some rain/storms in western Oklahoma and western north Texas with mid/high level cloud cover spreading eastward. Generally went towards the cooler side of guidance. Latest model dewpoints may be too low over the next several days. After 6 pm today into tonight, some strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible across western Oklahoma and western north Texas. Fairly strong shear (0-6 km bulk shear 30-40 kt) and moderate instability (1000-2500 MLCAPE) support organized storms in the form of multicells and supercells. Storms that form this afternoon near the dryline over the Panhandles/west Texas will likely congeal into lines/clusters by the time they cross the 100th meridian into far western Oklahoma and far western north Texas. Thus, think multicells will be the main mode of severe weather which could lead to a few reports of damaging winds up to 70 mph along with hail generally half dollars or less. If storms remain supercells, large hail potential would increase. Tornado potential appears to be very low due to high cloud bases and LCLs generally above 6000 ft AGL, though low level shear will increase to near 20 kt after 7 pm. Locally heavy rainfall is possible with rainfall rates 1-4"/hour possible. Storms are expected to weaken through the night as they move eastward into a more stable environment with less CAPE and higher CINH. Not sure how far east storms get before completely dissipating tonight. A low chance of gusty winds from heatbursts could occur as storms weaken tonight. On Friday, think most areas will remain dry during the daytime hours with warmer surface temperatures, higher surface dewpoints, and increasing low level winds. There is a signal from latest models that some elevated/high based storms may occur mainly during the morning hours east of a Cherokee to Oklahoma City to Atoka line. Friday night, another round of severe storms may occur similar to tonight. Increasing 700 mb temperatures from models suggest that any storm development would be more sparse compared to this evening/tonight. A few strong to severe storms will be possible with damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall as the main hazards. If storms occur, they should generally weaken through the nighttime hours as they move east/northeast into a more capped/less unstable environment. Saturday, warm, humid, and breezy conditions are expected. Rain/storm chances will remain very low until late afternoon and nighttime hours. Highs should be near or above 90F in many locations. Saturday night, rain/storm chances will increase areawide as a cold front moves southward. Storm coverage should be higher compared to today and Friday, especially as mid level cap weakens. Some strong to severe storms will be possible along with heavy rainfall as storms may not move very quickly. Kept rather high rain chances (30-70%) across the area. Sunday through Wednesday, chances for showers and thunderstorms are forecast to continue across parts of Oklahoma and north Texas. Decreasing shear supports mainly unorganized slow moving storms. A few strong to severe storms with heavy rainfall are possible during this time frame due to abundant nearby moisture and some instability. Noticed the latest ECMWF and GFS model depicted surface dewpoints near or just above 70F next Tuesday. Cooler temperatures on Sunday are expected behind cold front passage with a warming trend towards the middle of the week. Rain chances may decrease towards next Wednesday due to some mid/upper level ridging. MBS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 86 66 89 71 / 10 20 20 20 Hobart OK 87 64 93 70 / 20 40 20 20 Wichita Falls TX 90 65 94 71 / 10 40 10 20 Gage OK 88 64 91 65 / 70 50 20 20 Ponca City OK 86 65 87 70 / 10 10 20 20 Durant OK 87 68 90 70 / 10 20 20 20 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && 23/26/23
Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 11:52 AM CDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 1152 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-181700- 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- 1152 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018 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 marginal risk of severe thunderstorms across western Oklahoma and western north Texas, generally west of a line from Archer City and Wichita Falls Texas to Lawton to Watonga to Alva Oklahoma. Scattered thunderstorms will continue early this afternoon across northwest and west central Oklahoma. Strong and isolated severe storms will be possible with hail to the size of ping pong balls and wind gusts to 60 mph. Additional thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles moving east toward western Oklahoma and western sections of north Texas late this afternoon and evening. A few storms will be capable of producing hail up to the size of golf balls and wind gusts to 70 mph through midnight. .Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding... Locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches in a short period of time from thunderstorms may cause flash flooding in a few locations across western Oklahoma and western north Texas after 6 pm today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... .Thunderstorms... A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Friday night through early Saturday morning, mainly across western Oklahoma and western north Texas. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms will likely return to parts of Oklahoma and north Texas late Saturday afternoon and night with the passage of a cold front. Thunderstorm chances will continue Sunday through Wednesday across parts of Oklahoma and north Texas. A few storms Sunday through Wednesday may be strong to severe. .Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding... Locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches in a short period of time from slowly moving thunderstorms may cause flash flooding in a few locations across Oklahoma and north Texas late Saturday afternoon through Wednesday. 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 17, 12:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, May 17, 12:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Special weather statement, May 17, 1:41 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Special weather statement, May 17, 1:42 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, May 17, 2:17 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, May 17, 2:26 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 10:28 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Ellis | 32 min |
| May 17, 10:35 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Ellis | 40 min |
| May 17, 11:42 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Ellis | 33 min |
| May 17, 11:43 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Ellis | 32 min |
| May 17, 12:00 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Harper | 30 min |
| May 17, 1:41 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Ellis | 34 min |
| May 17, 1:42 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Custer | 33 min |
| May 17, 1:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Custer, Washita | 40 min |
| May 17, 2:33 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Dewey | 27 min |
| May 17, 3:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo | 41 min |
| May 17, 4:00 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Grady | 30 min |
| May 17, 4:28 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Stephens | 32 min |
| May 17, 5:57 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Knox | 18 min |
| May 17, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Knox | 47 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Oklahoma, 2018Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2018
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.