Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 44, NWS Norman, OK

April 25, 2026Pontotoc County, Seminole County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 25, 2026, 5:50 PM CDT for Pontotoc County, Seminole County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 40 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: Apr 25, 2026, 5:50 PM CDT (22:50 UTC)
Expired: Apr 25, 2026, 6:30 PM CDT
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Norman, OK
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.75 in

Counties Pontotoc County, OK, Seminole County, OK

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:52 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 watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 25, 3:52 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 243 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: 2880 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -100 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 768 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 200 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 227 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.5
Supercell composite: 5.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Apr 25, 1:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Updated at 124 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
Severe thunderstorms possible today with a risk for giant hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes (potentially strong).
Briefly drier Monday into Tuesday before additional storm chances return next week.
Fire weather ramps up on Monday with elevated to near critical conditions.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 1:27 PM CDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
127 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 124 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

- Severe thunderstorms possible today with a risk for giant hail,
  damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes (potentially strong).

- Briefly drier Monday into Tuesday before additional storm
  chances return next week.

- Fire weather ramps up on Monday with elevated to near critical
  conditions.

&&

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of today and tonight)
Issued at 124 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Severe storms with the potential for giant hail and tornadoes will
be the main impact today.

Our synoptic setup includes a weak shortwave moving across the area,
a warm front pushing north into southern and central Oklahoma, and a
dryline setting up in western north Texas. Abundant low level
moisture (dewpoints in the 60s and 70s) will yield a very unstable
environment (3000-4000 J/Kg). Meanwhile, low level shear will be
enhanced along and north of the warm front with strongly backed
surface flow. This morning's stratus is quickly clearing from the
southwest with the progression of the warm front.

Most models have storms developing along and just north of the
front, stretching from near central Oklahoma into southeast
Oklahoma. There are also some hints at a few storms developing off
the dryline in north Texas, though forcing seems weaker there. Most
likely time for initiation looks to be between 4 and 6pm. Initial
storms will be discrete, with a risk for giant hail and tornadoes.
The environment would favor splitting supercells. As we go into the
evening, expect the low level jet to increase and storms to grow
more upscale.

Day

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Sunday through Monday night)
Issued at 124 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Overnight convection from Saturday night may linger into Sunday
morning, mainly southeast Oklahoma, though a few models show showers
expanding along the front into north central Oklahoma. Storm
development Sunday afternoon appears very conditional (10-20%
chance) with stout capping and a mistimed wave working against storm
chances. That said, if storms do develop, strong instability and
shear would support all severe hazards.

Monday, fire weather returns with RH driven elevated to near
critical RFTIs across much of western Oklahoma and western north
Texas into parts of central Oklahoma. Winds will be 15 to 20 mph
gusting to 30 mph from the west / southwest with RH values dipping
into the single digits. Recent greenup will limit fire concerns in
central parts of the state. Additionally, the low level thermal
ridge looks to be displaced south of the highest ERCs in northwest
Oklahoma.

Sunday and Monday will both feature highs in the upper 70s to mid
90s with breezy south to southwest winds.

Day

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Friday)
Issued at 205 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Model spread increases mid to late week regarding the degree of
moisture recovery and related storm/severe chances. The latest
guidance has trended towards a more suppressed solution with much
of our area remaining to the north of the deeper moisture. That
said, it is not forecast to be all that far away and with
westerly/southwesterly flow being maintained over the region
through much of the week it would not take much of a shift back
north to bring additional severe chances to the area. Regardless,
models do agree on the next bigger shortwave approaching the
area Friday, bringing increased precipitation chances to much of
the region. Temperatures will start out near or slightly above
normal Tuesday, with below normal temperatures then forecast for
the remainder of the week into the weekend.

Ware

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1224 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Stratus will be briefly eroding across southwest Oklahoma and
western north Texas with terminal KSPS remaining in a VFR
category through the forecast period. However, terminal KLAW may
degrade to an IFR category by 08Z with stratus breaking out.
Stratus will linger across our remaining terminals keeping them in
a MVFR to periods of IFR categories. Thunderstorms may develop
across central through southeast Oklahoma between 21-04Z although
probabilities will be at 30% across our two terminals in the OKC
Metro (KOKC & KOUN) but high enough for a TEMPO group across
terminals KSWO, KPNC, and KDUA. Should any convection develop in
that time frame it has a potential of being severe with large
hail, damaging wind gusts, and a tornado as the severe hazards.
Currently surface winds out of the southeast up to 10 kts although
expecting them to veer more southerly as a warm front lifts.
However between 00-06Z a cold front pushes partially through our
area shifting winds more northerly across terminals in western
Oklahoma with wind speeds up to 10 kts.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  61  84  68  88 /  20  10  10   0
Hobart OK         57  90  62  91 /  10  10  10   0
Wichita Falls TX  62  93  70  94 /  10  10  10   0
Gage OK           51  85  55  84 /  20  20  10   0
Ponca City OK     59  77  64  84 /  60  30  20   0
Durant OK         64  87  71  91 /  60  20  20  10

&&

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

NEAR TERM...14
SHORT TERM...14
LONG TERM....08
AVIATION...68

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 4:56 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
456 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

OKZ044-045-TXZ086-089-090-252230-
Cotton OK-Jefferson OK-Clay TX-Wichita TX-Archer TX-
456 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern
Jefferson, southern Cotton, northwestern Clay, northern Archer and
eastern Wichita Counties through 530 PM CDT...

At 456 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles southwest of Temple to 3 miles
southeast of Iowa Park to near Mankins. Movement was northeast at 15
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Waurika, Iowa Park, Holliday, Temple,
Petrolia, Scotland, Byers, Dean, Randlett, Jolly, Hastings,
Cookietown, Sheppard AFB, Dundee, Mankins, southeastern Waurika Lake,
northern Lake Arrowhead, and Lakeside City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3422 9792 3360 9852 3374 9895 3437 9843
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 243DEG 13KT 3421 9831 3394 9863 3377 9882

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

30

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 5:14 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
514 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

OKZ031-040-042-252245-
Garvin OK-Pontotoc OK-Seminole OK-
514 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Garvin,
south central Seminole and central Pontotoc Counties through 545 PM
CDT...

At 514 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Stratford, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 30 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Ada, Stratford, Byng, Stonewall, Francis, Fitzhugh, and Vanoss.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3468 9651 3464 9651 3468 9706 3486 9706
      3485 9693 3487 9693 3491 9649 3468 9649
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 269DEG 36KT 3478 9697

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Bunker

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:29 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
529 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0525 PM     Hail             2 WSW Wichita Falls     33.90N 98.52W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Wichita            TX   Amateur Radio

&&

EM

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:32 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
532 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0530 PM     Hail             4 NNW Lakeside City     33.87N 98.58W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Wichita            TX   Broadcast Media

&&

EM

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 5:40 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
540 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

OKZ047-048-052-252315-
Atoka OK-Johnston OK-Bryan OK-
540 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Johnston, northwestern Bryan and southwestern Atoka Counties through
615 PM CDT...

At 540 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 4
miles southeast of Nida, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 30 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Durant, Caddo, Silo, Caney, Kenefic, Armstrong, Nida, and Bentley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3399 9650 3416 9656 3433 9607 3407 9598
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 253DEG 21KT 3410 9645

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Bunker

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 24, 7:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OUN	Bryan	24 min
Apr 24, 7:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Comanche	32 min
Apr 24, 7:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Comanche	31 min
Apr 24, 7:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Comanche, Cotton, Stephens	46 min
Apr 24, 8:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Cotton	35 min
Apr 25, 4:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Cotton	34 min
Apr 25, 5:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Cotton, Jefferson	53 min
Apr 25, 5:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Pontotoc	31 min
Apr 25, 5:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garvin, McClain, Pontotoc, Seminole	53 min
Apr 25, 5:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OUN	Bryan	35 min
Apr 25, 5:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens	39 min
Apr 25, 6:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Coal, Hughes, Pontotoc, Seminole	48 min
Apr 25, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garvin, Grady, Stephens	45 min
Apr 25, 6:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Carter, Garvin, Stephens	29 min
Apr 25, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garvin, Grady, McClain, Stephens	44 min
Apr 25, 6:48 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	OUN	Pontotoc	3 hr
Apr 25, 6:51 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Coal, Pontotoc	39 min
Apr 25, 6:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Garvin, Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc	52 min
Apr 25, 6:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Garvin, Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc	49 min
Apr 25, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OUN	Archer, Wichita	31 min
Apr 25, 5:48 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	OUN	Archer, Clay, Wichita	3 hr
Apr 25, 5:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OUN	Archer, Clay, Wichita	40 min
Apr 25, 5:53 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	OUN	Wichita	4 hr
Apr 25, 5:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Archer, Clay	50 min
Apr 25, 6:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OUN	Archer, Clay	49 min
Apr 25, 6:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OUN	Archer, Clay	53 min
Apr 25, 6:40 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	OUN	Archer, Clay	3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes in 2026

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.