Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 49, NWS Norman, OK

April 25, 2026Clay County, Texas

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 25, 2026, 7:26 PM CDT for Clay County, Texas. It was in force for 19 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
Apr 25, 2026, 7:26 PM CDT (00:26 UTC)
Expired
Apr 25, 2026, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
1.75 in

County Clay County, TX

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:28 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 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 25, 3:52 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 114 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3860 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 116 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3860 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1121 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.3
Supercell composite
17.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

313 
WFUS54 KOUN 260026
TOROUN
TXC077-260045-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0049.260426T0026Z-260426T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Norman OK
726 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Clay County in northern Texas...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 726 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 11 miles west of
  Newport, moving southeast at 15 mph.

  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...
  Shannon.

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 3347 9831 3354 9823 3347 9807
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 308DEG 14KT 3348 9821 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

30

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, 5:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 558 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, 5:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
559 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 558 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...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 558 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Thunderstorms capable of very large hail and tornadoes will continue
over south central Oklahoma and north Texas this evening, with the
area of storms gradually shifting eastward. Stratus should continue
to shrink and lift, though some patchy MVFR ceilings may linger over
north central and central Oklahoma. Overnight, MVFR to possibly IFR
ceilings will redevelop over much of the area. Winds will have some
variability in direction due to a front and outflows moving
through the area.

Day

&&

.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...14

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 25, 6:51 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
651 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0648 PM     Hail             1 W Ada                 34.78N 96.67W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Pontotoc           OK   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

KS
Local storm report, Apr 25, 6:55 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
655 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0646 PM     Tornado          4 NE Windthorst         33.62N 98.39W
04/25/2026                   Clay               TX   Broadcast Media

&&

KS
Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:01 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
701 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0653 PM     Tornado          5 NE Windthorst         33.62N 98.36W
04/25/2026                   Clay               TX   Broadcast Media

&&

KS
Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:04 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
704 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0652 PM     Flash Flood      2 W Ada                 34.77N 96.69W
04/25/2026                   Pontotoc           OK   Public

            Report from mPING: Street/road flooding;
            Street/road closed; Vehicles stranded.

&&

KS
Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:07 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
707 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0606 PM     Hail             3 ENE Lakeside City     33.85N 98.50W
04/25/2026  E1.50 Inch       Wichita            TX   Trained Spotter

            Time estimated.

&&

EM
Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:24 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
724 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0721 PM     Hail             8 NW Foster             34.68N 97.60W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Garvin             OK   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

KS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 25, 7:15 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNClay3 hr
Apr 25, 7:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNClay45 min
Apr 25, 7:24 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNClay3 hr
Apr 26, 4:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNWichita28 min
Apr 26, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNWichita51 min
Apr 26, 5:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNWichita51 min
Apr 26, 5:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOUNClay, Wichita39 min
Apr 26, 5:47 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNWichita43 min
Apr 26, 6:14 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNClay, Wichita46 min
Apr 26, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNClay46 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.