Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 59, NWS Norman, OK
NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 2026, 6:14 PM CDT for Cotton County, Oklahoma; Clay County, Wichita County, Texas. It was in force for 46 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 26, 2026, 6:14 PM CDT (23:14 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Norman, OK
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 3.0 in
Counties Cotton County, OK, Clay County, TX, Wichita County, TX
The radar
The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:16 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 3:55 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2557 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -116 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 717 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 215 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 285 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.4
- Supercell composite
- 12.6
The text
As transmitted.
450
WFUS54 KOUN 262314
TOROUN
OKC033-TXC077-485-270000-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0059.260426T2314Z-260427T0000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Norman OK
614 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Cotton County in southwestern Oklahoma...
Northwestern Clay County in northern Texas...
Northeastern Wichita County in northern Texas...
* Until 700 PM CDT.
* At 613 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Sheppard AFB, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to three inches in diameter.
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...
Northwestern Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Petrolia, Byers, Dean,
Randlett, Sheppard AFB, Taylor, Charlie, and Cashion.
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 0 and 5.
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 3398 9861 3414 9862 3426 9818 3390 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 252DEG 18KT 3402 9854
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...3.00 IN
$$
TL2 follow-up statements
576
WWUS54 KOUN 262328
SVSOUN
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
628 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
OKC033-TXC077-485-270000-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-260427T0000Z/
Cotton OK-Clay TX-Wichita TX-
628 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN COTTON...NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND EAST CENTRAL WICHITA
COUNTIES...
At 628 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Sheppard AFB, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Northern Wichita Falls, Petrolia, Byers, Dean, Sheppard AFB, Taylor,
Charlie, and Cashion.
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 0 and 3.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter, safe room, or an interior
room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you
are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3397 9854 3413 9855 3426 9818 3390 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 272DEG 13KT 3401 9846
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN
$$
TL037
WWUS54 KOUN 262344
SVSOUN
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
644 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
OKC033-TXC077-485-270000-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-260427T0000Z/
Cotton OK-Clay TX-Wichita TX-
644 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN COTTON...NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND EAST CENTRAL WICHITA
COUNTIES...
At 643 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles northeast of Sheppard AFB, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Petrolia, Byers, Dean, Taylor, and Charlie.
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 3400 9849 3412 9847 3426 9818 3390 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 281DEG 15KT 3403 9842
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN
$$
TLWhat 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 26, 5:17 PM CDT, 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 514 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
- Conditional risk for severe storms this afternoon and evening. If storms occur, all severe hazards would be possible including very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a low tornado risk.
- Drier air moves in Monday, with elevated to near critical fire weather expected across western/northwestern OK.
- Low storm chances across southeast OK Tuesday, better chances for showers and storms over the entire area Thursday into Friday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 5:17 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 517 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 514 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 - Conditional risk for severe storms this afternoon and evening. If storms occur, all severe hazards would be possible including very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a low tornado risk. - Drier air moves in Monday, with elevated to near critical fire weather expected across western/northwestern OK. - Low storm chances across southeast OK Tuesday, better chances for showers and storms over the entire area Thursday into Friday. && .NEAR TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 1135 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 A conditional severe risk with a complex set of meteorological features is in place for today. Warm air advection has been ongoing and has already produced a few weak storms in north central Oklahoma this morning. Most of this isolated to scattered activity is expected to remain weak, though a strong storm or two can't be ruled out as we get into the afternoon hours. Later this afternoon and evening, we'll see the potential for convection to focus in two main areas: along a dryline roughly near and west of highway 81 (mainly southern Oklahoma and north Texas), and in the warm front zone across northern Oklahoma. Dryline convection will be more dependent on daytime heating with upper support being quite distant. CAMs are inconsistent on whether there's enough forcing to get storms to form, but any storms that do form will have a risk for large to very large hail and tornadoes. The warm front may be a later show as the upper wave approaches. CAMs depict storms starting in northwest Oklahoma and moving eastward across the state. Again, there is some uncertainty in getting storms to form, but the chances are higher in this region. Similarly, large to very large hail and tornadoes are both potential hazards. The tornado risk may be most acute when the low level jet starts to ramp up this evening. This jet will also help storms persist into the overnight period. Day && .SHORT TERM... (Monday through Tuesday night) Issued at 1135 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Southwesterly / westerly low level flow will bring in much drier air on Monday, setting us up for elevated to near-critical fire weather across western portions of the forecast area. The low level thermal ridge is expected to set up across southwest Oklahoma into central Oklahoma, putting it out of sync with the highest ERCs in northwest Oklahoma. There will likely be some overlap to watch, but most areas outside of northwest Oklahoma have seen enough green-up to mitigate fire danger. Winds will be breezy (especially along the thermal ridge) and highs will be in the 80s and 90s. A weak cold front will enter northern Oklahoma Monday night, then stall roughly halfway across the forecast area on Tuesday (though there is still some uncertainty in this frontal position). This will provide a focus for showers and storms along and south of the front in south central Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon and evening. The front will also set us up with a temperature gradient ranging from highs in the lower 70s in northern Oklahoma to the low 90s in north Texas. Day && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Saturday) Issued at 200 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Dry/cooler conditions are forecast across the area on Wednesday as low amplitude ridging will be in place over the southern Plains ahead of another shortwave across the southwest US. Shower and thunderstorm chances will then increase Thursday and especially Friday as the wave draws moisture northward over the residual frontal zone. Extensive warm air advection and isentropic ascent is forecast could lead to heavy rainfall across portions of the area (currently most favored across southern OK and western north TX). The severe risk appears more uncertain and will depend on whether or not sufficient instability can return northward. Highs during this period will be below normal, mainly in the 60s to low 70s through the weekend. Ware && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 514 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Showers and a few thunderstorms may impact portions of the area this afternoon and evening, primarily across western north Texas and southwestern Oklahoma, and northern Oklahoma. There is a little uncertainty into impacting TAF sites, but it may be close. LLWS will affect most TAF sites late tonight into early Monday morning. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 69 88 55 80 / 20 0 0 20 Hobart OK 63 90 52 86 / 20 0 0 10 Wichita Falls TX 70 93 62 91 / 10 0 0 20 Gage OK 53 82 44 76 / 20 0 0 0 Ponca City OK 65 84 48 71 / 40 0 0 10 Durant OK 71 90 68 83 / 20 10 10 60 && .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 26, 5:22 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
522 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0511 PM Hail 1 WNW Iowa Park 33.96N 98.68W
04/26/2026 M1.50 Inch Wichita TX Storm Chaser
&&
MahaleLocal storm report, Apr 26, 5:23 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
523 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0508 PM Hail 2 NNW Iowa Park 33.98N 98.69W
04/26/2026 E1.00 Inch Wichita TX Storm Chaser
&&
MahaleLocal storm report, Apr 26, 5:24 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
524 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0511 PM Hail 2 NNW Iowa Park 33.98N 98.69W
04/26/2026 E1.75 Inch Wichita TX Storm Chaser
&&
MahaleLocal storm report, Apr 26, 5:25 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
525 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM Hail 2 NNW Iowa Park 33.98N 98.69W
04/26/2026 E3.00 Inch Wichita TX Storm Chaser
&&
MahaleLocal storm report, Apr 26, 5:43 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
543 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Hail 3 N Pleasant Valley 33.98N 98.60W
04/26/2026 E1.00 Inch Wichita TX Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&Local storm report, Apr 26, 5:48 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
548 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0546 PM Hail 1 W Sheppard Afb 33.98N 98.53W
04/26/2026 E1.75 Inch Wichita TX Amateur Radio
&&
MahaleThe office that day
Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 7:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc | 26 min |
| Apr 25, 7:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin, Grady, McClain, Stephens | 26 min |
| Apr 25, 7:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Coal, Pontotoc | 39 min |
| Apr 25, 7:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Grady, Stephens | 18 min |
| Apr 25, 7:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin, Murray | 47 min |
| Apr 25, 7:33 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OUN | Atoka, Coal, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Johnston and 4 more | 5 hr |
| Apr 25, 7:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc | 52 min |
| Apr 25, 7:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Coal | 49 min |
| Apr 25, 7:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Johnston | 44 min |
| Apr 25, 7:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin, Stephens | 42 min |
| Apr 25, 7:51 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Johnston | 39 min |
| Apr 25, 7:53 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Garvin, Grady, Stephens | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 7:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Carter, Johnston, Murray | 52 min |
| Apr 25, 7:56 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Murray, Pontotoc | 5 hr |
| Apr 25, 8:02 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | McClain | 28 min |
| Apr 25, 8:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc | 25 min |
| Apr 25, 8:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Garvin | 10 min |
| Apr 25, 8:14 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Garvin, Murray | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 8:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Johnston | 44 min |
| Apr 25, 8:21 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OUN | Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Johnston, Murray | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 8:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Coal, Johnston | 38 min |
| Apr 25, 8:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Garvin, Murray | 52 min |
| Apr 25, 8:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole | 44 min |
| Apr 25, 8:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Atoka, Bryan, Johnston | 24 min |
| Apr 25, 8:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Bryan, Johnston | 54 min |
| Apr 25, 8:58 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Atoka, Johnston | 5 hr |
| Apr 25, 9:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Jefferson | 34 min |
| Apr 25, 9:36 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OUN | Atoka, Bryan | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 9:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Bryan | 52 min |
| Apr 25, 10:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Coal, Johnston | 38 min |
| Apr 25, 10:20 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Atoka, Bryan | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 10:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Atoka, Bryan | 20 min |
| Apr 26, 12:14 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Stephens | 31 min |
| Apr 26, 1:00 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Carter | 30 min |
| Apr 26, 2:11 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Carter, Love | 38 min |
| Apr 26, 2:13 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Garvin | 32 min |
| Apr 26, 2:18 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Love | 27 min |
| Apr 26, 2:36 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Carter | 24 min |
| Apr 26, 2:54 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Love | 36 min |
| Apr 26, 3:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Love | 30 min |
| Apr 26, 3:02 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Carter | 28 min |
| Apr 26, 3:55 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OUN | Carter | 2 hr |
| Apr 26, 7:01 AM CDT | River Flood Advisory | OUN | Atoka | 30 hr |
| Apr 26, 7:57 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Payne | 33 min |
| Apr 26, 4:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Tillman | 51 min |
| Apr 26, 5:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche, Cotton, Tillman | 51 min |
| Apr 26, 5:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cotton | 39 min |
| Apr 26, 5:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Stephens | 49 min |
| Apr 26, 6:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Caddo, Comanche, Grady, McClain, Stephens | 29 min |
| Apr 26, 6:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Comanche, Cotton, Stephens | 19 min |
| Apr 26, 6:58 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Kay | 32 min |
| Apr 26, 6:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Cotton, Jefferson | 46 min |
| Apr 25, 7:15 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OUN | Clay | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 7:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN | Clay | 45 min |
| Apr 25, 7:24 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OUN | Clay | 3 hr |
| Apr 25, 7:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Clay | 19 min |
| Apr 26, 4:47 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OUN | Wichita | 28 min |
| Apr 26, 5:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OUN | Wichita | 43 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2026Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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.