Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 68, NWS Norman, OK

May 8, 2026Cotton County, Tillman County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 8, 2026, 6:42 PM CDT for Cotton County, Tillman County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 33 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
May 8, 2026, 6:42 PM CDT (23:42 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2026, 7:15 PM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

Counties Cotton County, OK, Tillman County, OK

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:45 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
May 8, 2:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 155 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, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2026-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2026-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 41 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1620 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

174 
WFUS54 KOUN 082342
TOROUN
OKC033-141-090015-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0068.260508T2342Z-260509T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Norman OK
642 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  West central Cotton County in southwestern Oklahoma...
  Southeastern Tillman County in southwestern Oklahoma...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 642 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 5 miles northeast of Loveland, moving southeast at 20
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and tennis ball 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...
  Grandfield and Loveland.

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 3422 9877 3439 9879 3442 9866 3441 9866
      3441 9864 3423 9861
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 336DEG 16KT 3437 9873 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

Mahale
3 follow-up statements
091 
WWUS54 KOUN 082358
SVSOUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
658 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

OKC033-141-090015-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0068.000000T0000Z-260509T0015Z/
Cotton OK-Tillman OK-
658 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL COTTON AND SOUTHEASTERN TILLMAN COUNTIES...

At 658 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 4 miles east of Loveland, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and tennis ball 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...
Grandfield.

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 3434 9873 3440 9864 3438 9863 3423 9861
      3422 9874
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 336DEG 16KT 3430 9869 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

Mahale
236 
WWUS54 KOUN 090003 RRA
SVSOUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
703 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

OKC033-090013-
/O.CAN.KOUN.TO.W.0068.000000T0000Z-260509T0015Z/
Cotton OK-
703 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL COTTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3433 9871 3434 9864 3433 9862 3423 9861
      3422 9869 3422 9870
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 336DEG 16KT 3428 9868 

$$

OKC141-090015-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0068.000000T0000Z-260509T0015Z/
Tillman OK-
703 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL TILLMAN COUNTY...

At 703 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Grandfield, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball 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...
Grandfield.

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 3433 9871 3434 9864 3433 9862 3423 9861
      3422 9869 3422 9870
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 336DEG 16KT 3428 9868 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Mahale
725 
WWUS54 KOUN 090010
SVSOUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
710 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

OKC141-090019-
/O.EXP.KOUN.TO.W.0068.000000T0000Z-260509T0015Z/
Tillman OK-
710 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL TILLMAN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
715 PM CDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

LAT...LON 3433 9871 3434 9864 3433 9862 3423 9861
      3422 9869 3422 9870
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 336DEG 16KT 3426 9867 

$$

Mahale

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 8, 6:32 PM CDT, 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 628 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026
  • Potential for strong-severe storms on Friday and Saturday evening & night; some risk may linger into Sunday afternoon.
  • Hot, well-above average temperatures are expected into next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 8, 6:32 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
632 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 628 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

- Potential for strong-severe storms on Friday and Saturday
  evening & night; some risk may linger into Sunday afternoon.

- Hot, well-above average temperatures are expected into next
  week.

&&

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of today and tonight)
Issued at 1256 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

After several cooler days with nil weather impact, thunderstorm and
severe weather chances return across the area today. Water vapor
imagery captures a shortwave trough sliding eastward from Kansas
into the Ozarks. A trailing surface front currently extends from
~Arnett to Cherokee, moving slowly to the southeast.

As surface heating maximizes (~3-5 PM), and a pocket of cold mid-
level temperatures advances overhead, scattered thunderstorms are
expected to emerge in vicinity of the slow-moving front, primarily
across north-central Oklahoma. Given rather meager moisture
quality and depth, yielding large temperature-dewpoint spreads,
initial activity will likely favor potential for damaging
downburst wind events. The wind risk will likely continue
throughout the evening and perhaps maximize as clustered activity
intercepts greater boundary layer moisture across southern
Oklahoma and north Texas. Occasional instances of large hail will
also be possible, especially when/where more cellular structures
materialize throughout the evening.

Activity should begin to clear south of the Red River/our western-
north Texas counties towards the 12 AM Saturday timeframe.

Ungar

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Saturday through Sunday night)
Issued at 1256 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Most of Saturday will be warm and dry ahead of another quick-
moving upper system. As temperatures warm into the mid to
upper-90s beneath an inverted surface trough across the combined
Panhandles, scattered thunderstorm development is expected to
ensue (~4-7 PM). How quickly (and how much) activity moves across
the 100th meridian into far western Oklahoma remains somewhat
uncertain. Morning guidance ranges from several organized evening
storms to basically none at all across the aforementioned region.
Despite uncertainties, at least low potential highlights for
storms (and severe weather) will be maintained prior to sunset
across portions of western Oklahoma and western-north Texas.
Severe weather hazards in the evening regime would again focus on
damaging downburst winds, with any large to very large hail
concern requiring a more favorable (supercell) storm mode.

More likely/widespread rain and storm coverage will arrive by the
mid to late evening Saturday and continue into Sunday morning. A
more notable isentropic regime/low-level jet response is currently
progged in advance of an approaching (weak) front. The degree of
severe weather risk by this time will be highly dependent on the
character of the boundary layer. With at least subtle moisture/theta-
e advection through the night, some concern for damaging winds will
likely exist, especially if more clustered/linear storm modes
emerge. Otherwise, increasing elevated instability fields will
foster occasional concern for large hail with stronger and more
persistent thunderstorm cores.

Rain and storm coverage should slowly decrease from north-to-south
into early Sunday afternoon. Dependent on how far south the
surface boundary makes it towards the early evening (controlled by
rain/clouds in the morning), then some lingering strong-severe
storm risk is possible across the Red River Valley during this
time.

Ungar

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday through Thursday)
Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Upper ridging then broadens from the southwest CONUS out into the
central and southern Plains as we go into early next week. There is
a front that the models moves into at least northern Oklahoma on
Tuesday with a 850MB thermal ridge to the south of the front. This
will make for a very warm day Tuesday, especially across the west
and southwest where afternoon temperatures climb to near 100
degrees. This front should wash out rather quickly with south winds
returning Wednesday across the west, keeping the hot temperatures
entrenched across the west through much of next week with only
minimal rain chances.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 628 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Scattered strong to severe storms are moving through central into
southern Oklahoma this evening and will continue to push southward
into north Texas late this evening. Erratic, damaging winds and
large hail will be possible with storms, along with lightning.
A cold front is pushing southward behind the storms and will bring
brief north winds before becoming light and variable through
tomorrow morning. Some MVFR ceilings might return overnight at
sites across southern Oklahoma and into western north Texas,
otherwise VFR conditions will remain through the period.

South winds will return tomorrow with additional chances for
storms tomorrow evening, but may occur after this TAF period, thus
no mention was given in this TAF issuance to focus on the current
round of storms tonight.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  56  86  62  72 /  50   0  80  70
Hobart OK         55  91  62  77 /  30   0  40  40
Wichita Falls TX  60  90  65  84 /  50   0  20  60
Gage OK           51  91  54  72 /   0  20  60  30
Ponca City OK     51  83  58  70 /  10   0  80  50
Durant OK         61  84  66  81 /  60  10  30  90

&&

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

NEAR TERM...09
SHORT TERM...09
LONG TERM....30
AVIATION...23

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 8, 6:25 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
625 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0623 PM     Hail             1 WSW Moore             35.33N 97.51W
05/08/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cleveland          OK   Fire Dept/Rescue

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 6:27 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
627 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0624 PM     Hail             2 SW Tinker Air Force B 35.39N 97.42W
05/08/2026  E1.00 Inch       Oklahoma           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 6:30 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
630 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0600 PM     Hail             3 SW Yukon              35.46N 97.77W
05/08/2026  E1.75 Inch       Canadian           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 6:31 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
631 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0619 PM     Hail             2 SW Tinker Air Force B 35.40N 97.42W
05/08/2026  E1.00 Inch       Oklahoma           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 6:33 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
633 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0630 PM     Hail             5 NE Verden             35.15N 98.03W
05/08/2026  E1.00 Inch       Grady              OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 6:37 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
637 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0634 PM     Hail             Chattanooga             34.42N 98.65W
05/08/2026  E1.75 Inch       Comanche           OK   Public

            Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

&&

Bunk

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 2:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNKay30 min
May 8, 2:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKay40 min
May 8, 2:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNKay32 min
May 8, 2:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNKay39 min
May 8, 3:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNKay23 min
May 8, 3:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKay, Noble17 min
May 8, 4:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNLogan35 min
May 8, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNKingfisher, Logan, Noble, Payne40 min
May 8, 4:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBlaine37 min
May 8, 4:27 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCuster33 min
May 8, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBlaine, Canadian, Kingfisher45 min
May 8, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLincoln, Logan, Payne51 min
May 8, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCaddo30 min
May 8, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCanadian, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma51 min
May 8, 5:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNPayne27 min
May 8, 5:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNNoble, Payne50 min
May 8, 5:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNComanche26 min
May 8, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Kiowa, Tillman38 min
May 8, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLincoln, Payne36 min
May 8, 5:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCaddo, Canadian, Grady41 min
May 8, 5:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNCanadian, Cleveland, Grady, McClain, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie49 min
May 8, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Lincoln, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie47 min
May 8, 6:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLincoln44 min
May 8, 6:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNComanche, Cotton, Tillman40 min
May 8, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNCaddo, Grady51 min
May 8, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNLincoln50 min
May 8, 6:23 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNCanadian, Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie3 hr
May 8, 6:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCanadian, Cleveland, Grady, McClain, Oklahoma12 min
May 8, 6:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNComanche, Cotton, Tillman39 min
May 8, 6:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, McClain, Pottawatomie48 min
May 8, 6:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Grady, McClain, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie45 min
May 8, 6:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNGrady43 min
May 8, 6:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNCaddo, Comanche34 min

Nearby

Tornado 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.