Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 69, NWS Norman, OK

May 8, 2026Stephens County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at May 8, 2026, 8:42 PM CDT for Stephens County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 29 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, 8:42 PM CDT (01:42 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2026, 9:11 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

County Stephens County, OK

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:45 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 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 93 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 956 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2026-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 65 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
956 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1524 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
2.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

537 
WFUS54 KOUN 090142
TOROUN
OKC137-090230-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0069.260509T0142Z-260509T0230Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Eastern Stephens County in southern Oklahoma...

* Until 930 PM CDT.

* At 842 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles east of Duncan, moving southeast at 10 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...
  Velma and Loco.

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 3452 9791 3460 9774 3442 9756 3437 9756
      3429 9774 3429 9782
TIME...MOT...LOC 0142Z 328DEG 9KT 3450 9781 

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

$$

JT
3 follow-up statements
142 
WWUS54 KOUN 090152
SVSOUN

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

OKC137-090230-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-260509T0230Z/
Stephens OK-
852 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS COUNTY...

At 852 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles west of Velma, moving southeast at 20 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...
Velma and Loco.

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 3449 9790 3457 9771 3442 9756 3437 9756
      3429 9774 3429 9782
TIME...MOT...LOC 0152Z 325DEG 17KT 3446 9778 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

JT
106 
WWUS54 KOUN 090209
SVSOUN

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

OKC137-090230-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-260509T0230Z/
Stephens OK-
909 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS COUNTY...

At 909 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Loco, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf 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...
Velma and Loco.

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 3444 9782 3450 9765 3442 9756 3437 9756
      3429 9774
TIME...MOT...LOC 0209Z 330DEG 22KT 3438 9772 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

JT
569 
WWUS54 KOUN 090211
SVSOUN

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

OKC137-090221-
/O.CAN.KOUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-260509T0230Z/
Stephens OK-
911 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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 3444 9782 3450 9765 3442 9756 3437 9756
      3429 9774
TIME...MOT...LOC 0210Z 328DEG 9KT 3437 9772 

$$

JT

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, 2 hours 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, 2 hours 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, 7:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
720 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0702 PM     Hail             3 SW Etowah             35.10N 97.21W
05/08/2026  M1.75 Inch       Cleveland          OK   Emergency Mngr

&&

KS
Local storm report, May 8, 7:51 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
751 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0749 PM     Hail             2 NE Elgin              34.80N 98.27W
05/08/2026  E1.50 Inch       Comanche           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 7:54 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
754 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0750 PM     Hail             2 N Elgin               34.81N 98.29W
05/08/2026  E1.75 Inch       Comanche           OK   Fire Dept/Rescue

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 7:55 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
755 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0752 PM     Hail             1 E Elgin               34.78N 98.28W
05/08/2026  E1.50 Inch       Comanche           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Local storm report, May 8, 8:01 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
801 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

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

0755 PM     Hail             3 S Fletcher            34.78N 98.24W
05/08/2026  E1.25 Inch       Comanche           OK   Public

&&

Bunk
Special weather statement, May 8, 8:08 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
808 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

OKZ028-040>042-047-090145-
Garvin OK-Johnston OK-Pontotoc OK-McClain OK-Murray OK-
808 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Johnston, northeastern Garvin, southwestern Pontotoc, northeastern
Murray and southeastern McClain Counties through 845 PM CDT...

At 807 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Stratford, moving southeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40 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...
Stratford, Roff, Byars, Fitzhugh, Hickory, Scullin, Fittstown, and
Vanoss.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3478 9715 3491 9700 3463 9655 3441 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 0107Z 315DEG 39KT 3476 9701

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 7:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman31 min
May 8, 7:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Garvin, McClain, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie43 min
May 8, 7:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNCaddo, Comanche, Grady41 min
May 8, 7:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Garvin, McClain39 min
May 8, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, McClain, Pottawatomie29 min
May 8, 7:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNGrady3 hr
May 8, 7:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Garvin, McClain, Pottawatomie9 min
May 8, 7:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNComanche, Cotton, Grady, Stephens38 min
May 8, 7:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGarvin, McClain, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie7 min
May 8, 8:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNPontotoc37 min
May 8, 8:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Tillman33 min
May 8, 8:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCoal, Garvin, Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc38 min
May 8, 8:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens44 min
May 8, 8:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens44 min
May 8, 8:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Tillman29 min
May 8, 8:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJackson, Tillman27 min
May 8, 9:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNCarter, Jefferson, Love, Stephens46 min
May 8, 9:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNTillman45 min
May 8, 9:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens, Tillman44 min
May 8, 9:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNTillman32 min
May 8, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman49 min
May 8, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNJefferson, Love21 min
May 9, 4:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBeckham26 min
May 9, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNRoger Mills30 min
May 9, 5:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBeckham50 min
May 9, 5:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Roger Mills46 min
May 9, 5:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Washita49 min
May 9, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNBeckham, Custer, Roger Mills, Washita48 min
May 9, 6:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNWashita49 min
May 9, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Roger Mills47 min
May 9, 6:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNHarper39 min
May 9, 6:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOUNBeckham, Kiowa, Washita51 min
May 9, 6:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Custer, Roger Mills, Washita30 min
May 9, 6:49 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNBeckham, Washita3 hr
May 9, 6:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNHarper40 min
May 9, 6:55 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCaddo35 min
May 9, 6:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Roger Mills48 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.