Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, July 2, 1996

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Oklahoma City metro area, producing strong and damaging winds. At least 4000 people in the metro area lost power due to the strong winds during the peak of the storm, with the most damage in Bethany, Warr Acres, and northwest Oklahoma City between Memorial Road and NW 38th west of Western Avenue. The Daily Oklahoman Newspaper reported an estimated $2 million in damage.A damage survey was conducted by an experienced spotter the day after the storm, mainly over a nine-square-mile area bounded by 36th Street, Rockwell Avenue, Wilshire Boulevard, and Portland Avenue. The survey revealed that most of this area had received winds between 55 and 65 mph with considerable tree damage. Within this broad area of damage, two distinct downburst centers were apparent, one just west of Portland between NW 50th Street and NW 63rd Street and the other just west of MacArthur and just north of NW 63rd Street. Wind speeds near both of these centers were estimated at 75 to 85 mph. Minor roof damage was widespread, with major damage at several locations. Roofs were blown off of apartment buildings at the Westpointe Apartments on Lyrewood Lane. Roofs were also removed from a building at nearby Knight Lake Apartments and a laundry room at Swan Lake Apartments. Severe thunderstorm winds destroyed roofs on an office building at 8200 N. Classen and a small building at 3737 NW 50th. Other structural damage included a wall that caved in at a carpet store at 5858 NW 50th and a trailer that was overturned along the southbound Broadway Extension south of Wilshire Boulevard. Plate glass windows were blown out of several stores on the north side of a strip shopping center.One tree blown down by the strong winds blocked traffic along NW 39th and Meridian Avenue, and another tree was blown over across Wilshire Blvd. and Santa Fe Avenue. The severe winds blew down large tree limbs and scattered them throughout the area.