Oklahoma, 1996

Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 26, 1996

May 26, 1996 · NWS OUN · 8 events in 4 counties and zones

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Oklahoma City metro area during the early evening hours of May 26th. The storm was a large rotating supercell with at least a brief wall cloud.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Oklahoma City metro area during the early evening hours of May 26th. The storm was a large rotating supercell with at least a brief wall cloud. County spotter groups followed the storm along its path through the metro area. Between 1730 and 2030 CST, numerous occurrences of severe wind gusts and large hail were reported. The largest hail was reported by county spotter groups to be baseball size at 1842 CST at Lake Hiwassee. The strongest estimated wind gusts exceeded 65 mph at 1738 CST at May and SW 178th Street.

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 27 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Oklahoma

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma forecast zone, Oklahoma City
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Cleveland forecast zone
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Canadian

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Canadian forecast zone
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Logan

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Logan forecast zone
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma forecast zone, Oklahoma City
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Cleveland forecast zone
Coordinates
35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Canadian

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Canadian forecast zone
Coordinates
35.542, -97.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Logan

When
May 26, 5:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Logan forecast zone
Coordinates
35.919, -97.443 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5563274, 5563275, 5563276, 5563277, 5725106, 5725108, 5725110, 5725112.