Hail, Harmon
- When
- May 1, 4:28 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon County, 2 mi W of Madge
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.900, -99.980
Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 1, 1997
Summary of events of May 1, 1997:Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and moved across western Oklahoma into portions of central and north-central Oklahoma during the evening. 25 inches near Vinson in Harmon County in extreme southwest Oklahoma.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $21,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 57
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.
Summary of events of May 1, 1997:Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and moved across western Oklahoma into portions of central and north-central Oklahoma during the evening. Reports of large hail were common, with hail up to 2.25 inches near Vinson in Harmon County in extreme southwest Oklahoma. Wind-driven hail up to golf ball sized (1.75 inches) caused extensive damage in Burns Flat in Washita County.Reports of severe thunderstorm winds were much less common than large hail, with wind damage in and near Elk City in Beckham County and gusts to 63 mph east of Okarche in Kingfisher County. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further information and additional reports.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
52 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Greer
- When
- May 1, 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Greer County, 6 mi NW of Mangum
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.950, -99.570
Hail, Harmon
- When
- May 1, 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon County, 1 mi W of Madge
- Measured
- 2 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.900, -99.970
Hail, Harmon
- When
- May 1, 4:37 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon County, 4 mi SW of Vinson
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.870, -99.920
Quarter-sized hail stripped foliage from vegetation.
Hail, Harmon
- When
- May 1, 4:40 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon County, Madge
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.900, -99.950
Hail, Harmon
- When
- May 1, 4:41 PM CST
- Where
- Harmon County, 3 mi W of Vinson
- Measured
- 2.25 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.900, -99.920
Hail, Greer
- When
- May 1, 4:45 PM CST
- Where
- Greer County, 4 mi W of Willow
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.050, -99.580
Hail, Roger Mills
- When
- May 1, 5:10 PM CST
- Where
- Roger Mills County, 2 mi SW of Durham
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.820, -99.950
Hail, Greer
- When
- May 1, 5:25 PM CST
- Where
- Greer County, Granite
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.970, -99.380
Hail, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 5:39 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, 3 mi W of Lone Wolf
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.980, -99.300
Hail, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 5:47 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, 3 mi W of Lone Wolf
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.980, -99.300
Hail, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 6:08 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, Hobart
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.020, -99.100
Hail, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 6:11 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, Hobart
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.020, -99.100
Hail, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 6:21 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, 9 mi E of Hobart
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.020, -98.930
Funnel Cloud, Kiowa
- When
- May 1, 6:39 PM CST to 6:41 PM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, 7 mi S of Gotebo
- Coordinates
- 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A long, horizontal funnel cloud extended into the clear slot of the storm. No wall cloud was observed.
Hail, Harper
- When
- May 1, 6:47 PM CST
- Where
- Harper County, 2 mi W of Rosston
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.820, -99.970
Hail, Caddo
- When
- May 1, 6:48 PM CST
- Where
- Caddo County, 5 mi S of Carnegie
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.030, -98.600
Hail, Caddo
- When
- May 1, 6:53 PM CST
- Where
- Caddo County, Carnegie
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.100, -98.600
Hail, Harper
- When
- May 1, 6:55 PM CST
- Where
- Harper County, 2 mi N of Laverne
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.750, -99.900
Hail, Beckham
- When
- May 1, 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham County, Sayre
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.300, -99.650
Thunderstorm Wind, Beckham
- When
- May 1, 7:15 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham County, Elk City
- Property damage
- $10
- Coordinates
- 35.420, -99.420
Severe thunderstorm winds downed tree limbs.
Hail, Harper
- When
- May 1, 7:17 PM CST
- Where
- Harper County, Laverne
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.720, -99.900
Hail, Beckham
- When
- May 1, 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham County, 5 mi SW of Elk City
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.370, -99.480
Thunderstorm Wind, Beckham
- When
- May 1, 7:32 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham County, 4 mi SW of Elk City
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Coordinates
- 35.380, -99.470
A barn was damaged by severe thunderstorm winds.
Hail, Harper
- When
- May 1, 7:35 PM CST
- Where
- Harper County, May
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.620, -99.730
Hail, Washita
- When
- May 1, 7:40 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, Canute
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.420, -99.280
Hail, Washita
- When
- May 1, 7:43 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, 6 mi W of Burns Flat
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.350, -99.270
Hail, Ellis
- When
- May 1, 7:45 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis County, 4 mi N of Catesby
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.550, -99.970
Hail, Woods
- When
- May 1, 7:50 PM CST
- Where
- Woods County, 15 mi NW of Freedom
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.920, -99.320
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 7:53 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, Ft Supply
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.580, -99.570
Hail, Washita
- When
- May 1, 8:07 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, 1 mi SE of Bessie
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.370, -98.970
Hail, Ellis
- When
- May 1, 8:07 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis County, 8 mi N of Gage
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.430, -99.750
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, 10 mi N of Woodward
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.580, -99.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Washita
- When
- May 1, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, 4 mi WNW of Bessie
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.400, -99.050
measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site
Hail, Ellis
- When
- May 1, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis County, 5 mi N of Gage
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.380, -99.750
Hail, Washita
- When
- May 1, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, Burns Flat
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Coordinates
- 35.350, -99.170
Wind-driven hail as large as golf balls broke windows and dented 11 cars parked at the old Clinton-Sherman Air Base. Fences and roofs of buildings were also damaged.
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 8:28 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, 13 mi N of Mooreland
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.620, -99.200
Hail, Custer
- When
- May 1, 8:35 PM CST
- Where
- Custer County, 4 mi S of Weatherford
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.480, -98.720
Hail, Ellis
- When
- May 1, 8:35 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis County, Shattuck
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.270, -99.880
Hail, Woods
- When
- May 1, 8:40 PM CST
- Where
- Woods County, Waynoka
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.580, -98.880
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 8:42 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, 7 mi NW of Woodward
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.500, -99.480
Hail, Washita
- When
- May 1, 8:45 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, 4 mi W of Corn
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.380, -98.850
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 8:48 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, 2 mi W of Mooreland
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.430, -99.230
Hail, Alfalfa
- When
- May 1, 8:56 PM CST
- Where
- Alfalfa County, Burlington
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -98.420
Hail, Caddo
- When
- May 1, 9:02 PM CST
- Where
- Caddo County, 2 mi N of Hinton
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.500, -98.350
Hail, Blaine
- When
- May 1, 9:05 PM CST
- Where
- Blaine County, 1 mi SW of Geary
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.870, -98.330
Hail, Canadian
- When
- May 1, 9:25 PM CST
- Where
- Canadian County, Calumet
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.600, -98.120
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 9:30 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, 4 mi W of Woodward
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.430, -99.470
Hail, Roger Mills
- When
- May 1, 9:30 PM CST
- Where
- Roger Mills County, Reydon
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.650, -99.920
Hail, Grant
- When
- May 1, 9:30 PM CST
- Where
- Grant County, Wakita
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.880, -97.920
Hail, Alfalfa
- When
- May 1, 9:45 PM CST
- Where
- Alfalfa County, Byron
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -98.280
Hail, Woodward
- When
- May 1, 9:45 PM CST
- Where
- Woodward County, Woodward
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.430, -99.400
Hail, Major
- When
- May 1, 9:45 PM CST
- Where
- Major County, 4 mi ENE of Meno
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.400, -98.100
Thunderstorm Wind, Kingfisher
- When
- May 1, 9:46 PM CST
- Where
- Kingfisher County, 1 mi E of Okarche
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.720, -97.970
Hail, Alfalfa
- When
- May 1, 9:52 PM CST
- Where
- Alfalfa County, 5 mi S of Cherokee
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.680, -98.350
Hail, Roger Mills
- When
- May 1, 9:52 PM CST
- Where
- Roger Mills County, Reydon
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 35.650, -99.920
Hail, Garfield
- When
- May 1, 10:00 PM CST
- Where
- Garfield County, 3 mi W of Carrier
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.480, -98.070
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- 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
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, May 1 to 29, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 1, 1997
- Lightning Strike in New Jersey, May 1, 1997
- Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 1997
- Flooding in Idaho, May 1 to 31, 1997
- Heavy Rain in Ohio, May 1 to 31, 1997
- Flooding in Montana, May 1 to 31, 1997
- Flooding in Louisiana, May 1 to 9, 1997
- Flooding in Texas, May 1 to 9, 1997
- High Wind in Ohio, May 1, 1997
- Lightning Strike in Tennessee, May 1, 1997
- High Wind in New York, May 1, 1997
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 1997
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: 5619236, 5619227, 5619237, 5619130, 5619226, 5619131, 5619228, 5619139, 5619140, 5619136, 5619141, 5619229, 5619132, 5619230, 5619238, 5619231, 5619232, 5619233, 5619234, 5619235, 5619320, 5619138, 5619206, 5619209, 5619144, 5619134, 5619208, 5619203, 5619205, 5619202, 5619133, 5619143, 5619135, 5619137, 5619204, 5619242, 5619142, 5619207, 5619217, 5619220, and more.