Thunderstorm Wind, Kay
- When
- May 19, 2:05 AM CST
- Where
- Kay County, 4 mi SSE of Blackwell
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Coordinates
- 36.750, -97.250
measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site
Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Oklahoma, May 19, 1997
Summary of events of May 19, 1997:Late night and early morning thunderstorms produced severe straight-line winds that resulted in tree and limb damage in parts of north-central and central Oklahoma. The highest measured wind speed was 64 mph at the Oklahoma Mesonet site near Blackwell in Kay County.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
- $15,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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 19, 1997:Late night and early morning thunderstorms produced severe straight-line winds that resulted in tree and limb damage in parts of north-central and central Oklahoma. The highest measured wind speed was 64 mph at the Oklahoma Mesonet site near Blackwell in Kay County. Damage was reported in Ponca City in Kay County, in Norman in Cleveland County, and in Seminole in Seminole County. Lightning damage was also reported in Enid in Garfield County and in Norman in Cleveland County.See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.
The radar
The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:06 UTC.
Event by event
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Kay
- When
- May 19, 2:16 AM CST
- Where
- Kay County, Ponca City (Kpnc)
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Property damage
- $100
- Coordinates
- 36.700, -97.100
Wind gusts to 58 mph were measured at the Ponca City Municipal Airport (KPNC). Limbs and trees were downed throughout town by the severe winds.
Lightning, Garfield
- When
- May 19, 6:00 AM CST
- Where
- Garfield County, Enid
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Lightning struck a three-story brick building on the Phillips Unversity Campus, damaging the front and the roof.
Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland
- When
- May 19, 7:00 AM CST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Norman
- Property damage
- $100
- Coordinates
- 35.220, -97.450
Large trees were downed in town by severe thunderstorm winds. (time estimated)
Lightning, Cleveland
- When
- May 19, 7:05 AM CST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Norman
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 35.203, -97.326 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Lightning struck and set fire to a house.
Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole
- When
- May 19, 8:00 AM CST
- Where
- Seminole County, Seminole
- Property damage
- $10
- Coordinates
- 35.230, -96.680
Numerous large tree limbs were downed in Seminole. (time estimated)
What these are
- 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.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Damaging Wind in California, May 19, 1997
- Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, May 19, 1997
- Lightning Strike in California, May 19, 1997
- Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flood in California, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flood and Flood in Mississippi, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flood in Utah, May 19, 1997
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 19, 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: 5613686, 5613687, 5613691, 5613689, 5613690, 5613688.