Summary of events of September 8, 1997:Afternoon severe thunderstorms moved across parts of western and central Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. The largest hail was reported near Meridian in Logan County, where hail reached the size of half dollars.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.
Summary of events of September 8, 1997:Afternoon severe thunderstorms moved across parts of western and central Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. The largest hail was reported near Meridian in Logan County, where hail reached the size of half dollars. Severe winds downed tree limbs near Erick in Beckham County and northwest of Willow in Greer County. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.
The Norman radar (KTLX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:13 UTC.
5 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a building in downtown and set fire to the roof. The fire was quickly contained and damage was limited to$20,000.
Several two to four inch diameter tree limbs were blown down.
Strong winds blew tree limbs down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, September 1997
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: 5616967, 5616960, 5616961, 5616964, 5616962, 5616963, 5616965, 5616966.