Thunderstorm Wind, McClain
- When
- March 18, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- McClain County, Blanchard
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.130, -97.670
reported by NWS employee
Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, March 18 to 19, 1998
Summary of events of March 18, 1998:A line of thunderstorms formed along a cold front as it moved across central and southern Oklahoma during the evening. A few reports of severe hail were received, but the majority of damage resulted from severe thunderstorm winds.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
- 2
- Property damage
- $2.6 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 16
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 March 18, 1998:A line of thunderstorms formed along a cold front as it moved across central and southern Oklahoma during the evening. A few reports of severe hail were received, but the majority of damage resulted from severe thunderstorm winds. One storm moved across Grady and McClain Counties from west of Ninnekah to near Dibble. Winds estimated at 70-80 mph destroyed trees and several mobile homes. Two serious injuries resulted. A second storm along the line produced similar severe damage in Pauls Valley. The Pauls Valley Airport was particularly hard-hit, with an estimated $1,000,000 damage. 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
13 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Jefferson
- When
- March 18, 9:45 PM CST
- Where
- Jefferson County, 5 mi S of Waurika
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.100, -98.000
Thunderstorm Wind, Grady
- When
- March 18, 10:05 PM CST
- Where
- Grady County, 2 mi W of Ninnekah
- Property damage
- $500
- Coordinates
- 34.950, -97.950
Power lines and trees were downed along Highway 81 near the intersection of Highways 277 and 81 west of town. Some of the downed lines landed against a house, trapping the occupants for about 20 minutes. A 30x30 building was also destroyed on Highway 277 between Ninnekah and Cement.
Thunderstorm Wind, Grady
- When
- March 18, 10:15 PM CST
- Where
- Grady County, 3 mi E of Tabler
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $60,000
- Coordinates
- 35.050, -97.770
Severe thunderstorm winds completely destroyed a mobile home east of Tabler. An infant that was in the trailer sustained a serious head injury, and was treated at a local hospital. The other 4 occupants received only minor scrapes and bruises. A neighboring trailer home was blown 18 inches east and siding was blown off a third mobile home.
Thunderstorm Wind, McClain
- When
- March 18, 10:20 PM CST
- Where
- McClain County, 3 mi S of Blanchard
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph)
- Property damage
- $6,000
- Coordinates
- 35.080, -97.670
Severe thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 mph (by an NWS employee) destroyed a shed, blew part of the roof off a barn, and damaged the roof of a house.
Thunderstorm Wind, McClain
- When
- March 18, 10:30 PM CST
- Where
- McClain County, 2 mi N of Dibble
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Coordinates
- 35.070, -97.630
Severe thunderstorm winds destroyed a mobile home, injuring one of the three occupants. Three other homes in the area were damaged and two mobile homes were blown off of their blocks. Large trees were also split.
Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland
- When
- March 18, 10:30 PM CST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Norman
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 35.220, -97.450
Severe thunderstorm winds damaged numerous roofs and blew several mobile homes off of their blocks.
Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland
- When
- March 18, 10:35 PM CST
- Where
- Cleveland County, Noble
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.130, -97.400
reported by NWS employee
Thunderstorm Wind, Garvin
- When
- March 18, 10:55 PM CST
- Where
- Garvin County, 1 mi SSW of Pauls Valley
- Measured
- 64 kt (74 mph)
- Coordinates
- 34.720, -97.220
measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site
Thunderstorm Wind, Garvin
- When
- March 18, 10:55 PM CST
- Where
- Garvin County, Elmore City
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Coordinates
- 34.620, -97.380
Severe thunderstorm winds downed limbs, awnings, and television antennae throughout town.
Thunderstorm Wind, Garvin
- When
- March 18, 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Garvin County, Pauls Valley
- Property damage
- $2.5 million
- Coordinates
- 34.730, -97.220
Severe thunderstorm winds caused major damage at Pauls Valley Airport and minor roof damage in town. At the airport a maintenance shop, 14 hangars, and 8 to 10 planes were completely destroyed. Damage at the airport was estimated at $1,500,00. An Oklahoma Natural Gas shop south of Pauls Valley sustained $150,000 in damage to the roof, walls, and garage doors. The Pauls Valley armory lost most of its new roof and air conditioner in the severe storm. Outbuildings, signs, and trees were destroyed throughout town. An historic barn was also destroyed. Total damage in the area was estimated at 2 to 3 million dollars.
Thunderstorm Wind, Carter
- When
- March 18, 11:03 PM CST
- Where
- Carter County, Lone Grove
- Property damage
- $8,000
- Coordinates
- 34.170, -97.270
Severe thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a lumber yard.
Hail, Love
- When
- March 18, 11:15 PM CST
- Where
- Love County, Marietta
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 33.930, -97.120
Hail, Marshall
- When
- March 18, 11:40 PM CST
- Where
- Marshall County, Little City
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Coordinates
- 34.080, -96.620
Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole
- When
- March 18, 11:50 PM CST
- Where
- Seminole County, Wewoka
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Coordinates
- 35.150, -96.480
Thunderstorm Wind, Bryan
- When
- March 19, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Bryan County, Durant
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Coordinates
- 34.000, -96.380
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.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Winter Storm in Kansas, March 18 to 19, 1998
- Flash Flood in Florida, March 18 to 19, 1998
- Winter Storm in Colorado, March 18 to 19, 1998
- Winter Storm in Colorado, March 18, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Texas, March 18 to 19, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 18, 1998
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, March 18, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, March 18 to 19, 1998
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 18, 1998
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 18, 1998
- Winter Storm in Kansas, March 18 to 19, 1998
- High Wind in Alaska, March 18, 1998
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, March 1998
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: 5648037, 5648035, 5648036, 5648161, 5648039, 5648040, 5648163, 5648038, 5648042, 5648162, 5648156, 5648041, 5648157, 5648158, 5648159, 5648160.