Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma
- When
- May 20, 11:00 AM CST
- Where
- Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Coordinates
- 35.480, -97.530
Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, May 20, 1998
An isolated severe thunderstorm developed over Oklahoma City the morning of May 20th. One man sustained minor burns when he was struck by lightning, and power was knocked out to 53 homes at May and NW 14th Street for over two hours.
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
- 1
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
An isolated severe thunderstorm developed over Oklahoma City the morning of May 20th. One man sustained minor burns when he was struck by lightning, and power was knocked out to 53 homes at May and NW 14th Street for over two hours.
The radar
The Norman radar (KTLX), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:01 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning, Oklahoma
- When
- May 20, 11:00 AM CST
- Where
- Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
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
- Hail in Iowa, May 20, 1998
- Lightning Strike in Nebraska, May 20, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Indiana, May 20, 1998
- Lightning Strike in West Virginia, May 20, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 20, 1998
- Tornado in Nebraska, May 20, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 20 to 21, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, May 20, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, May 20, 1998
- Hail in Nebraska, May 20, 1998
- Drought in Louisiana, May 20 to 31, 1998
- Drought in Texas, May 20 to 31, 1998
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 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: 5668639, 5668640.