Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 6, 1998

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 6, 1998
Start: 1998-05-06T02:21
End: 1998-05-06T19:54
Location: Oklahoma

May 6, 1998 · NWS TSA · 47 events in 17 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $118,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 47

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 TSA wrote it up.

Summary of events for May 6:Numerous severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours of May 6. Many of these thunderstorms developed rotation with some storms ultimately producing tornadoes. The first thunderstorms of the day developed over central Oklahoma and then moved eastward toward Okfuskee County after 430 PM CDT, traversing the counties along and just north of I-40 through 730 PM CDT before exiting into Arkansas to the east of Stilwell and Sallisaw. These thunderstorms produced large hail, numerous reports of funnel clouds, and two brief tornado touchdowns in Muskogee County. Other severe thunderstorms developed behind the first cluster, producing severe weather primarily in Creek and Okmulgee Counties from 700 PM to 830 PM CDT.Other severe thunderstorms developed rapidly around 600 PM CDT along a weak cold front across the northern border counties of Oklahoma. These storms primarily produced large hail. Further south in southeast Oklahoma, a cap of warm air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere prevented thunderstorm development until around 700 PM CDT with the approach of an upper level disturbance. Once thunderstorms developed in Pittsburg County, they rapidly became severe and began rotating. These storms moved east across Haskell and northern Le Flore Counties through 900 PM CDT, producing large hail, numerous reports of funnel clouds, several brief tornado touchdownsand a tornado producing considerable damage in the small town of Calhoun in northwestern Le Flore County. At the time of the Calhoun tornado, the WSR-88D near Fort Smith had its first algorithm-induced tornado vortex signature (TVS).

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 6 funnel cloud, 6 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Le Flore

When: May 6, 2:21 AM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Heavener
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 34.880, -94.600

Flash Flood, Le Flore

When: May 6, 3:00 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Poteau
Coordinates: 34.900, -94.703 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water temporarily covered Dewey Avenue near the hospital. The NWS cooperative observer at the Poteau Water Works reported 2.14 inches of rain in the 24 hours ending at 7 AM CDT 5/6. Summary of events for morning of May 6 1998:Scattered thunderstorms developed over southeast Oklahoma during the early morning hours of May 6. The axis of thunderstorm activity and heaviest rainfall was just south of Interstate 40, with initial development taking place in McIntosh County and the thunderstorm emphasis shifting eastward toward Le Flore County. Over Le Flore County, the thunderstorms became severe, producing hail to the size of nickels near Heavener and torrential, flooding rainfall near Poteau.

Hail, Okfuskee

When: May 6, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Okfuskee County, Welty
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.620, -96.400

Hail, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 4:24 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 2 mi SW of Nuyaka
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.630, -96.170

Hail, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 4:28 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, Nuyaka
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.650, -96.130

Funnel Cloud, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 2 mi W of Okmulgee
Coordinates: 35.647, -95.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 1 mi N of Okmulgee
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.650, -95.970

Thunderstorm wind gusts up to 55 mph also reported

Funnel Cloud, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 4 mi W of Hector
Coordinates: 35.647, -95.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel cloud reported at 251st Street and US Hwy 75, just south of the Tulsa county line.

Hail, Creek

When: May 6, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Creek County, Mounds
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.870, -96.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Creek

When: May 6, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Creek County, Mounds
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates: 35.870, -96.070

Hail, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Boynton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.650, -95.650

Tornado, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:13 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Boynton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.650, -95.650

Brief tornado touchdown. No known damage or injuries.

Hail, Washington

When: May 6, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1 mi S of Bartlesville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.730, -96.000

Funnel Cloud, Okmulgee

When: May 6, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 7 mi E of Morris
Coordinates: 35.647, -95.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A TV meteorologist from KOTV reported a funnel cloud lifting back up into the clouds.

Hail, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Boynton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.650, -95.650

Tornado, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:21 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, 5 mi E of Boynton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.650, -95.570

Brief tornado touchdown in open country

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:31 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, 5 mi S of Boynton
Property damage: $100
Coordinates: 35.580, -95.650

Three-inch tree limbs blown down along SH 72

Hail, Muskogee

When: May 6, 5:32 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Muskogee
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.750, -95.370

Dime-sized hail on Country Club Road in Muskogee

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 6, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Tulsa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.150, -95.950

Dime-sized hail near 66th Street North and US Hwy 75

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 6, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Tulsa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.150, -95.950

Dime-sized hail near 45th Street North and Delaware

Hail, Washington

When: May 6, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Oglesby
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.630, -95.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Tulsa

When: May 6, 5:43 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Bixby
Property damage: $100
Coordinates: 35.950, -95.880

Several mature trees blown down along US Hwy 64 near 171st Street in Bixby

Thunderstorm Wind, Wagoner

When: May 6, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Wagoner County, Tullahassee
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $100
Coordinates: 35.830, -95.430

Several large tree limbs down

Hail, Rogers

When: May 6, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, Talala
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.530, -95.680

Flash Flood, Tulsa

When: May 6, 5:50 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Tulsa
Coordinates: 36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northbound lane of Riverside Drive was impassable in spots from 61st Street to the pedestrian bridge due to high water. Several roadways under water in north Tulsa.

Hail, Creek

When: May 6, 5:59 PM CST
Where: Creek County, 1 mi E of Shamrock
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.920, -96.570

Hail, Craig

When: May 6, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Craig County, 7 mi SSW of Vinita
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 36.550, -95.200

Nickel-sized hail at Big Cabin

Hail, Cherokee

When: May 6, 6:18 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Tahlequah
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.920, -94.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware

When: May 6, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, Eucha
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 36.370, -94.850

Park ranger reported numerous large tree limbs down

Thunderstorm Wind, Mayes

When: May 6, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Mayes County, Disney
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 36.480, -95.020

The top of a tree blew off causing slight damage to a trailer

Hail, Haskell

When: May 6, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, Stigler
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.250, -95.130

Hail, Adair

When: May 6, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Adair County, 1 mi S of Bunch
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 35.670, -94.770

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsburg

When: May 6, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, 5 mi W of Blocker
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 35.070, -95.650

Power lines and trees blown down

Funnel Cloud, Haskell

When: May 6, 7:06 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 3 mi S of Stigler
Coordinates: 35.225, -95.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Haskell

When: May 6, 7:12 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 4 mi E of Stigler
Coordinates: 35.225, -95.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: May 6, 7:27 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, 4 mi SW of Quinton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.080, -95.420

Emergency management director reported a tornado 4 miles southwest of Quinton. No known damage or injuries.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sequoyah

When: May 6, 7:32 PM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, 1 mi E of Muldrow
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.420, -94.580

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: May 6, 7:32 PM CST to 7:33 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Quinton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.3 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 35.120, -95.370

A brief tornado touchdown in Quinton knocked power lines down. There are no known injuries with this tornado. The parent storm produced a tornado 4 miles southwest of Quinton just five minutes earlier.

Hail, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Panama
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.670

Tornado, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:38 PM CST to 7:39 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Calhoun
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.8 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 35.100, -94.750

At 838 PM CDT, a tornado touched down in the small community of Calhoun. Six homes in Calhoun were damaged, four of which were considered destroyed. One of the six was a mobile home. Two minor injuries occurred when a home was lifted off of its concrete block foundation and destroyed. Wind speed estimates based on the damage suggests velocities were in the upper end of the F1 category, meaning wind in Calhoun were near 110 mph.

Funnel Cloud, Haskell

When: May 6, 7:38 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 4 mi W of Kinta
Coordinates: 35.225, -95.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Haskell

When: May 6, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, Cartersville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.230, -94.850

Civil defense director reported a brief tornado touchdown near Cartersville. There is no known damage or injuries with this tornado.

Hail, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:42 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Panama
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.670

Hail, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:44 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Bokoshe
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.180, -94.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:44 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, 1 mi N of Poteau
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.070, -94.620

Hail, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:54 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Poteau
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 35.050, -94.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Flore

When: May 6, 7:54 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Poteau
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 35.050, -94.620

Several houses in Poteau were damaged, and several trees were blown down.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Oklahoma, 1998 Warnings 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: 5644813, 5644881, 5644979, 5644978, 5644984, 5644992, 5644882, 5644993, 5644883, 5644884, 5644885, 5644987, 5644989, 5644982, 5644886, 5644986, 5644887, 5644888, 5644889, 5644890, 5644990, 5644891, 5644892, 5644893, 5644896, 5644905, 5644894, 5644895, 5644897, 5644898, 5644980, 5644991, 5644904, 5644995, 5644996, 5644994, 5644985, 5644998, 5644899, 5644983, and more.