Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, November 9, 1998

A long line of severe thunderstorms moved across most of western and central Oklahoma during the evening of the 9th producing 1 tornado, widespread straight-line wind damage, and large hail. As the line of thunderstorms moved into northwest Oklahoma, large limbs were downed in Burlington in Alfalfa County. Lightning then started 3 fires as the line of thunderstorms moved east. Lightning first struck a power pole in Enid in Garfield County, causing a power outage and a small fire. Lightning then struck a fence in Gracemont in Caddo County destroying it. Two young boys who were playing next to the fence were injured and needed to be hospitalized. An oil tank battery then exploded 5 miles north of Cyril, also in Caddo County, when lightning struck it. A small fire then started but was quickly extinguised. Father south in Comanche County, thunderstorm winds produced a 1/4 mile swath of damage 4 miles south of Sterling. A mobile home was destroyed, and several barns were damaged. A house porch was also destroyed. Near Chickasha in Grady County, a storage building was destroyed; another building was damaged, and a portion of a roof from a local tavern was damaged. Trees were blown down across a road in Guthrie in Logan County, while in Duncan in Stephens County, a roof was blown off a storage shed; an airport hangar was damaged, and power lines were downed. Numerous trees were uprooted 5 miles west of Stillwater in Payne County. Numerous large tree limbs were downed on the Oklahoma/Canadian County line and in Spencer and Edmond in Oklahoma County. Lightning also struck a house in the 5000 block of NW 20th St. in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County causing a fire. Trees were downed in Blanchard in McClain County; a pear tree was blown down in Norman in Cleveland County, and lightning struck a tree in Purcell in McClain County, destroying it.A small and fast moving tornado, rated an F1, embedded in the line of thunderstorms, then touched down near Purcell in McClain County at S 10th St. and W Brule St., then tracked east-northeast to the main downtown business district. Tree damage was extensive in the southwest part of the city where a barn and home were also damaged. Damage in the downtown business area included collapse of a brick wall, tar roofs blown off, shingle damage, broken windows, and destroyed signs. Tree damage, downed power lines, and minor roof damage was observed in Cleveland County near Lexington.Two semi-trucks were blown over by straight-line winds on Interstate 35, 1 mile southwest of Pauls Valley in Garvin County, while in Milo in Carter County, the Baptist Church roof was damaged; windows were blown in at the house next to the church, and a twenty-one inch diameter tree was blown down. Also in Carter County in Love Grove, large tree limbs and power lines were downed. Trees were downed and blocked roads in Murray County 3 miles east of Davis, 4 miles south of Davis, and in Sulphur. Lightning also sparked a fire 2 miles west of Roff in Pontotoc County, that consumed 20 large bales of hay. In Ada, also in Pontotoc County, numerous trees were uprooted; roofs were blown off of a house, garage, and 2 barns; a tree was blown into a house, and a well and well house were heavily damaged. In Seminole County, numerous trees were uprooted in the city of Seminole along with a carport being damaged, while in Sawakwa, also in Seminole County, trees were downed and blocked many roads. Minor damage occurred to a house in Mill Creek in Johnston County. Numerous tree limbs and power lines were also downed. The last report of damage came from Marietta in Love County where widespread wind damage occurred in the city of Marietta including damage to house roofs, cars and businesses. Numerous trees were downed, and 80 percent of the city was left without power. A semi-truck was also blown over.