Oklahoma, 1998

Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Oklahoma, October 17, 1998

October 17, 1998 · NWS TSA · 13 events in 4 counties and zones

Summary of events for October 17 1998:A cold front pushing across northeast Oklahoma and the tail end of an upper level disturbance moving across the northern plains on the afternoon of October 17 helped to kick off a few severe thunderstorms between Tulsa and the Kansas state line. Several rounds of thunderstorms moved across the affected area with one thunderstorm demonstrating strong rotation…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$24,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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 October 17 1998:A cold front pushing across northeast Oklahoma and the tail end of an upper level disturbance moving across the northern plains on the afternoon of October 17 helped to kick off a few severe thunderstorms between Tulsa and the Kansas state line. Several rounds of thunderstorms moved across the affected area with one thunderstorm demonstrating strong rotation and containing a funnel cloud. Otherwise, the main threat from these storms was in the form of damaging winds and marginally severe hail.

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Tulsa

When
October 17, 12:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Tulsa County, (Tul)tulsa Intl Arpt
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The daily rainfall of 1.32 inches breaks the record as being the most rainfall to occur at the Tulsa International Airport on this date.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When
October 17, 12:10 PM CST
Where
Osage County, Hominy
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.420, -96.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When
October 17, 12:15 PM CST
Where
Osage County, 7 mi NE of Barnsdall
Property damage
$100
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.630, -96.080

Large tree limbs were blown down at the Woolaroc Museum.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When
October 17, 12:15 PM CST
Where
Osage County, 4 mi E of Hominy
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.420, -96.330

A pump house was blown out of a pasture and onto OK Hwy 20.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
October 17, 1:05 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Copan
Property damage
$100
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.900, -95.930

Large tree limbs were blown down in Copan.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When
October 17, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Osage County, Wolco
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.550, -96.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 1 mi E of Ochelata
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
36.600, -95.970

A barn was destroyed just east of Ochelata. Power poles were also snapped off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pawnee

When
October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, Terlton
Property damage
$100
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
36.180, -96.480

Large tree limbs were blown down in Terlton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Ochelata
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.600, -95.980

Funnel Cloud, Osage

When
October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Osage County, 1 mi NW of Skiatook
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.629, -96.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
October 17, 2:05 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 2 mi W of Vera
Property damage
$6,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.450, -95.920

Two cars were blown off of US Hwy 75.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
October 17, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Ramona
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
36.530, -95.920

The roof was blown off of a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When
October 17, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Osage County, Avant
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.480, -96.070

Several power poles were blown down near Avant.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5666879, 5666876, 5666867, 5666877, 5666868, 5666870, 5666869, 5666871, 5666872, 5666878, 5666874, 5666873, 5666875.