Oklahoma, 1998

Hail and Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, September 22, 1998

September 22, 1998 · NWS OUN · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed over portions of central Oklahoma the morning of the 22nd. Numerous trees and power lines were downed in Carrier in Garfield County, while lightning struck 2 homes in Midwest City in Oklahoma County setting them on fire.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$11,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Scattered thunderstorms developed over portions of central Oklahoma the morning of the 22nd. Numerous trees and power lines were downed in Carrier in Garfield County, while lightning struck 2 homes in Midwest City in Oklahoma County setting them on fire. The first home, on Ruby Lane, was struck near the front peak of the garage roof igniting a fire in the rafters. The other lightning strike occurred at a house on Godlin Road damaging the wiring which then started a fire. Lighting also struck a student at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater (Payne County), knocking him unconscious while he was standing near the skywalk of the Human Environmental Sciences building. He was transported to Stillwater Medical Center and treated, then released the next day in good condition.

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 27 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:36 UTC.

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Event by event

2 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Oklahoma

When
September 22, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Midwest City
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Payne

When
September 22, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Payne County, Stillwater
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.077, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
September 22, 9:35 AM CST
Where
Garfield County, Carrier
Property damage
$500
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.480, -98.020

Hail, Payne

When
September 22, 10:40 AM CST
Where
Payne County, 11 mi SW of Stillwater
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.000, -97.200

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, September 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: 5670999, 5670998, 5670996, 5670997.