Oklahoma, 2000

Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Oklahoma, May 26, 2000

May 26, 2000 · NWS OUN · 41 events in 15 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms formed over portions of western and central Oklahoma during the early evening of the 26th and moved eastward through the evening. In addition to areas of severe wind and hail, 3 tornadoes were confirmed.

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
$23,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
41

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.

Severe thunderstorms formed over portions of western and central Oklahoma during the early evening of the 26th and moved eastward through the evening. In addition to areas of severe wind and hail, 3 tornadoes were confirmed.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 hail, 4 tornado, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washita

When
May 26, 5:43 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 3 mi E of Corn
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.383, -98.733

Hail, Washita

When
May 26, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Washita County, Corn
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.383, -98.783

Hail, Custer

When
May 26, 5:57 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Weatherford
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.533, -98.717

Hail, Caddo

When
May 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3 mi S of Hydro
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.500, -98.567

Hail, Washita

When
May 26, 6:03 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 3 mi ENE of Corn
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
35.400, -98.733

Hail, Washita

When
May 26, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 3 mi NE of Colony
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.383, -98.650

Hail, Caddo

When
May 26, 6:12 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 4 mi W of Bridgeport
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.550, -98.433

Tornado, Washita

When
May 26, 6:12 PM CST to 6:28 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 2 mi SSE of Colony
Rating
F0
Path length
2.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Property damage
$500
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.317, -98.667

This tornado formed 2 miles south-southeast of Colony in Washita County and was seen by several storm chasers moving slowly eastward, but at times appeared to move back westward, before reaching the Washita/Caddo County line at 1828 CST and dissipating. Tree branches and pieces of metal were observed swirling around the tornado and have been used to rate this tornado F0.

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 26, 6:28 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3 mi W of Eakly
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.300, -98.600

This tornado formed in Washita County and dissipated on the Washita/Caddo Couny line.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 26, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Altus
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
34.633, -99.333

Hail, Jackson

When
May 26, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 9 mi S of Altus
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
34.500, -99.333

Hail, Tillman

When
May 26, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, Tipton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.500, -99.133

Hail, Jackson

When
May 26, 6:42 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Humphreys
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.550, -99.233

Hail, Blaine

When
May 26, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Blaine County, 8 mi W of Geary
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.883, -98.467

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 26, 6:47 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 2 mi ESE of Eakly
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.300, -98.533

This tornado formed 1.5 miles east southeast of Eakly in Caddo County, lasting for just a few seconds before dissipating. No damage occurred, and thus the tornado was rated F0.

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 26, 6:57 PM CST to 7:03 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 7 mi W of Binger
Rating
F0
Path length
2.5 mi
Path width
100 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.317, -98.450

This tornado was observed by several storm chasers 6.5 miles west of Binger in Caddo County just north of State Route 152. During the early stages of its development, the tornado was embedded in rapidly rotating rain curtains believed to have been upwards of 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile wide, however the tornado which eventually emerged was estimated to be only 100 yards wide. As the tornado dissipated, while crossing State Route 152, several vortices formed, which rapidly evolved into one, small, rope-like funnel. No damage was observed or reported, and thus the tornado was rated F0.

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 26, 7:12 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 6 mi SW of Lone Wolf
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
34.917, -99.317

Hail, Greer

When
May 26, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Greer County, Willow
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.050, -99.517

Hail, Beckham

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, Retrop
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.167, -99.367

Hail, Canadian

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST to 7:45 PM CST
Where
Canadian County, 2 mi N of Scott
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.417, -98.233

Hail, Caddo

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3 mi S of Hydro
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.500, -98.567

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3 mi S of Hydro
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.500, -98.567

Hail, Beckham

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, 3 mi W of Retrop
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.167, -99.417

Hail, Washita

When
May 26, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 10 mi W of Sentinel
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.150, -99.367

Hail, Greer

When
May 26, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Greer County, 6 mi N of Mangum
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
34.967, -99.500

Hail was reported at the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 283.

Hail, Greer

When
May 26, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Greer County, 4 mi W of Brinkman
Measured
4.5 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.017, -99.583

Flash Flood, Caddo

When
May 26, 7:48 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, North Portion
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 58 was flooded north of Eakly in Caddo County.

Hail, Greer

When
May 26, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Greer County, 2 mi W of Brinkman
Measured
4 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.017, -99.550

Funnel Cloud, Greer

When
May 26, 8:08 PM CST to 8:09 PM CST
Where
Greer County, 5 mi NNE of Mangum
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A funnel cloud extending about 1/4 of the way to the ground dissipated in 1 minute.

Hail, Caddo

When
May 26, 8:20 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3 mi S of Hydro
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$100
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.500, -98.567

A 6 foot diameter tree was blown over.

Hail, Canadian

When
May 26, 8:33 PM CST
Where
Canadian County, 4 mi ENE of El Reno
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.550, -97.900

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 26, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 6 mi E of Norman
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.217, -97.350

Hail was reported near the intersection of 72nd and Alameda.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 26, 9:50 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1 mi S of Lake Thunderbird
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
PARK/FOREST SERVICE
Coordinates
35.217, -97.250

Hail, Pottawatomie

When
May 26, 10:08 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County, Tecumseh
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.250, -96.933

Hail, Pottawatomie

When
May 26, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County, 4 mi S of Tecumseh
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.200, -96.933

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 26, 10:30 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 2 mi W of Prague
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.483, -96.717

Hail, Seminole

When
May 26, 10:40 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, 5 mi SW of Seminole
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.183, -96.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole

When
May 26, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.233, -96.683

Hail, Seminole

When
May 26, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.233, -96.683

Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole

When
May 26, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Property damage
$22,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.233, -96.683

Two mobile homes were moved slightly from their foundation. Skirting was also blown off of 5 other mobile homes, and windows were blown out of a vehicle. Damage was also sustained to a light at a football field and to the batting cage at a softball field, and an antenna and tower were damaged at the fire department.

Thunderstorm Wind, Woods

When
May 26, 11:40 PM CST
Where
Woods County, 2 mi S of Alva
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
36.767, -98.667

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2000Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2000

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: 5147238, 5147239, 5147240, 5147586, 5147578, 5147245, 5147579, 5147616, 5147617, 5147580, 5147581, 5149462, 5147582, 5147583, 5147618, 5147615, 5147584, 5147587, 5147241, 5147585, 5147588, 5149450, 5149463, 5149464, 5149368, 5149369, 5149453, 5149451, 5147614, 5149452, 5149454, 5147244, 5147242, 5149455, 5149456, 5147243, 5149457, 5149458, 5149459, 5149460, and more.