Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, August 2, 2003

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, August 2, 2003
Start: 2003-08-02T00:02
End: 2003-08-02T08:30
Location: Oklahoma

August 2, 2003 · NWS TSA · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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: $55,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 1, 8:39 PM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 8:39 PM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OKLAHOMA
939 PM CDT FRI AUG 1 2003

COMPLEX OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ROLLED THROUGH MUCH OF NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE ACROSS THE AREA.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING OUT OF THE FORECAST AREA BY 10 PM.
WILL GO AHEAD AND CANCEL THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE TULSA
CWA THEN.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS AN MCS IS
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS AS THE LOW LEVEL JET
INCREASES ACROSS THE AREA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST
INTO NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.  WILL KEEP HIGH
POPS GOING FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS TO COVER THIS SCENARIO.

REMAINDER OF FORECAST LOOKS GOOD.

UPDATED ZONES AND GRIDS WILL BE OUT BY 10 PM.

FORECAST ID= 10

.TSA...
AR...NONE.
OK...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 1, 1:53 PM CST, 10 hours 9 minutes before

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-021100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
253 PM CDT FRI AUG 01 2003

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS
MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK

...A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
   ACROSS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL
KANSAS ALONG A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST AND ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO
NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. THESE
STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AS THE AIRMASS ACROSS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE DUE TO AFTERNOON
HEATING. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS WINDS WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

THE CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE COMBINES WITH AN INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET TO PRODUCE
A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX THAT WILL AFFECT NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. INSTABILITIES WILL BE SUCH THAT LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE.

WARNING PROBABILITIES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES CAN BE
FOUND IN THE OUTLOOK SECTION AT: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA. GIVEN
PROBABILITIES REPRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED AT
YOUR LOCATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE SATURDAY AS THE COLD
FRONT PUSHES SOUTH INTO THE AREA.  STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
MAY BE ONGOING SATURDAY MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF FAR NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.  AS THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES
INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE POSSIBLE.
ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS.

.SPOTTER / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...SPOTTER
ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS
PORTIONS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT...
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 1, 7:53 PM CST, 4 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0853 PM CDT FRI AUG 01 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0812 PM    GORE                      OK   60 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   SEQUOYAH                       REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0705 PM    HASKELL                   OK   58 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   MUSKOGEE                       MESONET REPORT

0645 PM    6 W CLAREMORE             OK   WIND DAMAGE
08/01/03   ROGERS                         LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE.

0640 PM    HECTORVILLE               OK   69 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   OKMULGEE                       MESONET REPORT

0636 PM    3 E GLENPOOL              OK   80 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   TULSA                          REPORTED MY NWS EMPLOYEE.

0609 PM    TULSA                     OK   1.00 IN HAIL
08/01/03   TULSA

RJS

Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:01 PM CST, 4 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0901 PM CDT FRI AUG 01 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0845 PM    KEOTA                     OK   WIND DAMAGE
08/01/03   HASKELL                        ROOF DAMAGE AND TREES
                                          DOWN.

0545 PM    2 S WYNONA                OK   59 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   OSAGE                          MESONET REPORT.

RJS

Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:10 PM CST, 3 hours 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0910 PM CDT FRI AUG 01 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 PM    FORT SMITH                AR   60 MPH TSTORM WIND
08/01/03   SEBASTIAN                      TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN.

0800 PM    EUFAULA                   OK   LIGHTNING
08/01/03   MCINTOSH                       *** 1 INJ *** PERSON
                                          STRUCK BY LIGHTNING NEAR
                                          THE BANK OF EUFAULA LAKE.

0630 PM    KIEFER                    OK   WIND DAMAGE
08/01/03   CREEK                          TREE LIMBS DOWN ON HOUSES.
                                          STORM SIREN DAMAGED.
                                          REPORTED BY CREEK COUNTY
                                          EOC.

RJS

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 8:48 PM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

ARZ001>002-010>011-019>020-029-OKZ059>072-074-076-020300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
948 PM CDT FRI AUG 1 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CLEARED THE FOLLOWING AREAS
REMAINING IN SEVERE THUDERSTORM WATCH #828. NO AREAS REMAIN IN THE
WATCH.

IN ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS:

BENTON                CARROLL               CRAWFORD
MADISON               WASHINGTON

IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

FRANKLIN              SEBASTIAN

IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 16 COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA:

CHEROKEE              MUSKOGEE              OKFUSKEE
SEQUOYAH

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA:

ADAIR                 CREEK                 DELAWARE
MAYES                 OKMULGEE              PAWNEE
ROGERS                TULSA                 WAGONER

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA:

HASKELL               LE FLORE              MCINTOSH

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BENTONVILLE...BERRYVILLE...BRISTOW...
BROKEN ARROW...CEDARVILLE...CHARLESTON...CLAREMORE...EUFAULA...EUREKA
SPRINGS...FAYETTEVILLE...FORT SMITH...HUNTSVILLE...JAY...
MOUNTAINBURG...MUSKOGEE...NATURAL DAM...OKEMAH...OKMULGEE...OZARK...
PAWNEE...POTEAU...PRYOR...ROGERS...SALLISAW...SAND SPRINGS...SILOAM
SPRINGS...SPRINGDALE...STIGLER...STILWELL...TAHLEQUAH...TULSA...VAN
BUREN AND WAGONER.

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washington

When: August 2, 12:02 AM CST
Where: Washington County, 5 mi WNW of Bartlesville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.783, -96.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: August 2, 12:57 AM CST
Where: Washington County, 7 mi NE of Ochelata
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.667, -95.900

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs and stripped some tin from a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: August 2, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Osage County, 2 mi N of Apperson
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.783, -96.767

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour overturned a trailer.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pawnee

When: August 2, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Pawnee County, Cleveland
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.317, -96.467

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew several trees down. The wind also knocked down power lines causing the whole city to be without power.

Flash Flood, Tulsa

When: August 2, 3:30 AM CST to 4:30 AM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Tulsa
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused severe street flooding in many places across the city of Tulsa.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: August 2, 4:35 AM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Muskogee
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.750, -95.367

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew numerous trees and power lines down.

Flash Flood, Wagoner

When: August 2, 6:30 AM CST to 8:30 AM CST
Where: Wagoner County, Central Portion
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.961, -95.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains caused flash flooding in central Wagoner county between Coweta and Wagoner. Two bridges on secondary roads were washed out.

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, August 2003

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: 5332466, 5332467, 5332468, 5332469, 5332470, 5332471, 5332472.