10 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 7 tornado, 2 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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.
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.
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 May 16, 12:24 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.
MESOSCALE FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OKLAHOMA 124 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL TORNADOES ARE DEVELOPING IN A LINE ALONG A SURFACE BOUNDARY THAT EXTENDS FROM AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED NEAR NORMAN OKLAHOMA TO NEAR WILBURTON. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN A HIGHLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT WITH 3KM SR HELICITY VALUES OF 300 TO 450 ACROSS THE AREA. WHILE CAPE VALUES ARE ONLY IN THE 1000 TO 2000 J/KG RANGE ACROSS THE AREA...SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WITH SUCH STRONG SHEAR IN PLACE. THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND INTO WESTERN ARKANSAS. FORECAST ID= 10 .TSA... AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR ZONES ARZ001>002... ARZ010>011...ARZ019>020...ARZ029. OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR ZONES OKZ049... OKZ053>076.
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-171100- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 100 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... IN THE WAKE OF STRONG EARLY MORNING STORMS...CONDITIONS WILL AGAIN BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. A POTENT UPPER LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON WHILE A SURFACE LOW TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS OKLAHOMA. CONVERGENCE AHEAD OF THE LOW WILL INITIATE THUNDERSTORMS BY EARLY AFTERNOON WHICH WILL QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE. STORMS PRODUCING TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE MOST LIKELY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN ARKANSAS WHERE SHEAR PROFILES ARE MOST FAVORABLE. ELSEWHERE...BANDS OF SUPERCELLS OR STRONG MULTICELLS WITH BOWING SEGMENTS WILL BE MOST LIKELY. THESE WILL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL. GIVEN THE RAINFALL THIS MORNING AND THE EXPECTED MAGNITUDE OF THE RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...FLASH FLOODING MAY BECOME A PROBLEM. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. 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 UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WHICH HAS AND WILL PRODUCE STORMINESS WILL HEAD OFF TO THE EAST OF THE AREA SATURDAY BRINGING AN END TO THE RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR A DAY OR TWO. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL BRING THUNDERSTORMS BACK INTO THE FORECAST LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE FRONT FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. .SPOTTER / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED TONIGHT ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT... WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
0806 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0545 AM POCOLA OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 LE FLORE TREES DOWN
0515 AM SALINA OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 MAYES TREES DOWN POWER OUT
GMOKZ049-161430- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 849 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR PUSHMATAHA COUNTY UNTIL 930 AM CDT... AT 849 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES WEST OF NASHOBA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF CLAYTON...CLOUDY...NASHOBA...TUSKAHOMA...KIAMICHI AND ALBION WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM THROUGH 930 AM CDT. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1112 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0615 AM PEA RIDGE AR WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 BENTON HUNDREDS OF TREES DOWNED
BLOCKING MANY ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS.
0600 AM CROWDER OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 PITTSBURG TREE BLOWN DOWN
0600 AM WESTVILLE OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 ADAIR BARN DESTROYED AND TREES
DOWN
0557 AM 1 E GORE OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 SEQUOYAH TREE BLOWN ONTO MOONSHINE
ROAD
0550 AM LEE CREEK AR WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 CRAWFORD MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ALONG
HIGHWAY 220
0450 AM MUSKOGEE OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 MUSKOGEE TREES BLOWN DOWN
0445 AM CHECOTAH OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 MCINTOSH SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS BLOWN
DOWN
0430 AM ONAPA OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 MCINTOSH SHINGLES BLOWN OFF AND OUT
BUILDINGS DAMAGED. POWER
LINES AND POWER POLES
DOWNED. MOBLE HOME BLOWN
OFF FOUNDATION.
0400 AM 2 W OKEMAH OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 OKFUSKEE TREES DOWN AND OUT
BUILDINGS DAMAGED
0400 AM WELTY OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 OKFUSKEE OUT BUILDINGS DESTROYED
AND TREES DOWNED
0355 AM 5 E BIXBY OK 60 MPH TSTORM WIND
05/16/03 TULSA
0300 AM RALSTON OK 60 MPH TSTORM WIND
05/16/03 PAWNEE
XXXOKZ054>072-162300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 1225 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH #392 UNTIL 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 19 COUNTIES... IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA: CHEROKEE MUSKOGEE OKFUSKEE SEQUOYAH IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA: ADAIR CRAIG CREEK DELAWARE MAYES NOWATA OKMULGEE OSAGE OTTAWA PAWNEE ROGERS TULSA WAGONER WASHINGTON IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA: MCINTOSH THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARTLESVILLE...BRISTOW...BROKEN ARROW... CLAREMORE...EUFAULA...JAY...MIAMI...MUSKOGEE...NOWATA...OKEMAH... OKMULGEE...PAWHUSKA...PAWNEE...PRYOR...SALLISAW...SAND SPRINGS... STILWELL...TAHLEQUAH...TULSA...VINITA AND WAGONER.
ARZ019>020-029-OKZ049-053-073>076-162300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 1243 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH #393 UNTIL 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: IN ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES... IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS: CRAWFORD IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS: FRANKLIN SEBASTIAN IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES... IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA: CHOCTAW HASKELL LATIMER LE FLORE PITTSBURG PUSHMATAHA THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ANTLERS...CEDARVILLE...CLAYTON...FORT SMITH...HUGO...MCALESTER...MOUNTAINBURG...NATURAL DAM...OZARK... POTEAU...STIGLER...VAN BUREN AND WILBURTON.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1248 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0455 AM 4 E OKAY OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 WAGONER
0455 AM BIG CABIN OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 CRAIG TREE DAMAGE
0418 AM OOLOGAH OK WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 ROGERS SEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN
SAThe Norman radar (KTLX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:25 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 7 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged three houses. One house had parts of its roof taken off.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour damaged a building and blew down several large tree limbs.
A tornado touched down southwest of Henryetta and moved northeast crossing Interstate 40 before dissipating on the west side of the city. Twenty homes in Henryetta suffered roof damage. One business had aluminum siding ripped off of it. Numerous trees were also blown down in Henryetta making several streets impassable.
A F0 tornado touched down 3 miles northeast of Grayson and traveled one mile producing tree damage before lifting just inside the McIntosh county border.
The F0 tornado that touched down northeast of Grayson in Okmulgee county traveled northeast into McIntosh county and lifted 3.8 miles west northwest of Hitchita. The tornado occurred in a rural area and produced tree damage and destroyed a barn.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down a tree.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees at Arrowhead State Park.
A F0 tornado briefly touched down west of Stidham. The only damage reported was to trees and a fence.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour destroyed a mobile home.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour blew a home off its foundation and lifted several mobile homes off the ground.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several power poles.
A F0 tornado touched down just north of Stigler and traveled two miles east northeast before dissipating.One mobile home was destroyed and several trees were damaged. The person who was in the mobile home was injured.
A F1 tornado touched down about a mile west southwest of Cartersville and traveled east producing extensive damage to 4 homes and destroying several outbuildings. The tornado continued moving east crossed over into Le Flore county before dissipating 2.8 miles north northwest of Bokeshe.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.
The tornado that hit Carterville in Haskell county traveled east into Le Flore county before dissipating 2.8 miles northwest of Bokoshe. Damage in Le Flore county was limited to trees.
Heavy thunderstorm rains in excess of two inches in a short period of time caused severe street flooding over parts of the west side of Tulsa. One intersection which was flooded was at 51st street and 33rd west avenue.
Heavy thunderstorm rains in excess of two inches in a short period of time caused severe street flooding in Copan. Some of the water entered at church and a house.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2003Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2003
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: 5357927, 5357928, 5357929, 5357930, 5357931, 5357932, 5357933, 5357934, 5358030, 5358031, 5358032, 5359781, 5358033, 5358035, 5358034, 5358036, 5358037, 5358038, 5358040, 5358041, 5358039, 5358042, 5358043, 5358044, 5358045, 5359516.