Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 30, 2004

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 30, 2004
Start: 2004-04-30T18:50
End: 2004-04-30T20:22
Location: Oklahoma

April 30, 2004 · NWS TSA · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: None recorded
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 Apr 30, 4:40 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 4:40 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...MESOSCALE UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OKLAHOMA
540 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

A VERY WEAK CAP AND SYNOPTIC SCALE DOWNWARD MOTION HAS KEEP
CONVECTION IN CHECK THUS FAR...HOWEVER UPWARD MOTION WILL BEGIN TO
INCREASE SHORTLY AND THEN INTENSIFY AFTER 03Z AS A 90 KNOT JET
SEGMENT PUNCHES OUT INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO BEGIN INCREASING SOON ALONG THE COLD
FRONT THAT AT 22Z EXTENDED FROM FROM SOUTHWEST MISSOUR TO THE TULSA
METRO AREA AND ON SOUTHWEST THROUGH OKFUSKEE COUNTY.  MOISTURE
CONVERGENCE HAS BEEN THE MOST PESISTENT DURING THE PAST TWO HOURS
ALONG AN OLD ACTIVITY BOUNDARY IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA ALONG THE I-40
CORRIDOR...AND ON THE FRONT IN THE TULSA METRO AREA AND IN OTTAWA
AND CRAIG COUNTIES.

DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40 KNOTS SUGGEST A MIXED
STORM MODE OF MULTICELLS...AND BRIEF SUPERCELLS.  THE BEST SHEAR AS
NEAR THE ACTIVITY BOUNDARY.  LOW-LEVEL SHEAR AND HELICTITY VALUES
ARE NOT IMPRESSIVE.

WITH TIME A HEAVY RAIN EVENT IS EXPECTED TO EVOLVE ACROSS THE REGION
WITH THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING INCREASING.

FORECAST ID= 08

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING FOR ZONES
ARZ001>002...ARZ010>011...ARZ019>020...ARZ029.

OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING FOR ZONES
OKZ049...OKZ053...OKZ058...OKZ063...OKZ068>076.

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 6:05 PM CST, 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
705 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-011000-
ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CARROLL AR-CHEROKEE OK-CHOCTAW OK-CRAIG OK-
CRAWFORD AR-CREEK OK-DELAWARE OK-FRANKLIN AR-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK-
LE FLORE OK-MADISON AR-MAYES OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-NOWATA OK-
OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE OK-OTTAWA OK-PAWNEE OK-PITTSBURG OK-
PUSHMATAHA OK-ROGERS OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK-
WASHINGTON OK-WASHINGTON AR-
705 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TONIGHT...
...FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TONIGHT...

A COMPLEX OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG THE RED
RIVER ACROSS SOUTHER CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS. THESE STORMS
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY TO THE EAST AND AFFECT EXTREME
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE
THE MAIN THREAT.

AT 7 PM...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM MIAMI TO OKEMAH TO ADA. A
SECONDARY BOUNDARY EXISTS NEAR INTERSTATE 40 IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THESE BOUNDARIES WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER FOCUS
FOR WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THE REMAINDER OF THIS
EVENING. SHEAR IS MAXIMIZED NEAR THE SECONDARY BOUNDARY...AND STORMS
IN THIS REGION MAY BRIEFLY TAKE ON SUPERCELL CHARACTERISTICS...
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. ELEVATED STORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO INCREASE NORTH OF THE MAIN FRONTAL BOUNDARY...AND A FEW
OF THE STRONGER CELLS MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL ACROSS NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA.

THE STORMS THAT DEVELOP IN NORTHWEST TEXAS AND FAR SOUTH CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA ARE EXPECTED TO ORGANIZE INTO A LARGE CONVECTIVE COMPLEX
THIS EVENING THAT WILL THEN MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA
AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS OVERNIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE
SEVERE...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...FLOODING WILL AGAIN BE A
CONCERN ACROSS SOUTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS WITH 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS
WILL LIKELY CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS...ESPECIALLY WHERE
HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING OCCURRED LATE LAST WEEK.

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

SPOTTER / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ENDING SATURDAY AS THE COLD FRONT
MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE PREVAILS.

WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL TABULAR AND
GRAPHICAL INFORMATION

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 5:46 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
646 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ070-010045-
MUSKOGEE OK-
646 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 745 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY:

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
     SOUTHERN MUSKOGEE

AT 646 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MUSKOGEE COUTNY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME
LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...PUMPKIN
CENTER...KEEFETON...WARNER...SUMMIT...BRAGGS AND WEBBERS FALLS.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 5:56 PM CST, 54 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
656 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ068-010100-
CHEROKEE OK-
656 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY:

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
     SOUTHERN CHEROKEE

AT 656 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES
SOUTH OF WOODALL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...WOODALL...TAHLEQUAH...
COOKSON AND ELDON.

THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH.  RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 6:15 PM CST, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
715 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ062-010115-
MAYES OK-
715 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     MAYES

AT 715 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
LOCUST GROVE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...LOCUST GROVE...ROSE...SALINA...
SPAVINAW AND LANGLEY.

THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 6:31 PM CST, 19 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
731 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ067-070-010115-
MUSKOGEE OK-WAGONER OK-
731 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     WAGONER

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
     MUSKOGEE

AT 731 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
TAFT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...WAGONER...CHOSKA...TULLAHASSEE...
PORTER...REDBIRD...JAMESVILLE AND TAFT.

THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
40 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 6:36 PM CST, 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
736 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ054-059-010130-
OSAGE OK-PAWNEE OK-
736 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     OSAGE AND PAWNEE

AT 736 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES WEST OF BIGHEART TO 15 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF PAWNEE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...SHIDLER...FAIRFAX...
BURBANK...PEARSONIA...BIGHEART...FORAKE R...PAWNEE...SKEDEE AND
RALSTON.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

Special weather statement, Apr 30, 6:40 PM CST, 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
740 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

OKZ063-010145-
DELAWARE OK-
740 PM CDT FRI APR 30 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     DELAWARE

AT 740 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12
MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHLOETA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME
LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...JAY...CHLOETA
AND ZENA.

THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO
50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Cherokee

When: April 30, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 10 mi NNE of Tahlequah
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.050, -94.900

Hail, Delaware

When: April 30, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 4 mi N of Colcord
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.317, -94.683

Thunderstorm Wind, Choctaw

When: April 30, 7:44 PM CST
Where: Choctaw County, Hugo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.017, -95.517

Thunderstorm Wind, Pushmataha

When: April 30, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Pushmataha County, Antlers
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.233, -95.617

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down a few trees.

Hail, Rogers

When: April 30, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, 6 mi NE of Bushyhead
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.533, -95.417

Golfball size hail fell at Chelsea.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pushmataha

When: April 30, 8:21 PM CST
Where: Pushmataha County, Nashoba
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 34.483, -95.217

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.

Hail, Craig

When: April 30, 8:22 PM CST
Where: Craig County, 8 mi SSW of Vinita
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.550, -95.200

Penny size hail fell at Big Cabin.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, April 2004

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: 5392523, 5392524, 5392525, 5392526, 5392527, 5392528, 5392529.