Oklahoma, 2005

Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, October 19, 2005

October 19, 2005 · NWS OUN · 16 events in 6 counties and zones

8 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$151,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
16

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 Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 19, 9:40 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 19, 9:40 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 19, 11:00 AM CST, 5 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1200 PM CDT WED OCT 19 2005

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-201200-

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT
ACROSS MUCH OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION...
THE SLIGHT RISK AREA COVERS LOCATIONS NEAR AND NORTH OF A LINE
EXTENDING FROM CROWELL AND WICHITA FALLS TEXAS...NORTHEAST TO PAULS
VALLEY AND HOLDENVILLE.

TIMING...
THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THROUGH 3 AM.

IMPACTS...
SUPERCELL STORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF TENNIS BALLS
WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME DAMAGE TO AUTOMOBILES AND VEGETATION. ALONG
WITH THE LARGE HAIL... DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 65 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A RELATIVELY SMALL AREA WHERE WE HAVE CONCERN FOR
SHORT-LIVED TORNADOES LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.
THIS AREA WILL BE OVER PORTIONS OF WEST-CENTRAL... NORTHWEST... AND
NORTH-CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS...
STORM SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE
RISK AREA SHOULD PLAN FOR SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS INTO THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS ON THURSDAY.

DISCUSSION...
A MUCH ANTICIPATED STRONG UPPER STORM SYSTEM OVER COLORADO LATE THIS
MORNING CONTINUES TO MOVE CLOSER TO OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS. THIS
SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO REACH WEST CENTRAL KANSAS THIS EVENING. THE
STORM WILL INDUCE A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER NORTHWEST
OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NEAR AND JUST NORTH OF THIS LOW
PRESSURE AREA...A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BECOME STATIONARY UNTIL
MIDNIGHT OR LATER...BEFORE SURGING QUICKLY SOUTH AGAIN AS A COLD
FRONT EARLY THURSDAY. IN ADDITION TO THIS FRONT...A DRY LINE WILL
EXTEND SOUTHWARD FROM THE SURFACE LOW. ALL THREE OF THESE
FEATURES...THE SURFACE LOW...STATIONARY FRONT...AND DRY LINE...WILL
HELP FOCUS THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. ALTHOUGH RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BE
LACKING...AND FORECASTED INSTABILITY MARGINAL...VERY STRONG FORCING
AND WIND SHEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM WILL
YIELD STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING HAIL
BEING A CONCERN WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE TORNADIC POTENTIAL ACROSS A SMALL
PORTION OF WEST-CENTRAL INTO NORTH-CENTRAL OKLAHOMA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. WITH A VERY STRONG VERTICAL WIND
SHEAR PROFILE EXPECTED...SHORT-LIVED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE EAST
OF THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE AREA...AND NEAR THE STATIONARY FRONT.
THIS CORRIDOR OF CONCERN WILL EXTEND FROM AROUND CHEYENNE...
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE WATONGA...ENID...AND PONCA CITY AREAS.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT THURSDAY OCT 20.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...100 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...85 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
NO THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
A SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT WILL AFFECT OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS LATE
THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. ALTHOUGH THE EXACT TIMING AND
STRENGTH OF THIS FRONT IS STILL SOMEWHAT IN QUESTION...THE POTENTIAL
WILL EXIST FOR THE COLDEST AIR OF THIS FALL SEASON TO BE USHERED
INTO THE AREA. A LIGHT FREEZE COULD OCCUR OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
OKLAHOMA MONDAY MORNING. PERSONS WITH OUTDOOR INTERESTS LATE THIS
WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK SHOULD MONITOR FUTURE FORECASTS CLOSELY.
IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PLAN AHEAD FOR ANY PRECAUTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE TO MAKE FOR TENDER VEGETATION.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 7 AM
THURSDAY.

A GRAPHICAL OUTLOOK CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB AT WEATHER.GOV/NORMAN.

MAXWELL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 19, 10:52 AM CST, 13 minutes before
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The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Woodward

When
October 19, 11:05 AM CST to 11:10 AM CST
Where
Woodward County, Woodward
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.433, -99.400

Hail was reported in the downtown area.

Hail, Woodward

When
October 19, 11:10 AM CST
Where
Woodward County, Woodward
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.433, -99.400

Hail, Woodward

When
October 19, 11:13 AM CST
Where
Woodward County, Woodward
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.433, -99.400

Hail, Woodward

When
October 19, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, 5 mi E of Mutual
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.233, -99.083

Hail, Alfalfa

When
October 19, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa County, Helena
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
36.550, -98.267

Lightning, Garfield

When
October 19, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, Enid
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.379, -97.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck the bell tower spire of St. Paul's Lutheran Church scattering debris up to 75 feet. Some children were in the basement, but no one was injured.

Hail, Ellis

When
October 19, 4:13 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, 9 mi NE of Catesby
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.600, -99.850

Hail, Harper

When
October 19, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Harper County, 14 mi S of Buffalo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.633, -99.617

Tornado, Harper

When
October 19, 4:47 PM CST to 5:02 PM CST
Where
Harper County, 10 mi SSE of Selman
Rating
F1
Path length
9 mi
Path width
400 yd
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.667, -99.417

A large multiple-vortex tornado was photographed by a local resident. The tornado touched down 10 miles south-southeast of Selman in Harper county and moved east-northeast. The tornado eventually moved into Woodward county before lifting 20 miles north of Mooreland. A house on Highway 34 near EW24 Road sustained roof damage. A barn west of the residence was also damaged.

Hail, Harper

When
October 19, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Harper County, 5 mi S of Lovedale
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.700, -99.383

Hail combined with strong winds broke the windows in a home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harper

When
October 19, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Harper County, 5 mi S of Lovedale
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.700, -99.383

Tornado, Woodward

When
October 19, 5:02 PM CST to 5:08 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, 19 mi NNW of Mooreland
Rating
F1
Path length
4 mi
Path width
400 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.683, -99.333

The large multi-vortex tornado that initially developed from a supercell in Harper county 10 miles south-southeast of Selman, moved east-northeast into Woodward county crossing the county line 18.5 miles north-northwest of Mooreland. The tornado moved four miles into the county before lifting 20 miles north of Mooreland or 5 miles west-northwest of Alabaster Caverns State Park. The tornado downed approximately a 3 mile area of power poles and lines along with trees shortly after crossing the county line. A three foot diameter tree was knocked over in this area. Several one to two foot diameter trees were also snapped. The tornado moved a couple miles east of the county line causing F1 damage at the Selman Living Laboratory Observatory 6 miles west of Alabaster Caverns. An outbuilding that was used for storage of scientific equipment and was secured on a block foundation with steel-strap anchors approximately four feet deep in hard earth, was moved off of its foundation. The outbuilding moved approximately 20 feet and pushed 6 feet into an adjacent outbuilding. A double-wide manufactured home located about 300 feet southeast of the outbuildings also sustained minor roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Woodward

When
October 19, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, 16 mi N of Mooreland
Measured
69 kt (79 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.667, -99.200

Barn doors were blown in. Multiple tree limbs, greater than 6 inches in diameter, were also downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Woodward

When
October 19, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, 21 mi N of Mooreland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
36.733, -99.200

Wind was measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
October 19, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Chattanooga
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.433, -98.650

Three power poles were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
October 19, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Ft Sill Aaf
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$750
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.650, -98.400

Two power poles were downed on the east range of Fort Sill Military Reservation, south of Elgin, OK.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2005Warnings in Oklahoma, October 2005

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5476588, 5476589, 5476590, 5476591, 5476592, 5476601, 5476593, 5476594, 5476602, 5476595, 5476596, 5476677, 5476597, 5476598, 5476599, 5476600.