Warm, moist, and very unstable air was in place across northwestern Arkansas ahead of the dry line, which moved into central Oklahoma during the afternoon. Several different waves of thunderstorms formed and moved across the region beginning in the afternoon of the 17th and ending in the evening.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Warm, moist, and very unstable air was in place across northwestern Arkansas ahead of the dry line, which moved into central Oklahoma during the afternoon. Several different waves of thunderstorms formed and moved across the region beginning in the afternoon of the 17th and ending in the evening. Very strong wind shear had also developed through a large depth of the atmosphere, which supported organized thunderstorms and even supercells. The most widespread damage occurred as a result of a squall line that developed on the dry line to the west and moved into northwestern Arkansas during the evening. Embedded bow echo thunderstorms and supercells resulted in numerous reports of large hail and wind damage.
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 Oct 17, 3:01 PM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 401 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007 .MESOSCALE UPDATE... THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BECOME MORE SURFACED BASED MOVING INTO TULSA AS EXPECTED AND WE ARE RECEIVING NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DOWNED POWER LINES IN TULSA... WITH A MEASURED GUST TO 62 MPH IN WEST TULSA. THIS LINE OF STORMS CROSSING TULSA WILL CONTINUE TO BE SEVERE...WITH THE OTHER STORMS IN THE CWA ALSO LIKELY TO GAIN SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL. DISCRETE CELLS HAVE DEVELOPED IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WITH ADDITIONAL CELLS LIKELY TO DEVELOP FURTHER SOUTH OVER THE NEXT 3 HOURS. THESE CELLS WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING AS THE WIND PROFILES CONTINUE TO BECOME INCREASINGLY FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES. THE MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS BEGINNING. SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE...VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES ARE LIKELY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TORNADOES AS WELL. THE STORM IN THE NORTH SIDE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA EXTRAPOLATES TO SOUTHWEST PAWNEE COUNTY JUST AFTER 5PM. THIS STORM WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH THE BOUNDARY FROM THE PREVIOUS STORMS AND THIS WILL ENHANCE ITS TORNADO POTENTIAL. && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. AR...NONE. && SHORT TERM...08
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 1154 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2007 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-181000- 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- 1153 AM CDT WED OCT 17 2007 ...A TORNADO OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT... THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. TORNADO. RISK...SIGNIFICANT. AREA....EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET....AFTER 12PM. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...SIGNIFICANT. AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...NOW. DISCUSSION... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA DURING THE AFTERNOON. INITIALLY THE STORMS HAVE BEEN ELEVATED...BUT WILL BECOME MORE SURFACE BASED. THIS INCREASES THE POTENTIAL THAT DAMAGING WINDS WILL ALSO DEVELOP WITH THESE STORMS...AND AS WIND PROFILES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THIS AFTERNOON...SOME TORNADO RISK WILL ALSO DEVELOP WITH THESE STORMS. DURING THE AFTERNOON...SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AS THE DRY LINE ADVANCES EASTWARD. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA AFTER 5PM. WIND AND INSTABILITY PARAMETERS OVER EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WILL BE VERY FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER AS THESE STORMS MOVE INTO THE REGION...INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR TORNADOES...HAIL TO BASEBALL SIZE AND WIND GUSTS TO 75 MPH. RATHER THAN A SOLID LINE OF STORMS FORMING...THE STORMS MAY STAY CELLULAR FOR SOMETIME INTO THE EVENING...WHICH PROLONGS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR TORNADO FORMATION. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG-TRACK STRONG TORNADOES. SCATTERED SUPERCELL STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE LENGTH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA THIS EVENING AND MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS LATE THIS EVENING WITH THE CONTINUED RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING THE RISK OF A STRONG TORNADO. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... THIS STORM SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS IN THE AREA. ACTIVATION OF THE REGIONAL SKYWARN NETWORK WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON. LOCAL SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD BE ACTIVE NEAR ANY OF THE STORMS. EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD READY FOR NOT ONLY SPOTTER OPERATIONS BUT ALSO POTENTIAL IMPACT RECOVERY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THURSDAY...HIGH WIND POTENTIAL. FRIDAY...NO HAZARDS. SATURDAY...NO HAZARDS. SUNDAY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. MONDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. TUESDAY...NO HAZARDS. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... THE MAIN UPPER SYSTEM WILL CLEAR THE AREA BY THURSDAY...WITH PLEASANT WEATHER EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE WEEKEND. THE NEXT UPPER SYSTEM SHOULD MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS SUNDAY NIGHT...BRINGING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MONDAY. WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL TABULAR AND GRAPHICAL INFORMATION.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
245 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
OKZ054>056-060-061-064>067-070-172030-
CREEK OK-MUSKOGEE OK-NOWATA OK-OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE
OK-ROGERS OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK-WASHINGTON OK-
245 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 330 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
OKMULGEE...WESTERN WAGONER...WESTERN ROGERS...WESTERN NOWATA...
WASHINGTON...EASTERN OSAGE...EASTERN CREEK AND TULSA
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
NORTHWESTERN MUSKOGEE AND EASTERN OKFUSKEE
AT 245 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF HULAH TO 5 MILES NORTH OF
CLEARVIEW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
A LARGE PORTION OF OKMULGEE...NORTHWESTERN MUSKOGEE...WESTERN
WAGONER...WESTERN ROGERS...WESTERN NOWATA...WASHINGTON...EASTERN
OSAGE...EASTERN CREEK...EASTERN OKFUSKEE AND TULSA COUNTIES WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS THROUGH 330 PM CDT.
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.
TORNADO WATCHES ARE ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THESE SAME AREAS THIS
AFTERNOON.
LAT...LON 3556 9567 3556 9583 3547 9585 3547 9588
3538 9587 3538 9621 3700 9611 3700 9557
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 229DEG 45KT 3702 9602 3552 9612SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
311 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
OKZ064-066-172045-
CREEK OK-OKMULGEE OK-
311 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 345 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
NORTHWESTERN OKMULGEE AND EASTERN CREEK
AT 311 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF SLICK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...TULSA...SLICK...KIEFER...
KELLYVILLE AND SAPULPA.
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.
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA UNTIL 10 PM CDT.
LAT...LON 3605 9603 3604 9602 3594 9603 3564 9629
3566 9643 3608 9621 3609 9603
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 214DEG 49KT 3572 9632SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
322 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
OKZ064>066-172045-
CREEK OK-OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-
322 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 345 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
NORTHWESTERN OKMULGEE AND SOUTHEASTERN CREEK
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EASTERN OKFUSKEE
AT 322 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 3 MILES EAST OF OKEMAH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
65 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM
INCLUDE...LIBERTY...OKEMAH...CLEARVIEW...OKFUSKEE...PRESTON...BEGGS
AND HECTORVILLE.
A LARGE PORTION OF NORTHWESTERN OKMULGEE...SOUTHEASTERN CREEK AND
EASTERN OKFUSKEE COUNTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS THROUGH
345 PM CDT.
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.
TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA UNTIL 10 PM CDT.
LAT...LON 3585 9583 3529 9627 3543 9636 3586 9613
3587 9583
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 207DEG 58KT 3543 9627SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
331 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
OKZ060-061-064-172115-
CREEK OK-ROGERS OK-TULSA OK-
331 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
WESTERN ROGERS...EASTERN CREEK AND TULSA
AT 331 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES
WEST OF KIEFER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...TULSA...BIXBY...JENKS...OWASSO...
GLENPOOL...SPERRY...COLLINSVILLE...MOUNDS...KIEFER AND SAPULPA.
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.
LAT...LON 3642 9565 3586 9590 3587 9620 3618 9603
3618 9601 3641 9598
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 210DEG 56KT 3599 9612SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
354 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
OKZ058-172130-
OTTAWA OK-
354 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
OTTAWA
AT 354 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF AFTON...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...MIAMI...COMMERCE...AFTON...
FAIRLAND...NARCISSA...WYANDOTTE...OTTAWA...PEORIA...QUAPAW...CARDIN
AND PICHER.
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.
LAT...LON 3700 9474 3700 9463 3698 9460 3668 9473
3668 9498 3701 9486 3701 9476
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 197DEG 47KT 3672 9484SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
356 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
ARZ001-OKZ063-069-172145-
ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-DELAWARE OK-
356 PM CDT WED OCT 17 2007
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 445 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
WESTERN BENTON
IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHEASTERN DELAWARE AND NORTHERN ADAIR
AT 356 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BALLARD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...BALLARD...WATTS...WEST
SILOAM SPRINGS...FAIRMOUNT...MILLER...SILOAM SPRINGS...SULPHUR
SPRINGS...GENTRY...MAYSVILLE...GRAVETTE...LAKE FRANCIS...GALLITIN...
SPRINGTOWN...HIGHFILL...CHEROKEE CITY...VAUGHN...DECATUR...
CENTERTON...HIWASSE AND BELLA VISTA.
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.
LAT...LON 3649 9411 3610 9448 3610 9454 3609 9454
3603 9454 3601 9456 3609 9476 3649 9461
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 209DEG 47KT 3613 9460The Tulsa radar (KINX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:11 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down numerous trees.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down numerous trees in the Horseshoe Bend area.
Thundertorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down trees near Beaver Dam.
The automated observing equipment at Drake Field measured a 58 mile an hour wind gust. Numerous trees and power lines were downed by the strong wind across the county.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down numerous trees in the Prairie Creek Campground area.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down trees and power lines across the City of Fort Smith.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down trees and power lines across the City of Van Buren.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew out a window of a home.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down several large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour split several large tree limbs and trees.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down power lines causing power outages.
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down several large tree limbs.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, October 2007
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: 63379, 63380, 63381, 63382, 63383, 63384, 63385, 63388, 63393, 63397, 63400, 63401, 63404, 63402, 63405, 63406, 63407.