Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 27, 2008

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 27, 2008
Start: 2008-05-27T15:07
End: 2008-05-27T16:43
Location: Oklahoma

May 27, 2008 · NWS OUN · 16 events in 3 counties and zones

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: $78,000
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 happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

Several outflow boundaries were located over western and southwest Oklahoma. Strong instability developed near these boundaries by mid to late afternoon, with widespread showers and thunderstorms developing. Several thunderstorms became severe, but moved little through the early evening due to weak upper level winds. Jackson county seemed to take the worst of the thunderstorms, with several rounds of hail and strong winds reported. The slow movement of the thunderstorms and very heavy rain also caused some water problems on area roadways, with several closed for a couple of hours. The thunderstorms finally weakened and moved off to the south by the evening hours. Monetary damages were estimated.

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 May 27, 2:12 PM CST, 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 2:12 PM CST, 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
312 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

.DISCUSSION...
SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL WORK ITS WAY SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA
TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. AS IT DOES SO IT WILL BE FOCUS FOR YET
ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THERE REMAINS A SEVERE
THREAT ACROSS MAINLY SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA INTO NORTH TEXAS WHERE
BETTER INSTABILITY RESIDES. HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN WITH
THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE BOUNDARY OVERNIGHT. THEREFORE HAVE ISSUED A
FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST FOR
TONIGHT.

COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS LEFT WEDNESDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE COOLER
DRIER AIRMASS WILL MAKE FOR SLIGHTLY MORE COMFORTABLE DAY ON
WEDNESDAY ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. THIS WILL BE SHORT-LIVED AS SOUTH
WINDS AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS RETURN ON THURSDAY. QUITER PERIOD OF
WEATHER EXPECTED SECOND HALF OF WEEK INTO WEEKEND... ALTHOUGH VERY
WARM AND MUGGY CONDITIONS WILL EXIST. ANOTHER WEAKER SFC FRONT MOVES
SOUTH ACROSS AREA ON SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT... BUT SHOULD GO
THROUGH DRY. MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST LOOKS WARM AND
PRECIP FREE AT THIS TIME.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  63  82  69  90 /  60  10  10  10
HOBART OK         64  84  68  94 /  50  10  10  10
WICHITA FALLS TX  68  89  72  93 /  60  20  10   0
GAGE OK           51  78  66  92 /  20  10  10  10
PONCA CITY OK     62  76  67  89 /  40  10  10  10
DURANT OK         69  87  71  89 /  60  20  10  10

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
     FOR OKZ027>032-039>043-045>048-050>052.

TX...NONE.
&&

25/30

Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 10:58 AM CST, 4 hours 9 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1158 AM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-281200-
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-
ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-BECKHAM-
WASHITA-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-
COMANCHE-STEPHENS-GARVIN-MURRAY-PONTOTOC-COAL-COTTON-JEFFERSON-
CARTER-JOHNSTON-ATOKA-LOVE-MARSHALL-BRYAN-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-
WICHITA-KNOX-BAYLOR-ARCHER-CLAY-
1158 AM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

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 PARTS OF WESTERN
OKLAHOMA AND ALL OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION...
THE SLIGHT RISK AREA IS SOUTHWEST OF A LINE FROM ARNETT... TO
WATONGA... TO DUNCAN AND WAURIKA OKLAHOMA. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

TIMING...
THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE AFTER 2 PM INTO
TONIGHT.

IMPACTS...
LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS... STRONG WINDS TO 65 MPH... AND
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL BE THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER CONCERNS.
HOWEVER... AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH MAY CAUSE FLOODING WILL
ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS...
STORM SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE
RISK AREA SHOULD PLAN ON SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT.

DISCUSSION...
ONGOING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
WILL CONTINUE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE... A COLD FRONT
LOCATED OVER THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES WILL MOVE INTO PARTS
OF WESTERN OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE
AREA TONIGHT. THE MORNING STORMS HAVE ALSO GENERATED AN OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY THAT WILL EXTEND FROM THE COLD FRONT SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS
SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
IF THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY CAN MAINTAIN ITSELF THIS AFTERNOON... IT
COULD ALSO BE A FOCUS FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE
AIRMASS TO THE SOUTH OF THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO BECOME
VERY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND
NORTH TEXAS. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE DESPITE RATHER
MODEST WIND SHEAR. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREATS ARE EXPECTED
TO BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER... ISOLATED TORNADOES
COULD STILL BE A THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... IF THE
REMNANTS OF THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY AND THE COLD FRONT CAN FAVORABLY
MODIFY THE LOW LEVEL WINDS IN THE AREA AND THE INSTABILITIES REACH
VERY HIGH VALUES.

THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO ADVANCE TO THE SOUTHEAST AS
THE COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MAY 28.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...100 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...60 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. THE HEAVY RAIN
MAY LEAD TO FLOODING IN SOME LOCATIONS. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD
WATCH FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE CONTINUING IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA ON
WEDNESDAY. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS IN NORTHERN
OKLAHOMA SUNDAY NIGHT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT NOON
TODAY.

MAXWELL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 27, 1:47 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
247 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

TXZ083-272000-
HARDEMAN TX-
247 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR HARDEMAN COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER COPPERS BREAK STATE PARK AT
247 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 16 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN HARDEMAN COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITY OF QUANAH...SHOULD
MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN
ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

30

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:02 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
302 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

TXZ083-272015-
HARDEMAN TX-
302 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR HARDEMAN COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF COPPERS BREAK
STATE PARK AT 302 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN HARDEMAN COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITY OF QUANAH...SHOULD
MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN
ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

30

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:17 PM CST, 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
317 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

OKZ036-272030-
JACKSON OK-
317 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR JACKSON COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER OLUSTEE AT 317 PM CDT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 14 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN JACKSON COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

30

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:28 PM CST, 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
328 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

OKZ016-022-272045-
CUSTER OK-WASHITA OK-
328 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR CUSTER AND WASHITA COUNTIES.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FOSS RESERVOIR
AT 328 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 14 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN CUSTER AND WASHITA COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

30

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:44 PM CST, 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
344 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

OKZ015-272100-
DEWEY OK-
344 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR DEWEY COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CAMARGO AT 344 PM CDT...MOVING
EAST AT 13 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN DEWEY COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY.
LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

WR

Special weather statement, May 27, 2:52 PM CST, 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
352 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

TXZ083-084-272115-
HARDEMAN TX-FOARD TX-
352 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR FOARD AND HARDEMAN COUNTIES.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM 4 MILES WEST OF
MEDICINE MOUND TO 16 MILES WEST OF CROWELL AT 352 PM CDT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 21 MPH.

SMALL HAIL AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PEOPLE IN FOARD AND HARDEMAN COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITY OF
QUANAH...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR
WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

30

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Beckham

When: May 27, 3:07 PM CST
Where: Beckham County, 3 mi NW of Elk City
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.441, -99.458

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 3:08 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Martha
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.730, -99.390

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 3:14 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Duke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.660, -99.570

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 3:16 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 2 mi E of Duke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.660, -99.535

Hail, Washita

When: May 27, 3:25 PM CST
Where: Washita County, 3 mi WSW of Canute
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.403, -99.329

Hail, Washita

When: May 27, 3:25 PM CST
Where: Washita County, 3 mi W of Canute
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.420, -99.333

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: May 27, 3:36 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 5 mi NE of Eldorado
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.521, -99.588

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 3:55 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 6 mi SW of Duke
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.599, -99.645

Several waves of hail up to quarter size hail lasted 15 to 20 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 3 mi S of Duke
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.617, -99.570

Four power poles were downed by high winds. Monetary damages were estimated.

Lightning, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Duke
Property damage: $65,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.660, -99.570

A house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Monetary damages were estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 1 mi N of Duke
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.675, -99.570

One power pole was blown down. Monetary damages were estimated.

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 5.98 mi SSE of Duke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.580, -99.530

Quarter to golf ball size hail covered the ground. The hail was several inches deep.

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:08 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Duke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.660, -99.570

The county emergency manager reported that the hail broke the windshield of a sheriff deputy's car. Monetary damages were estimated.

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 5 mi S of Olustee
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.478, -99.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 5 mi S of Olustee
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.478, -99.420

Hail, Jackson

When: May 27, 4:43 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 5 mi SSE of Duke
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.593, -99.536

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2008

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: 106386, 106387, 106388, 106389, 106390, 106391, 106392, 106397, 106399, 106402, 106405, 106406, 106408, 106410, 106412, 106413.