Flash Flood and Hail in Oklahoma, May 13 to 14, 2009

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Oklahoma, May 13 to 14, 2009
Start: 2009-05-13T19:03
End: 2009-05-14T01:38
Location: Oklahoma

May 13 to 14, 2009 · NWS TSA · 43 events in 18 counties and zones

Numerous severe thunderstorms occurred across eastern Oklahoma from the mid evening hours of the 13th into the early morning hours of the 14th. The severe weather events began in northeast Oklahoma near the Kansas border and shifted south with time before ending in far southeast Oklahoma near the Texas border.

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: $20,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 43

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 TSA wrote it up.

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 May 13, 5:30 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 5:30 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
630 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2009

...AVIATION...

.DISCUSSION...
LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...CURRENTLY LOCATED NEAR A CANTON...LAMONT...
BRAMAN LINE. THIS ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN
COVERAGE ALONG THE COLD FRONT AND BEGIN TO PUSH SOUTHEAST OFF OF
THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY THIS EVENING.

HAVE TIMED THE TAF TO MOVE CONVECTIVE LINE INTO THE TUL/RVS AREAS
IN THE 2-3Z TIME FRAME WITH GUSTY WINDS...1 MILE VISIBILITIES IN
HEAVY RAIN. THUNDERSTORM LINE WILL CONTINUE TO SWEEP SOUTHEAST
THIS EVENING...POSSIBLY MOVING TO NEAR A FYV/MLC LINE IN THE 04Z
TO 05Z TIME FRAME. BEHIND LINE...CLOUD DECK WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE
WITH SOME LIGHT PRECIPITATION REMAINING FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS
AFTER PASSAGE. EXACT TIMING HOWEVER STILL REMAINS DIFFICULT AS
OPERATIONAL MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW DIFFERENT TIMING CONCERNING
HOW FAST THUNDERSTORM LINE ACCELERATES OFF OF THE COLD FRONT.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   60  73  66  84 /  90  40  20  30
FSM   65  76  64  88 /  90  60  20  20
MLC   66  77  66  86 /  90  70  10  10
BVO   57  72  62  84 /  90  30  30  30
FYV   61  71  60  84 /  90  60  20  20
BYV   60  71  60  83 /  90  50  20  20
MKO   62  71  64  84 /  90  60  20  20
MIO   57  73  63  84 /  90  30  40  30
F10   61  72  65  84 /  90  50  10  20
HHW   67  84  66  87 /  70  70  10  10

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM THURSDAY FOR OKZ049-OKZ053-OKZ054-
     OKZ055-OKZ056-OKZ057-OKZ058-OKZ059-OKZ060-OKZ061-OKZ062-
     OKZ063-OKZ064-OKZ065-OKZ066-OKZ067-OKZ068-OKZ069-OKZ070-
     OKZ071-OKZ072-OKZ073-OKZ074-OKZ075-OKZ076.

AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM THURSDAY FOR ARZ001-ARZ002-ARZ010-
     ARZ011-ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.

&&

AVIATION...12

Hazardous weather outlook, May 13, 4:11 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
511 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2009

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-141000-
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-
511 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2009

...SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN...

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

.DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT.
TORNADO RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA...NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...EARLY EVENING.

AREA AT GREATEST RISK...NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
RISK...SIGNIFICANT.
AREA...ALL EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...EARLY EVENING.

AREA AT GREATEST RISK...ALL EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FLASH FLOOD.
RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA....
ONSET...EARLY EVENING.

AREA AT GREATEST RISK...ALL EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

HEAVY RAIN.
RISK...SIGNIFICANT.
AREA...ALL EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...EARLY EVENING.

AREA AT GREATEST RISK...ALL EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS.

SIGNIFICANT WINDS.
RISK...LIMITED.
AREA...NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.
ONSET...ONGOING.

DISCUSSION...
CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER
ACROSS THE REGION ALONG AND AHEAD OF AN ADVANCING COLD FRONT EARLY
THIS EVENING. A CAPPING INVERSION HAS ALLOWED STRONG INSTABILITY
TO BUILD SOUTH OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. HOWEVER... THE CAP HAS
SUFFICIENTLY WEAKENED AS EXPECTED... ALLOWING STORMS TO DEVELOP
ALONG THE FRONT.

THE INITIAL STAGES OF CONVECTION WILL FAVOR SUPERCELLS WITH
TORNADIC POTENTIAL AND VERY LARGE HAIL. THE STRONGEST WIND FIELDS
WILL REMAIN WELL NORTH OF THE REGION WHICH IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO
STORMS ORGANIZING ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND PUSHING SOUTHWARD
AS THEIR COMBINED OUTFLOW BOUNDARY STRENGTHENS. THIS SCENARIO WILL
LIMIT THE TORNADIC POTENTIAL WITH TIME. ALTHOUGH THE STRONG
INSTABILITY WILL MAINTAIN THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT HAIL AND
OUTFLOW WINDS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORM INITIATION WILL BE
SLOW MOVING AND EXPECTED TO STALL ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF
THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL PROVIDE A ZONE FOR REPEATED
STORM DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE REGION... WITH EXCESSIVE RAINFALL
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE
FORECAST AREA TONIGHT... WITH A FLOOD WATCH FOR SEVERAL RIVERS
ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
THURSDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.
FRIDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL.
SATURDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.
SUNDAY...NO HAZARDS.
MONDAY...NO HAZARDS.
TUESDAY...NO HAZARDS.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND... WITH
YET ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY.  SHOULD THIS HEAVY RAIN DEVELOP... THEN BOTH
FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN OVER
THE WEEKEND.  THE WEATHER PATTERN LOOKS TO CHANGE BY EARLY
NEXT WEEK WITH POTENTIAL FOR A DRY PERIOD ACROSS THE AREA.

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

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:03 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Osage

When: May 13, 7:03 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 10 mi NW of Bigheart
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.952, -96.348

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: May 13, 7:37 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 5 mi NE of Okesa
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.771, -96.066

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs. One large tree limb fell on a pickup truck causing damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: May 13, 7:41 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 2 mi N of Okesa
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.749, -96.130

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: May 13, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 7 mi ENE of Okesa
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.759, -96.013

Thunderstorm winds measured at 80 miles an hour uprooted numerous trees.

Hail, Osage

When: May 13, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 2 mi N of Okesa
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.749, -96.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 13, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Bartlesville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.750, -96.000

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged the roof of the Lighthouse Mission. Large tree limbs were blown down and a few sheds were damaged near downtown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: May 13, 7:53 PM CST
Where: Osage County, Wynona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.550, -96.330

A spotter reported by amateur radio that an estimated 60 mile an hour wind gust occurred at Wynona.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rogers

When: May 13, 7:58 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, 6 mi WNW of Verdigris
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 36.263, -95.779

An off duty National Weather Service employee reported a 60 mile an hour wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 13, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Ochelata
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.600, -95.980

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour blew down numerous trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 13, 8:11 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Ramona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.530, -95.920

Thunderstom winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs. One limb broke a car window as it fell.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 13, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1 mi S of Vera
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.435, -95.880

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down numerous power poles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rogers

When: May 13, 8:24 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, Talala
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.530, -95.680

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Tulsa

When: May 13, 8:27 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Collinsville
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.370, -95.830

The broadcast media reported an estimated 65 mile an hour wind gust.

Hail, Craig

When: May 13, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Craig County, 7 mi N of Welch
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.971, -95.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Tulsa

When: May 13, 8:54 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Owasso
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 36.270, -95.850

An off duty National Weather Service employee reported at 60 mile an hour wind gust.

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 13, 9:13 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, Tulsa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.150, -95.950

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 13, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Miami
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.880, -94.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Rogers

When: May 13, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, Inola
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.150, -95.500

The Oklahoma mesonet site near Inola recorded a 62 mile an hour wind gust.

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 13, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Miami
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.880, -94.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Mayes

When: May 13, 9:35 PM CST
Where: Mayes County, Chouteau
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.180, -95.350

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

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 13, 9:47 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 4 mi N of Tulsa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.208, -95.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 13, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Tahlequah
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.920, -94.970

A spotter reported by amateur radio that a 60 mile an hour wind gust occurred at Tahlequah.

Hail, Cherokee

When: May 13, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Tahlequah
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.920, -94.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 13, 9:57 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Eldon
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.930, -94.830

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

Hail, Okmulgee

When: May 13, 10:03 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, Okmulgee
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.630, -95.970

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 13, 10:08 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 10 mi SE of Tulsa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.048, -95.823

Penny size hail occurred near the intersection of Mingo and 91st Street South.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: May 13, 10:27 PM CST
Where: Adair County, Westville
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.980, -94.570

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour damaged the roofs of some buildings.

Thunderstorm Wind, McIntosh

When: May 13, 10:30 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 10 mi NE of Eufaula
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.382, -95.455

A spotter reported a 70 mile an hour wind gust at Tiger Mountain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sequoyah

When: May 13, 10:35 PM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, 6 mi N of Sallisaw
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.557, -94.800

A spotter reported a 60 mile an hour wind gust.

Flash Flood, Tulsa

When: May 13, 10:50 PM CST to 11:50 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 2 mi N of Jenks to 2 mi NW of Jenks
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.049, -95.970

A water rescue was performed after four men drove a car into high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: May 13, 10:50 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Porum
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.370, -95.270

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

Thunderstorm Wind, McIntosh

When: May 13, 10:56 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, Eufaula
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.280, -95.580

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

Hail, Pittsburg

When: May 13, 11:05 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, 11 mi NE of Canadian
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.283, -95.512

Hail, Sequoyah

When: May 13, 11:10 PM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, 4 mi N of Vian
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.558, -94.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Sequoyah

When: May 13, 11:10 PM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, 4 mi N of Vian
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.558, -94.970

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Haskell

When: May 13, 11:25 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 2 mi N of Enterprise
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.249, -95.380

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

Hail, Sequoyah

When: May 13, 11:25 PM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, Sallisaw
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.470, -94.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsburg

When: May 13, 11:52 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Mc Alester Arpt
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.880, -95.780

The automated observation equipment at the McAlester Airport recorded at 62 mile an hour wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Latimer

When: May 14, 12:06 AM CST
Where: Latimer County, 2 mi E of Panola
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.920, -95.185

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Latimer

When: May 14, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Latimer County, Red Oak
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.950, -95.080

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several large trees.

Hail, Pushmataha

When: May 14, 1:15 AM CST
Where: Pushmataha County, 3 mi N of Finley
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.373, -95.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Choctaw

When: May 14, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Choctaw County, Messer
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.080, -95.480

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Pushmataha

When: May 14, 1:38 AM CST
Where: Pushmataha County, 1 mi S of Oleta
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.185, -95.350

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

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2009

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: 175031, 175034, 175035, 175036, 175037, 175038, 175039, 175040, 175041, 175042, 175043, 175045, 175047, 175048, 175049, 175051, 175052, 175055, 175057, 175059, 175061, 175062, 175063, 175064, 175067, 175073, 175075, 175076, 175078, 175079, 175082, 175083, 175085, 175086, 175087, 175090, 175091, 175092, 175095, 175096, and more.