A line of severe thunderstorms moved into northwestern Arkansas during the early morning hours on May 13. These storms produced damaging wind and a tornado.
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.
A line of severe thunderstorms moved into northwestern Arkansas during the early morning hours on May 13. These storms produced damaging wind and a tornado. Severe thunderstorms redeveloped that afternoon with several damaging wind events resulting from those storms.
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, 2:50 AM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 350 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010 .DISCUSSION... WIDESPREAD CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE ALONG ADVANCING FRONTAL BOUNDARY THROUGH TODAY...WITH PRE-FRONTAL AIRMASS MAINTAINING SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY AND WEAK ENOUGH INHIBITION THAT POCKETS OF STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. SO FAR THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH TO LIMIT FLOODING RISK AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL SHARPLY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH EARLY DAY HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED FOR EASTERN LOCATIONS. FRONTAL BOUNDARY CLEARS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT HOWEVER UPGLIDE STRENGTHENS LATER TONIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND STORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. PRECIP FOCUS SHOULD SHIFT MOSTLY SOUTHWARD ON FRIDAY...WITH A STRONGER WAVE MOVING TOWARD THE PLAINS ON SATURDAY. FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO LIFT NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF THE WAVE AGAIN SUPPORTING PRECIP CHANCES WITH A MORE UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVERSPREADING THE AREA BY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THIS WILL COINCIDE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE UPPER WAVE WITH ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF CONVECTION LIKELY AS IT PASSES BY SUNDAY NIGHT. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR JUST HOW WELL INSTABILITY AND WIND SHEAR WILL COUPLE DURING THIS TIMEFRAME...HOWEVER SHOULD ANY UPTICK IN SEVERE WEATHER RISK DEVELOP IT WOULD LIKELY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THIS WAVE. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA WITH A MORE STABLE AIRMASS FOLLOWING...HOWEVER PRECIP CHANCES REMAIN IN THE FORECAST AS NORTHWESTERLY FLOW DEVELOPS OVERHEAD WITH VARIOUS MODELS DEVELOPING PRECIP WITHIN THIS FLOW PATTERN. IT STILL APPEARS THAT BY LATER NEXT WEEK UPPER RIDGING WILL BEGIN TO EXPAND NORTHWARD WHICH WOULD YIELD A LESS ACTIVE PATTERN. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 64 56 75 61 / 70 60 30 70 FSM 79 63 76 61 / 50 60 60 70 MLC 75 60 75 63 / 60 60 60 60 BVO 63 51 76 57 / 70 40 20 70 FYV 74 57 73 57 / 60 80 60 60 BYV 75 57 71 54 / 50 80 60 60 MKO 73 58 73 61 / 70 70 60 70 MIO 68 54 75 57 / 80 60 20 60 F10 66 57 73 61 / 70 70 60 60 HHW 81 62 78 64 / 50 40 70 60 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...NONE. AR...NONE. && SHORT TERM...22 LONG TERM....07
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
508 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
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-
508 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS
MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
RISK...SIGNIFICANT.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...ONGOING.
FLASH FLOOD.
RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...ONGOING.
HEAVY RAIN.
RISK...ELEVATED.
AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
ONSET...ONGOING.
DISCUSSION...
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS ONGOING THIS MORNING ACROSS
PORTIONS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA...AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO
PROGRESS EASTWARD DURING THE MORNING HOURS. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS
AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THIS LINE
OF THUNDERSTORMS.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE
DAY AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT...AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE
REGION. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH DURING
THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON AS THE COLDER AIR MOVES INTO THE
AREA. THE HEAVY RAIN THREAT WILL REMAIN HOWEVER.
SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
ACTIVATION OF THE REGIONAL SPOTTER NETWORK LIKELY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL.
SUNDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.
MONDAY...NO HAZARDS.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
AN ACTIVE PERIOD WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...WITH HEAVY RAIN BEING THE PRIMARY THREAT. WIDESPREAD
SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...BUT ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS CANNOT
BE RULED OUT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN ENTER THE FORECAST FOR THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AS SOUTH WINDS MAKE A RETURN TO THE AREA.
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
524 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
OKZ065-071-073-131115-
MCINTOSH OK-OKFUSKEE OK-PITTSBURG OK-
524 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 AM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
SOUTHEASTERN OKFUSKEE
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
SOUTHWESTERN MCINTOSH AND PITTSBURG
AT 524 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTH OF WELEETKA TO 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
ARPELAR TO 11 MILES SOUTH OF ASHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
WELEETKA...EUFAULA...HANNA...RAIFORD...VIVIAN...STIDHAM...
MCALESTER...KIOWA...BLANCO...ASHLAND...SAVANNA...HARTSHORNE...
HAYWOOD...ALDERSON...KREBS...SCIPIO...BLOCKER...CROWDER...INDIANOLA
AND CANADIAN.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.
LAT...LON 3539 9559 3512 9550 3460 9558 3459 9588
3468 9589 3469 9610 3505 9609 3509 9607
3516 9599 3529 9599 3529 9618 3536 9620
TIME...MOT...LOC 1024Z 244DEG 39KT 3523 9610 3493 9598
3463 9607PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
527 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 AM TSTM WND DMG TULSA 36.13N 95.92W
05/13/2010 TULSA OK TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF POWER OUTAGES AND DAMAGE TO HOMES
FROM TREES FALLING ON THEM.
&&
KAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
544 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 AM TSTM WND GST 6 SE BROKEN ARROW 35.99N 95.71W
05/13/2010 E65.00 MPH WAGONER OK NWS EMPLOYEE
0525 AM TSTM WND GST 3 SSE INOLA 36.11N 95.49W
05/13/2010 M58.00 MPH ROGERS OK MESONET
0530 AM TSTM WND GST CHOUTEAU 36.19N 95.34W
05/13/2010 E60.00 MPH MAYES OK EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
KAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
552 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 AM TSTM WND DMG VERDIGRIS 36.23N 95.69W
05/13/2010 ROGERS OK LAW ENFORCEMENT
ROOF BLOWN OFF A HOUSE. POWER LINES DOWN.
&&
KAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
558 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 AM TSTM WND GST 3 E BROKEN ARROW 36.05N 95.74W
05/13/2010 E60 MPH WAGONER OK EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTED NEAR THE JUNCTION OF HIGHWAY 51 AND THE CREEK
TURNPIKE
&&
KAHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
605 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
OKZ070>075-131145-
HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-PITTSBURG OK-SEQUOYAH
OK-
605 AM CDT THU MAY 13 2010
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 AM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
SOUTHEASTERN MUSKOGEE AND NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
MCINTOSH...HASKELL...EASTERN PITTSBURG AND LATIMER
AT 605 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM VIVIAN TO 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BLOCKER TO 11 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF HAILEYVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...MCCURTAIN...
STIGLER...LEQUIRE...KINTA...ENTERPRISE...WHITEFIELD...KEOTA...
TAMAHA...GORE...WILBURTON...HIGGINS...DAMON...RED OAK...EUFAULA...
VIVIAN...STIDHAM...HARTSHORNE...BLOCKER...CROWDER...QUINTON...
CANADIAN...BRIARTOWN...PORUM...WARNER AND WEBBERS FALLS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.
LAT...LON 3564 9509 3531 9489 3490 9506 3460 9578
3501 9561 3534 9582
TIME...MOT...LOC 1105Z 243DEG 36KT 3530 9567 3505 9551
3473 9565The Tulsa radar (KINX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:19 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm wind damaged several poultry houses and snapped trees near town.
A KNWA meteorologist reported that a tornado uprooted trees and snapped large limbs. The maximum wind speed in the tornado based on this damage was about 90 mph.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large limbs from several maple trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several power poles.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down numerous large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down two large trees and numerous large limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several trees just southeast of the Davidson community, along Highway 59.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several trees and power poles.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew out several windows at the Huntsville Middle School.
Strong thunderstorm wind damaged the roof of a feed store.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several large trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind damaged a barn on Highway 23 south of Huntsville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arkansas, 2010Warnings in Arkansas, May 2010
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: 237851, 237391, 227955, 227956, 227957, 227958, 227966, 227968, 227970, 227972, 227973, 227974, 227976, 227977, 227978, 227980, 227981.