Oklahoma, 2013

Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 18, 2013

May 18, 2013 · NWS OUN · 34 events in 14 counties and zones

A classic late Spring severe weather setup unfolded over the southern Plains. Rich low-level moisture and very warm temperatures contributed to high instability, while an incoming shortwave trough yielded deep-layer shear sufficient for supercells during the afternoon.

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
$71,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
34

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.

A classic late Spring severe weather setup unfolded over the southern Plains. Rich low-level moisture and very warm temperatures contributed to high instability, while an incoming shortwave trough yielded deep-layer shear sufficient for supercells during the afternoon. Owing to the large spread between surface temperatures and dew points over most of Oklahoma, tornadoes did not occur, but significant hail was common with the storms early in their life cycles over far western Oklahoma. Later in the evening, storm outflows consolidated in some cases to produce more linear convection, transitioning the reports toward severe wind gusts farther east.

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 18, 1:25 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 1:25 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
225 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

.DISCUSSION...
STAGE STILL APPEARS TO BE SETTING UP FOR A VERY BUSY FEW DAYS
WRT SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. LARGE
SCALE WESTERN TROUGH WILL BRING SEVERAL SHORTWAVES INTO THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS THROUGH TUESDAY BEFORE MAIN TROUGH MOVES THROUGH.

FOR TODAY... CAPPING INVERSION HAS HELD THINGS IN CHECK... BUT
MIDDAY SOUNDING ACROSS THE AREA SHOW ONLY MINIMAL CAP STILL
REMAINING. EXPECT STORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA INTO
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AND WITH EXTREME INSTABILITY AND STRENGTHENING
WIND FIELDS... SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY.

ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED ON SUNDAY WITH THE
MAIN SFC BOUNDARIES RESIDING FARTHER EAST AND SOUTHEAST IN THE
MAIN BODY OF THE STATE WITH AFTN STORMS DEVELOPING IN WESTERN
OKLAHOMA AND MORE LIKELY AFFECTING CENTRAL SECTIONS OF
OKLAHOMA. AGAIN INSTABILITY AND WIND FIELDS WILL BE VERY
FAVORABLE FOR HIGH END SEVERE STORMS.

THE LATEST MODEL RUNS HAVE SLOWED THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF SFC
BOUNDARIES DOWN AND KEEP MUCH OF CENTRAL INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA IN
THE RISK ON MONDAY AND PERHAPS EVEN INTO TUESDAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA. THE PARTICULARS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON
WHAT HAPPENS THE DAY/NIGHT BEFORE.

OTHERWISE VERY WARM/HOT AND MUGGY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THE
NEXT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE SFC FRONT WORKS THROUGH THE AREA WITH
SOME COOLER AND DRIER AIR WORKING INTO OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  69  90  66  87 /  30  30  50  50
HOBART OK         69  95  63  94 /  30  20  10  20
WICHITA FALLS TX  71  98  67  97 /  30  20  20  20
GAGE OK           61  88  56  84 /  30  20  20  20
PONCA CITY OK     70  89  64  84 /  30  50  60  50
DURANT OK         69  88  71  88 /  20  20  30  30

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...NONE.
TX...NONE.
&&

26/30
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 11:19 AM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1219 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-191000-
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-
1219 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

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 MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT
ACROSS PORTIONS OF OKLAHOMA...AND A SLIGHT RISK THAT INCLUDES
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION...
THE MODERATE RISK AREA IS ACROSS NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA...WEST AND
NORTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR CHEROKEE...TO WATONGA...TO WEATHERFORD...
TO ELK CITY. THE SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDES MUCH OF WESTERN AND
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS...GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE
FROM CHANDLER... TO SULPHUR...TO MARIETTA INCLUDING ALL OF WESTERN
NORTH TEXAS.

TIMING...
THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM 4 PM
THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

IMPACTS...
LARGE DAMAGING HAIL LARGER THAN BASEBALLS MAY CREATE DAMAGE TO CROPS..
ROOFS AND CARS. DAMAGING WINDS MAY DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES AND DAMAGE
STRUCTURES. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

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

DISCUSSION...
A DRYLINE WILL LIE ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND
OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON. CONVERGENCE ALONG THE DRYLINE...PLUS LIFT
ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL WAVE...WILL HELP GENERATE SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG INSTABILITY AND MODERATE
TO STRONG WIND SHEAR WILL PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS VERY FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA...CONDITIONS WILL
SUPPORT A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BECOME LESS NUMEROUS AFTER MIDNIGHT
REDUCING THE SEVERE WEATHER RISK.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT SUNDAY MAY 19.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...100 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...80 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
AN ELEVATED RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WILL OCCUR AGAIN ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...
AND POSSIBLY INTO TUESDAY. A CHANCE OF STORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
FRIDAY...BUT THE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WILL BE LOW AFTER TUESDAY.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 5 AM
SUNDAY.

CMS/30/26

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:30 PM CST, 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
430 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

OKZ035-036-182145-
KIOWA OK-JACKSON OK-
430 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWEST CENTRAL KIOWA AND
EASTERN JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...

AT 425 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ALTUS AIR
FORCE BASE...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS...
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE ALERT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

&&

LAT...LON 3477 9939 3480 9909 3459 9915 3459 9917
      3455 9918 3454 9936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 180DEG 24KT 3461 9926

..SPEG.

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:34 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 3:33 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 9.11 mi W of Eldorado
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.470, -99.810

Hail, Harmon

When
May 18, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Harmon County, Gould
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.670, -99.770

Relayed by local media (Kswo).

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 3:51 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 0.57 mi W of Warren
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
34.780, -99.220

Continued for 20 minutes.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 3:51 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Friendship
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.700, -99.230

Relayed by EM. Also reported 1.25 hail five minutes prior.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 4:11 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 0.57 mi W of Warren
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
34.780, -99.220

Golfball to tennis ball size hail was reported.

Hail, Washita

When
May 18, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Washita County, 0.69 mi S of Dill City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.270, -99.130

Hail, Harmon

When
May 18, 4:27 PM CST
Where
Harmon County, Mc Queen
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.670, -99.700

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 4:34 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 4.6 mi W of Duke
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.670, -99.650

On Highway 62 at the Jackson-Harmon Co. line.

Hail, Custer

When
May 18, 4:44 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Arapaho
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.580, -98.960

Hail, Beckham

When
May 18, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, 5.67 mi W of Elk City
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.400, -99.520

Public reported golfball to tennis ball size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
May 18, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4.45 mi WSW of Weatherford
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.500, -98.770

Thunderstorm Wind, Blaine

When
May 18, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Blaine County, 6.2 mi SSE of Eagle City
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.850, -98.540

Mesonet site at Watonga measured a wind gust to 59 mph.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 6:14 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 2.84 mi E of Blair
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.780, -99.280

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 18, 6:23 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, Lone Wolf
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.990, -99.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
May 18, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 1.33 mi WSW of Mt Scott
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.730, -98.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
May 18, 7:10 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4.45 mi WSW of Weatherford
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.500, -98.770

Thunderstorm Wind, Canadian

When
May 18, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Canadian County, 4.45 mi SW of Concho
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.560, -98.040

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 18, 7:22 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 1.11 mi E of (End)vance Afb Enid
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.340, -97.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Major

When
May 18, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Major County, 3.95 mi E of Meno
Measured
58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.380, -98.110

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Altus
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.640, -99.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 18, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 3.04 mi SE of Breckinridge
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.410, -97.690

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 18, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 2.62 mi WSW of (Wdg) Woodring Arpt
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.360, -97.830

Measured at Woodwring Airport.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 7:51 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Altus
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
34.640, -99.330

At Park Lane and Heritage areas.

Hail, Garfield

When
May 18, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 1.11 mi E of (End)vance Afb Enid
Measured
1.9 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.340, -97.900

Hail, Jackson

When
May 18, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, (Lts)altus Afb
Measured
1.9 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.660, -99.290

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When
May 18, 8:05 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 0.89 mi NW of Minco
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
35.320, -97.950

One foot diameter tree was downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 18, 8:08 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, Enid
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.400, -97.880

Many trees and power lines downed, and a police officer was injured by debris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 18, 8:10 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 3.04 mi SE of Breckinridge
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.410, -97.690

Mesonet measured wind gust to 62 mph. Also measured 58 mph five minutes earlier.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
May 18, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.470, -97.510

Many power lines were downed in the area around 150th and Penn.

Hail, Comanche

When
May 18, 8:41 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Elgin
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.780, -98.290

Thunderstorm Wind, Major

When
May 18, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Major County, 3.95 mi E of Meno
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.380, -98.110

Mesonet site at Lahoma measured a gust to 70 mph. Also measured gusts of 57-58 mph at several times over the preceding hour.

Hail, Comanche

When
May 18, 10:13 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 3.25 mi SSW of Lawton
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.570, -98.420

At I-44 and Highway 36.

Hail, Comanche

When
May 18, 10:27 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 1.33 mi WSW of Lawton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
34.600, -98.410

Thunderstorm Wind, Dewey

When
May 18, 10:50 PM CST
Where
Dewey County, 3.63 mi WNW of Camargo
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.040, -99.350

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2013

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: 445443, 445444, 445446, 445447, 454922, 445448, 445449, 445450, 445451, 445452, 445473, 445474, 445475, 445476, 445477, 445478, 445479, 445480, 445481, 445482, 445483, 445484, 445486, 445487, 445490, 445491, 445493, 445492, 445495, 445498, 445500, 445502, 445503, 445504.