Oklahoma, 2015

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 6, 2015

May 6, 2015 · NWS OUN · 53 events in 14 counties and zones

A potent Spring storm system took shape across the Southern and Central Plains. Strong surface cyclogenesis took shape during the day, allowing ample moisture to return northward with strong southerly flow.

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
1
Injuries
12
Property damage
$344,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
53

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 potent Spring storm system took shape across the Southern and Central Plains. Strong surface cyclogenesis took shape during the day, allowing ample moisture to return northward with strong southerly flow. At the same time, a strong upper level shortwave trough allowed strong mid level westerlies to overspread much of the Plains region. With large instability and wind shear, the stage was set for widespread severe storm development. Storms initiated within the open warm sector ahead of the dryline. The first storm developed near Lawton and moved northeast along I-44 into parts of central Oklahoma, resulting in several tornadoes and large hail. Additional supercells spawned tornadoes across northern Oklahoma, and the slow moving nature of storms lead to several occurrences of flash flooding. Storms continued well into the night.

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 6, 11:53 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 6, 11:53 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1253 PM CDT WED MAY 6 2015

.DISCUSSION...
THE 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION FOLLOWS....

&&

.AVIATION...
TIMING OF EVERYTHING IN THE TAFS IS LOW CONFIDENCE. THE FORECASTS
ARE BASED ON THE GENERAL IDEA OF NORMAL DIURNAL IMPROVEMENT IN
CEILINGS...FOLLOWED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSRA IN SW OK/W N
TX...MOST LIKELY AFFECTING TAF SITES WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF
01Z...ALTHOUGH TSRA ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING. SEVERE STORMS ARE
LIKELY TO OCCUR...BUT CANNOT BE FORECAST PRECISELY ENOUGH TO
INCLUDE IN TAFS. LATE TONIGHT...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS LIKELY TO
CREATE A LOW CLOUD LAYER SIMILAR TO THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY THE
USUAL DIURNAL IMPROVEMENT. WE DO NOT EXPECT WIDESPREAD TSRA
TONIGHT...BUT SCT TSRA ARE LIKELY THROUGH AT LEAST 05Z. MODERATE
TO FAIRLY STRONG S WINDS WILL CONTINUE WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE
CHANGE THROUGH THE PERIOD.

CMS
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1046 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015/

UPDATE...
SOME LIGHT SHOWERS CONT TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING IN PARTS OF SW AND
CENTRAL OK. LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A WEAK DISTURBANCE IN THE FLOW
THAT IS HELPING TO GENERATE THIS ACTIVITY. THE SHOWERS WILL LIKELY
SHIFT OUT OF THE AREA OR END EARLY THIS AFTN AS THIS DISTURBANCE
MOVES OUT OF THE AREA. GUSTY WINDS TODAY... ESPECIALLY IN NW OK.
SOME LOCATIONS ARE CURRENTLY GUSTING ABOVE 40 MPH. WIND SPEEDS ARE
EXPECTED TO DECREASE SLIGHTLY LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTN SO WILL HOLD
OFF ON A WIND ADVISORY BUT IF THE STRONG WINDS PERSIST MAY NEED
ONE FOR A FEW COUNTIES IN NW OK. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR.

SOME SEVERE STORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF THE FA... WITH LARGE HAIL... DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS... AND A FEW TORNADOES POSSIBLE.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 630 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015/

AVIATION...06/12Z TAF ISSUANCE...
ACTIVE AVIATION PERIOD... CEILINGS WILL VARY THIS MORNING BETWEEN
IFR AND MVFR AT ALL SITES... WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDER ACROSS CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
SLOWLY EASTWARD THROUGH MID TO LATE MORNING... WITH CEILINGS
EXPECTED TO IMPROVE TO MVFR TO VFR THROUGH 06/18Z. THUNDERSTORM
CHANCES WILL INCREASE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS FAR
WRN OK/WRN N TX... FELT CONFIDENT TO MENTION IN
KCSM/KHBR/KLAW/KSPS TAFS WITH TEMPO GROUP. SOUTH WINDS WILL REMAIN
GUSTY TODAY... INCREASING TO 20 TO 30KTS THROUGH THE LATE MORNING
AND THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

JTK

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 548 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015/

UPDATE...
PRECIP/WX THROUGH THIS MORNING...

DISCUSSION...
ISOLATED STORMS HAVE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP SOUTH OF THE OKC METRO
NEAR THE CANADIAN RIVER VALLEY... LIFTING N/NE THIS MORNING. THIS
ACTIVITY APPEARS TO BE TIED TO A WEAK 850MB DPT AXIS THAT NUDGES
INTO CENTRAL OK... WITH STORMS DEVELOPING ON THE AXIS OF 12 TO 14C
DEWPOINTS. ELSEWHERE... STORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEAR THE
TERMINUS OF THE LLJ OVER NORTH CENTRAL OK... NEAR PONCA CITY.
EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO PERSIST THROUGH SUNRISE... WITH THE BULK
OF THE PRECIP CONTINUING TO EXIT ACROSS ERN OK.

JTK

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 348 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015/

DISCUSSION...
A LOT TO COVER... TRIED TO HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS TODAY THROUGH
SATURDAY.

THIS MORNING... THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD
ACROSS CENTRAL OK. ALOFT... THE H500 NEGATIVELY TILTED TROUGH
CONTINUES TO CHURN N/NE INTO ERN CO/WRN KS... RESULTING IN A
REGION OF STRONG ASCENT ACROSS MUCH OF OK. THIS COMBINED WITH
DECENT LL SHEAR... GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH AND SPORADIC GUSTS OF 55
TO 65 MPH WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 4 TO 5 AM. HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION
HAS ALSO RESULTED IN SEVERAL REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING...
INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF ROADWAYS IN NORMAN AND IN CYRIL.

THROUGH SUNRISE... EXPECT SKIES TO CONTINUE TO CLEAR ACROSS WRN OK.
THROUGH 08Z... WV IMAGERY PAINTS THE PICTURE FAIRLY CLEAR... WITH
DRIER AIR HELPING THIN CLOUD COVER WITHIN THE MID-LEVELS ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE TX PH. IT APPEARS... AT THE MOMENT... THAT WE WILL
RECOVER FAIRLY WELL TODAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT H500 IMPULSE THAT IS
CURRENTLY TRAVERSING THROUGH NERN NM. LL MOISTURE WILL STEADILY
INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY ACROSS CENTRAL INTO WRN OK... ESPECIALLY
ACROSS SWRN OK INTO NRN TX WHERE MID 60S DPTS ARE EXPECTED BY EARLY
AFTN. WITH SFC WARMING THROUGH THE AFTN... INSTABILITY WILL
INCREASE... WITH MLCAPE VALUES ANYWHERE FROM 1200 TO 2500 J/KG
POOLING AHEAD OF THE DRY LINE. SPEAKING OF THE DRYLINE...
TRADITIONAL GUIDANCE (NAM/GFS/ECMWF) DEVELOP A MODEST DPT
GRADIENT... ADVANCING JUST TO THE WRN OK/TX BORDER. MESOSCALE
GUIDANCE FROM THE NMM AND ARW FLAVORS OF THE WRF ARE A TAD MORE
AGGRESSIVE... ADVANCING IT A TOUCH FURTHER INTO WRN OK/WRN N TX.
EXPECT MODEST DEEP LAYER SHEAR... 30-40KTS AND ORIENTED
PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOUNDARY... SUGGESTING SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT.
BUFR PROFILES OF CAPE WITHIN THE HAIL GROWTH ZONE WOULD EASILY
SUGGEST GOLF BALLS... TO NEAR BASEBALLS WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS.
AS FOR TORNADOES... BETTER CHANCE WILL LIKELY BE IN SRN KS WHERE LL
WIND FIELDS WILL HAVE MORE INFLUENCE FROM THE RESIDENT SFC LOW.
HOWEVER... THERE REMAINS A LOW CHANCE OF TORNADO DEVELOPMENT WITH
THE STRONGEST STORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF WRN OK/WRN N TX... AS LL
SHEAR INCREASES WITHIN A NARROW WINDOW LATE THIS AFTN/EVENING... AND
COULD BE ENHANCED IF THE DRYLINE MAKES IT A TAD FARTHER EAST AND
STORMS CAN MAINTAIN RESIDENCE ON THE BOUNDARY OR IF ADDITIONAL
STORMS GO UP ON ANY OUTFLOW FROM EARLIER UPDRAFTS. OVERALL...
DAMAGING HAIL AND WINDS REMAIN THE PRIMARY CONCERNS.

OVERNIGHT AND THURSDAY... SCATTERED STORMS WILL LIKELY LINGER ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE REGION... PRIMARILY FROM WRN N TX AND SRN OK THROUGH
NERN OK AS BROAD ISENTROPIC ASCENT REMAINS ACROSS THE REGION...
WHILE TO THE NORTH IN KS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL... LINGERING
FROM THE NRN PANHANDLES INTO NERN KS WITH A SFC LOW DEVELOPING OVER
THE PANHANDLES THROUGH THU AFTN. ONCE AGAIN... THE DRYLINE WILL MAKE
ANOTHER PUSH INTO THE ERN PANHANDLES NEAR THE OK/TX BORDER. STORM
DEVELOPMENT WILL RELY HEAVILY ON HOW THE ATMOSPHERE RESPONDS TO THE
PRIOR MORNING ACTIVITY. AT THE MOMENT... EXPECT ENOUGH RECOVERY TO
GET MLCAPE VALUES IN THE 1200 TO 2500 J/KG RANGE AGAIN... WITH
INITIATION SOMEWHERE NEAR THE TRIPLE POINT IN SWRN KS... WHERE THE
DRYLINE AND COLD FRONT INTERSECT... WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR SUPPORTIVE
OF SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE DRYLINE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES
THROUGH THE LATE AFTN/EVENING. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS
WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS... WITH A WINDOW FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT
WITH INITIAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS SWRN KS AND THE PANHANDLES... WITH A
LOW CHANCES ACROSS NWRN OK/WRN OK. OVERNIGHT... AGREE WITH SPC
ANALYSIS... STORMS WILL LIKELY MERGE INTO AN MCS OVERNIGHT INTO
FRIDAY MORNING AIDED BY THE INCREASING LLJ AND MOVING EASTWARD
ACROSS SRN KS/NRN OK THROUGH FRI MORNING.

FOR FRIDAY... SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES WILL DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN AS
ANOTHER H500 IMPULSE TRAVERSES THE WRN TROUGH AND LIFTS E/NE INTO
THE SRN PLAINS. SIMILAR TO TODAY AND THU... INSTABILITY DEVELOPMENT
WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO RECOVERY... BUT A QUICK GLANCE THIS MORNING
SUGGEST LARGE SCALE LIFT AND FOCUSING FROM THE COLD FRONT IN SRN KS
AND THE DRYLINE WILL COMBINE WITH INCREASING INSTABILITY ONCE AGAIN
FOR STORMS. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE THREATS...
WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO HAZARD IN THE EARLY EVENING AS BUFR
SOUNDINGS SUGGEST LOW LCLS AND LL SHEAR WILL INCREASE AS SFC WINDS
BACK ACROSS SWRN KS/NRN PANHANDLES/NWRN OK. OVERNIGHT... STORMS WILL
ONCE AGAIN LIKELY DEVELOP INTO AN MCS... MOVING ACROSS SRN KS/NRN OK.

PRESSING FOR TIME... STORM CHANCES WILL EXIST ON SATURDAY AS WELL...
WITH SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN IN THE AFTN AND EVENING AS
THE DRYLINE MAKES ANOTHER SURGE EAST... WITH GUIDANCE SUGGESTING A
FARTHER PUSH INTO WRN OK. MID-RANGE GUIDANCE SUGGESTS A SIMILAR
SETUP TO THU AND FRI... WITH A SFC LOW LIFTING NORTHWARD AND STORMS
DEVELOPING ON THE DRYLINE LATE IN THE AFTN WITH DECENT SHEAR AND
INSTABILITY.

FOR SUNDAY... THE COLD FRONT WILL FINALLY PUSH S/SE ACROSS THE SRN
PLAINS AS THE WRN TROUGH FINALLY ADVANCES ACROSS THE ROCKIES. PRECIP
CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY... ENDING NW/SE OVERNIGHT INTO
MONDAY MORNING.

JTK

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  76  64  77  64 /  60  50  40  60
HOBART OK         78  62  77  64 /  30  60  50  70
WICHITA FALLS TX  80  64  79  66 /  30  60  50  50
GAGE OK           81  62  80  59 /  10  20  50  60
PONCA CITY OK     76  66  79  63 /  70  50  40  70
DURANT OK         77  65  79  67 /  60  40  50  50

&&

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

25/23/23
Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 10:41 AM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1141 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-071645-
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-
1141 AM CDT WED MAY 6 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN...
WESTERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

.THUNDERSTORMS...
THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PART OF
WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

LOCATION...
THE ENHANCED RISK AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM
FREEDOM AND CLINTON... TO ALTUS OKLAHOMA AND BENJAMIN TEXAS... AND
THEN WEST OF A LINE FROM BLACKWELL AND STILLWATER... TO PAULS
VALLEY AND ARDMORE OKLAHOMA. THIS INCLUDES PLACES SUCH AS ENID...
THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO... LAWTON... AND WICHITA FALLS.

TIMING...
4 PM TO MIDNIGHT

IMPACTS...
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...
WIND GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH...
A FEW TORNADOES...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME FLOODING...

.SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE
RISK AREAS SHOULD BE READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS.

DISCUSSION...
BY LATE AFTERNOON... SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
ALONG A DRYLINE IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND ADJACENT AREAS OF NORTH
TEXAS. THE NUMBER OF STORMS THAT AFFECT PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AND
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS COULD BE LOW BUT THOSE STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP
WILL HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF BEING SEVERE. HIGH INSTABILITY
ALONG WITH STRONG WIND SHEAR ACROSS THE AREA WILL SUPPORT
SUPERCELL STORMS WITH VERY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. A
FEW TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY IS
EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY WEAKEN DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...BUT
STORMS MAY STILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND SOME HAIL.

THE FORECAST COULD CHANGE THIS AFTERNOON AS WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THE SITUATION SO CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON
THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER LATER TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

.THUNDERSTORMS...
A VERY ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH AT
LEAST SUNDAY. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY
DURING THE MID AFTERNOON INTO THE LATE EVENING. AT THIS
TIME...SATURDAY MAY HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER
AS A STRONG STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN PLAINS.

GET GRAPHICS AND MORE DETAILS AT WEATHER.GOV/NORMAN...AND FOLLOW
OUR WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 6, 10:19 AM CST, 2 hours 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1119 AM CDT WED MAY 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE PAULS VALLEY       34.76N 97.20W
05/06/2015                   GARVIN             OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            METAL TRAILOR AND 2 STORAGE SHEDS DESTROYED. POSSIBLE
            ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOME. REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF
            HWY 19 AND CTY RD 1550

1245 AM     TSTM WND DMG     NE OKLAHOMA CITY        35.47N 97.51W
05/06/2015                   OKLAHOMA           OK   BROADCAST MEDIA

            POWER LINE DOWNED, DAMAGING A UTILITY METER AT A HOME.
            TREE DOWNED ALONG WITH MANY TREE LIMBS. REPORTED NEAR
            INTERSECTIONS OF NE36TH AND N. MARTIN LUTHER KING AVE.

1237 AM     TSTM WND DMG     N NORMAN                35.22N 97.44W
05/06/2015                   CLEVELAND          OK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            TREE LIMBS DOWN AT ROCKCREEK RD AND N PORTER AVE.

&&

JPIKE
Local storm report, May 6, 11:27 AM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1227 PM CDT WED MAY 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 AM     TSTM WND DMG     DEL CITY                35.45N 97.44W
05/06/2015                   OKLAHOMA           OK   PUBLIC

            REPORT OF SEVERAL TREES DAMAGED IN AN AREA GENERALLY
            ALONG I-40 BETWEEN SE 15TH ST AND SOONER RD.

&&

JPIKE

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 hail, 15 tornado, 12 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
May 6, 1:18 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 4.85 mi NW of Lake Ellsworth Dam
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.840, -98.430

Several trees snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stephens

When
May 6, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Loco
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.330, -97.680

Several trees snapped or uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When
May 6, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 2.65 mi ENE of Apache
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.910, -98.320

Large tree limbs downed.

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 6, 1:45 PM CST to 1:47 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 2.5 mi E of Apache to 3 mi ENE of Apache
Rating
EF0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
34.890, -98.316

A storm chaser observed a tornado develop approximately 2.5 miles east of Apache and move northeast to approximately 3 miles east-northeast of Apache. Trees were damaged, but no known structure damage occurred.

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 6, 1:53 PM CST to 1:55 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 4 mi NW of Cyril
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
34.941, -98.250

Live coverage from Oklahoma City television stations showed a tornado develop approximately 4 miles northwest of Cyril. No damage was reported.

Hail, Caddo

When
May 6, 2:05 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 4.98 mi ENE of Stecker
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
34.990, -98.240

Hail, Grady

When
May 6, 2:12 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 0.89 mi NW of Laverty
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.000, -98.090

No damage was reported.

Hail, Caddo

When
May 6, 2:16 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 3.45 mi S of Anadarko
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.030, -98.240

No damage was reported.

Hail, Grady

When
May 6, 2:23 PM CST
Where
Grady County, Verden
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
35.080, -98.090

No damage was reported.

Hail, Alfalfa

When
May 6, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa County, 0.89 mi SW of Helena
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
36.540, -98.280

Tornado, Grady

When
May 6, 3:33 PM CST to 4:26 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 4.34 mi E of Amber to 2.79 mi NNE of Bridge Creek
Rating
EF3
Path length
10.3 mi
Path width
1,500 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.158, -97.803

A large tornado developed east of Amber and moved slowly northeast near or along Interstate 44, then turned north impacting the community of Bridge Creek. The most intense damage occurred just east of the Interstate 44 and H.E. Bailey Turnpike Spur near Bridge Creek where EF3 damage was observed to a home (DI 2, DOD 7) and a mobile home (DI 4, DOD 12). A pickup truck was also thrown for several hundred yards in this area. Numerous homes and other buildings were damaged along the tornado path.

Tornado, Major

When
May 6, 3:37 PM CST to 3:38 PM CST
Where
Major County, 5 mi S of Ringwood
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.308, -98.250

Numerous storm spotters and chasers reported a tornado briefly developed approximately 5 miles south of Ringwood. No damage was reported.

Tornado, Grady

When
May 6, 3:48 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 5 mi ENE of Amber
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.188, -97.798

A storm chaser with KFOR-TV observed a satellite tornado that occurred near the large tornado east of Amber. Any damage from this tornado would be indistinguishable from the damage path of the large tornado, and the location is estimated.

Tornado, Garfield

When
May 6, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 2 mi SSW of Carrier
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.453, -98.034

Spotters and chasers observed a brief tornado estimated to have occurred about 2 miles south-southwest of Carrier.

Tornado, McClain

When
May 6, 4:33 PM CST to 4:39 PM CST
Where
McClain County, 2.4 mi SSE of Newcastle to 3.08 mi SE of Newcastle
Rating
EF1
Path length
1 mi
Path width
200 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.220, -97.578

Storm chasers observed a tornado in the southeast part of Newcastle. Aerial images indicated two outbuildings lost their roofs or were destroyed (DI 1, DOD 5).

Hail, Garfield

When
May 6, 4:46 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, Hillsdale
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.560, -97.990

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Cleveland

When
May 6, 4:46 PM CST to 4:47 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 3.82 mi WSW of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt to 3.34 mi WSW of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.233, -97.534

An NWS storm survey found that a tornado touched down near 60th Avenue NW and Robinson Street in northwest Norman. Damage was observed to trees and fencing with damage direction indicating a small vortex. This area was embedded within a large swath of wind damage from the storm's rear-flank downdraft that extended from this area to near Max Westheimer Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When
May 6, 4:51 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 2.82 mi W of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.250, -97.520

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Cleveland

When
May 6, 4:53 PM CST to 5:10 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1.58 mi WSW of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt to 3.12 mi NNW of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt
Rating
EF1
Path length
3.25 mi
Path width
1,000 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.245, -97.497

A tornado developed south of 36th Avenue NW and Rock Creek Road and traveled basically north near 36th Avenue to near Indian Hills Road through the northwest side of Norman. Numerous house roofs, trees, fences and power poles were damaged in the neighborhoods along 36th Avenue. HVAC equipment was damaged and light poles were downed at the Norman Healthplex hospital at 36th Avenue NW and Tecumseh Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When
May 6, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1.78 mi SW of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.230, -97.490

Straight lined wind damage associated with a rear flank downdraft damaged the facade of a hotel along interstate 35.

Hail, Caddo

When
May 6, 5:04 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 2.19 mi SW of Washita
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.080, -98.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When
May 6, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 0.69 mi S of (Oun)norman Westheimer Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.240, -97.470

No damage was reported.

Hail, Grant

When
May 6, 5:11 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 3.88 mi W of Pond Creek
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.670, -97.870

No damage was reported.

Flash Flood, McClain

When
May 6, 5:13 PM CST to 7:13 PM CST
Where
McClain County, 0.3 mi WNW of Newcastle to 0.3 mi ENE of Newcastle
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
35.252, -97.605

Water over several roads and flowing out of ditches along highway 62.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
May 6, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Garfield County, 1.66 mi E of Hillsdale
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
36.560, -97.960

A trailer was flipped over by damaging straight line winds.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 6, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Elmer
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
34.480, -99.350

No damage was reported.

Hail, Grady

When
May 6, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Grady County, Tuttle
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.290, -97.810

Damage to several vehicles and siding on one home. Damages estimated.

Tornado, Dewey

When
May 6, 5:33 PM CST
Where
Dewey County, 10 mi ESE of Seiling
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
30 yd
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.095, -98.754

A storm chaser with KOKH observed a tornado east-southeast of Seiling. No damage was reported and the location is estimated.

Tornado, Caddo

When
May 6, 5:41 PM CST to 5:49 PM CST
Where
Caddo County, 0.5 mi S of Lake Chickasha Dam to 3 mi NE of Lake Chickasha Dam
Rating
EF0
Path length
3.5 mi
Path width
200 yd
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.123, -98.130

Storm spotters observed a tornado northwest and north of Verden and near and east of Lake Chickasha. The radar signature indicated that this tornado was likely a potentially significant tornado, however no damage was reported in this very rural area and the torando path is estimated.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 6, 5:51 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 1.84 mi WNW of Headrick
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.640, -99.170

No damage was reported.

Flash Flood, Cleveland

When
May 6, 5:56 PM CST to 6:56 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1.37 mi SSE of Moore to 1.39 mi S of Moore
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.321, -97.485

High water beneath railroad overpass made 19th street impassable.

Tornado, Grant

When
May 6, 5:56 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 5 mi SSW of Wakita
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
36.813, -97.955

A storm chaser observed a brief tornado estimated to be approximately 5 miles south-southwest of Wakita. No known damage occurred.

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 6:12 PM CST to 8:12 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, 2.15 mi NNE of (Pwa)wiley Post Apt to 2.64 mi NNE of (Pwa)wiley Post Apt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$60,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.560, -97.640

Vehicles stranded due to high water and excessive heavy rainfall.

Hail, Jackson

When
May 6, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Headrick
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.630, -99.140

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Grady

When
May 6, 6:49 PM CST to 6:51 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 3.11 mi SE of Tuttle to 3.33 mi WNW of Bridge Creek
Rating
EF0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
40 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.253, -97.778

Chaser video and an NWS storm survey indicated that a tornado touched down about 3 miles southeast of Tuttle and moved south-southeast. Trees were uprooted (DOD 27, DI 3) and two homes sustained minor damage (DOD 2, DI 2-4).

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 6:52 PM CST to 8:52 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, 0.2 mi S of Wheatland to 1.73 mi ESE of (Okc)will Rogers Apt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.397, -97.650

Over 3 inches of rain fell in one hour at Will Rogers World Airport in southwest Oklahoma City. This resulted in areas of flooding across southwestern portions of the Oklahoma City metro. No damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 6:57 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, (Okc)will Rogers Apt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
35.390, -97.600

No damage was reported.

Flash Flood, Cleveland

When
May 6, 7:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 2.85 mi WSW of Stanley Draper Lake Dam to 2.35 mi SW of Stanley Draper Lake Dam
Cause
Heavy Rain
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.309, -97.394

One woman perished while seeking shelter from a tornado in a below ground storm cellar. Heavy rains flooded the cellar, and the woman drowned.

Hail, Grady

When
May 6, 7:02 PM CST
Where
Grady County, Minco
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.310, -97.940

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Grady

When
May 6, 7:11 PM CST to 7:21 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 3.93 mi E of Tuttle to 2.41 mi NNE of Bridge Creek
Rating
EF0
Path length
3.5 mi
Path width
200 yd
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.298, -97.741

Videos from storm chasers and an NWS damage survey indicate a tornado developed about 4 miles east-northeast of Tuttle and moved southeast then east to about 2 miles northeast of Bridge Creek. Observed damage was confined to trees along the path. The end of the path likely overlapped with the north end of the damage path of the Bridge Creek tornado from earlier in the day.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When
May 6, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 4.18 mi N of Bridge Creek
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.290, -97.710

Several trees snapped or uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When
May 6, 7:17 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 3.95 mi E of Tuttle
Measured
71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.290, -97.740

Severe winds up to 82 mph measured with half dollar sized hail. No damage information was available.

Hail, Canadian

When
May 6, 7:21 PM CST
Where
Canadian County, 2.36 mi WSW of Mustang
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.380, -97.760

Hail damaged roofs of homes and stripped leaves off of trees.

Hail, Grady

When
May 6, 7:28 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 4.15 mi N of Bridge Creek
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.290, -97.720

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 7:41 PM CST to 7:48 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, 0.46 mi NNE of Valley Brook to 1.81 mi NW of Valley Brook
Rating
EF3
Path length
2 mi
Path width
700 yd
Injuries
12 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
35.406, -97.477

A tornado touched down near Southeast 59th Street and Eastern Avenue in Oklahoma City, and moved north along Eastern Avenue, then northwest crossing Interstate 35 near and south of Southeast 44th Street before turning west and dissipating near Southeast 44th Street and Lindsay Avenue. The most significant damage occurred just east of Interstate 35 where a motel sustained significant damage losing most walls on the second floor (DI 6, DOD 8) and significant damage to many recreational vehicles at an adjacent RV park. While not directly related to the tornado, one woman perished while seeking shelter from the tornado in a below ground storm cellar. Heavy rains flooded the cellar, and the woman drowned.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When
May 6, 7:48 PM CST
Where
Grady County, 5.48 mi ENE of Tuttle
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.320, -97.720

No damage was reported.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 6, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 2.07 mi S of Norman
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.190, -97.440

No damage was reported.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 6, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1.49 mi SSE of Norman
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.200, -97.430

No damage was reported.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 6, 8:06 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 0.89 mi SE of Norman
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.210, -97.430

No damage was reported.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 6, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1.69 mi E of Norman
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.220, -97.410

No damage was reported.

Hail, Cleveland

When
May 6, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 5.56 mi S of Stanley Draper Lake Dam
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.250, -97.340

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Del City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.450, -97.440

A four foot diameter was snapped at the base and several power lines and poles were downed.

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When
May 6, 8:30 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, 0.62 mi ENE of Del City to 0.71 mi N of Del City
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.453, -97.430

At least one home and a business were flooded.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Flash Flood, Cleveland2015-05-0643FemaleOtherDirect

What these are

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.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2015Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2015

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: 577458, 577459, 577460, 581784, 581786, 577461, 577462, 577463, 577464, 577465, 581795, 581800, 581804, 581806, 581824, 577466, 581834, 577467, 581839, 577468, 577469, 577470, 577471, 579730, 577472, 577473, 577474, 581844, 581853, 577475, 579731, 581858, 579733, 577476, 581863, 579734, 577477, 587315, 577478, 581864, and more.