During the afternoon of the 24th, a few strong storms formed along an outflow boundary in north central Oklahoma. Later that evening and overnight into the 25th, despite a strong cap, storms formed across when a 700mb wave moved through central Oklahoma enhanced by the low level jet.
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 OUN wrote it up.
During the afternoon of the 24th, a few strong storms formed along an outflow boundary in north central Oklahoma. Later that evening and overnight into the 25th, despite a strong cap, storms formed across when a 700mb wave moved through central Oklahoma enhanced by the low level jet. These storms trained across central and eastern Oklahoma causing some flooding issues.
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 24, 11:08 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
1208 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016
.AVIATION...24/18Z TAF ISSUANCE...
Besides some brief breaks in clouds this morning, most sites will
remain BKN to OVC MVFR through much, if not all, of the period.
Thunderstorms are expected to develop late this afternoon across
portions of western and northern Oklahoma. Fairly confident in
impacts to KGAG/KWWR/KPNC late this afternoon and evening to
ceilings and vis from thunderstorms. Storms will move eastward
through the evening, with enough confidence for TEMPOS at
KOKC/KOUN.
Kurtz
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 628 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016/
DISCUSSION...
The 12Z aviation discussion follows....
AVIATION...
A large cluster of thunderstorms over central/northern Kansas will
advance southeast today, possibly affecting KPNC during the
afternoon or early evening. Another area of scattered
strong/severe storms will develop late in the afternoon near the
western border of Oklahoma. These storms may affect all TAF sites
in the western half of Oklahoma between 2300Z and about 0500Z.
Timing of these storms is very uncertain, as are the specific
expected locations. Ceilings will be highly variable this morning,
and probably again overnight tonight, varying between 1000 feet
and unlimited. Significant visibility restrictions are unlikely
outside thunderstorms.
CmS
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 355 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016/
DISCUSSION...
An MCV over Caddo County early this morning will continue to move
east, and associated convection just to its south is expected to
weaken as the morning progresses. Although showers/thunderstorms
could form at almost any time today, it appears that the greatest
chances will be associated once again with dryline convection this
afternoon along the western border of Oklahoma. Additional storms
may form in north-central Oklahoma if outflow from the Kansas MCS
can make it that far south this afternoon or evening.
Chances for showers/thunderstorms will continue throughout the
forecast period, with only a few brief breaks. It is difficult to
accurately time shortwave troughs in the mid/upper flow, so the
confidence in the timing of the rain/storm chances is not
particularly high.
One of the stronger waves appears to pass over Oklahoma on
Thursday, although some models suggest that a second, equally
strong wave, will arrive on Friday. Depending on what actually
happens, it appears that Thursday and Friday could be days of
rather widespread storminess.
That should be followed by a relatively quiet Friday evening and
Saturday, before storm chances resume, and continue through early
next week.
We have elected to retain the Flood Watch unaltered because of the
risk of locally heavy rainfall with any storms that form over the
next day or so. The watch may be able to be canceled early if
storms fail to produce excessive rainfall this evening.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK 68 87 71 84 / 50 20 10 50
Hobart OK 69 91 69 87 / 40 10 10 50
Wichita Falls TX 72 90 72 86 / 20 20 10 60
Gage OK 63 94 62 89 / 40 10 10 30
Ponca City OK 69 89 71 86 / 60 20 10 40
Durant OK 70 84 71 81 / 30 10 20 50
&&
.OUN Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
OK...Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for OKZ021>023-027-033>039-
044-045.
TX...Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for TXZ083>090.
&&
09/04HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 1200 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-251000- 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- 1200 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN... WESTERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... .THUNDERSTORMS... THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. LOCATION... AN ENHANCED RISK IS LOCATED NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM MEDFORD TO WATONGA...CLINTON...AND HOLLIS OKLAHOMA. A SLIGHT RISK COVERS AN AREA SOUTH AND EAST OF THE ENHANCED RISK AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM COALGATE AND TISHOMINGO...TO ARDMORE OKLAHOMA...TO WICHITA FALLS AND CROWELL TEXAS. TIMING... THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE AFTER 4 PM. IMPACTS... VERY LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS... DAMAGING WIND GUSTS 80 MPH... AND HEAVY RAINFALL THAT COULD CAUSE FLOODING ARE THE MAIN HAZARDS. A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA. DISCUSSION... A DRYLINE WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE. AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM MORNING STORMS AND RAIN OVER SOUTHERN KANSAS EXTENDS FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA. THIS WILL LIKELY MAKE AN IMPACT ON WHERE SEVERE STORMS DEVELOP. ALONG THE DRY LINE...SCATTERED SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OR MOVE INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND ADJACENT PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS. VERY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERNS. A FEW TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THE DRYLINE AND OUTFLOW BOUNDARY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA. THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP INTO ONE OR MORE CLUSTERS OF STORMS TONIGHT AND MOVE EAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. IF THIS HAPPENS... DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS WILL BECOME THE PRINCIPLE HAZARD WITH LARGE HAIL STILL POSSIBLE. THE TORNADO POTENTIAL WILL DIMINISH BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE RISK AREAS SHOULD PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .HEAVY RAIN... HEAVY RAIN THAT COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED OR FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THOSE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY... .THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS AT LEAST PARTS OF THE AREA EACH DAY. HOWEVER... THURSDAY AND FRIDAY HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER. .HEAVY RAIN... HEAVY RAIN THAT COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED OR FLASH FLOODING WILL ALSO REMAIN POSSIBLE THIS WEEK. GET GRAPHICS AND MORE DETAILS AT WEATHER.GOV/NORMAN...AND FOLLOW OUR WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 108 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 OKZ007-012-241845- GRANT OK-GARFIELD OK- 108 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN GRANT AND NORTH CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT... AT 105 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR KREMLIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HAZARDS INCLUDE... HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS... WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH... LAT...LON 3649 9788 3662 9800 3684 9764 3659 9754 TIME...MOT...LOC 1805Z 237DEG 13KT 3659 9787 WR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 134 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 OKZ013-241900- NOBLE OK- 134 PM CDT TUE MAY 24 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN NOBLE COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM CDT... AT 129 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF LUCIEN...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. HAZARDS INCLUDE... HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS... WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH... LAT...LON 3632 9744 3640 9746 3655 9720 3634 9712 TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 249DEG 18KT 3638 9738 ..SPEG.
The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:58 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds overturned a semi. The time of this reported was estimated based on radar data.
A mobile home was destroyed and blocked Lone Chimney road. Also, power lines were reported own on Perkins and Lone Chimney Roads.
Winds were estimated based on minor tree damage.
Media and law enforcement reported significant flash flooding in and around Stroud. The turnpike was also closed due to high water and a bad vehicular accident. Over 6 feet of water was reported covering Route 66 in some places. Several water rescues were reported. One person was also killed in their vehicle between Stroud and Davenport due to high water. Two others were hospitalized.
A high Water rescue was reported on Hwy 3 just south of Lehigh. The highway was eventually closed between Coal and Atoka counties.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Lincoln | 2016-05-24 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2016
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: 630372, 630373, 630374, 630375, 630376, 628557, 628559, 628560.