Scattered showers and thunderstorms formed out ahead of and along a front across Oklahoma on the evening of the 16th overnight into the 17th.
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.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms formed out ahead of and along a front across Oklahoma on the evening of the 16th overnight into the 17th.
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 Apr 16, 1:42 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 242 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 .DISCUSSION... The main forecast challenges are severe thunderstorm and heavy rainfall/flooding potential now through Monday evening. No significant changes were made to the previous forecast. Pinpointing where and when storms occur for the rest of this afternoon through Monday remains very challenging. With abundant/near record values of available moisture (surface dewpoints in the 60s and precipitable water values generally 1-1.5" which are in the 90th percentile or higher for this time of year), heavy rainfall and localized flooding remain possible with any storm. There is some severe potential as well due to sufficient shear and moderate to fairly high values of potential instability (1000-3500 J/kg). At 230 pm, A few storms were forming in southern Oklahoma near Waurika and Pauls Valley where a maximum of precipitable water values around 1.5" was occurring and lift generated from a mid/upper disturbance over central Texas. This activity is expected to grow upscale and move northeast over the next several hours. Some large hail and perhaps damaging wind reports are possible with this activity as well as heavy rainfall, though this activity may stay somewhat unorganized due to marginal shear values (0-6 km bulk shear values 20-30 kt). Tornado potential remains very low due to marginal 0-1 km shear generally 10-15 kt, though will have to closely monitor as these values may increase to near 20-25 kt by 9 pm this evening across central and southern Oklahoma, especially as low level moisture will be quite high with low lifted condensation levels under 3000 ft AGL. There are two other areas to monitor for storm formation in the next few hours include 1) convergence along the effective cold front in far northern Oklahoma to southern Kansas (somewhere near a Woodward OK to Wichita KS line) and 2) convergence along a dryline/surface pressure trough over west Texas (somewhere near a Canadian TX to Snyder TX line). Storms seem to be more likely to form near the effective front where capping is weakest. Fewer storms are expected near the dryline. The environment supports high precipitation supercells/multicells (0-6 km shear values 25-40 kt). Large hail, possibly very large and bigger than golf balls, would be the main hazard with first supercells, then possibly transition into damaging winds as storms become clusters and/or lines as they move southeast. These storms appear to have a greater potential to be severe compared to the current storms in southern Oklahoma. Tornado potential still appear to be very low due to weak low level shear (0-1 km shear generally below 20 kt), but is not zero due to abundant low level moisture. After 10 pm this evening, one or more clusters of lines from the activity mentioned above (as depicted by the HRRR/ARW/NMM models) may still be ongoing, moving southeast generally, with a decreasing threat for severe weather. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding may be the greater concern. Some areas may not receive any rainfall. Patchy fog mention was added in northwestern Oklahoma where confidence of occurrence is moderate. On Monday and Monday evening, showers and storms may linger across the area, mainly southeastern Oklahoma, during the morning. Additional storm development is possible during the afternoon and evening, though storm coverage is expected to be lower compared to tonight. Locally heavy rainfall will be a concern, especially due to slow storm motions. Weaker wind shear should allow for lower chance for severe thunderstorms. Late Monday night through Wednesday afternoon, stronger capping and slightly drier mid/upper level air moving in should limit rain chances. Some fog development may occur late Monday night into Tuesday morning. Wednesday night into early Thursday, additional strong to severe thunderstorms may skirt the northern half of Oklahoma along an approaching cold front due to increasing wind shear and some instability. Locally heavy rainfall may be possible. Thursday night through early Saturday, more wet and stormy weather appears likely as moisture and lift increases ahead of a stronger mid/upper level system. Heavy rainfall may be the greater impact, though strong wind shear and sufficient instability may support severe thunderstorms. Exact impacts remain uncertain. Late Saturday into Sunday, quieter, drier, and cooler weather are forecast. MBS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 58 75 59 82 / 60 30 20 10 Hobart OK 59 76 57 82 / 50 20 20 10 Wichita Falls TX 61 80 60 84 / 40 30 20 10 Gage OK 55 74 55 84 / 40 20 20 10 Ponca City OK 56 75 58 82 / 70 30 20 10 Durant OK 62 78 60 82 / 50 50 20 10 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && 12/17
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 1159 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-171700- 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- 1159 AM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...Through Tonight... .Thunderstorms... There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms late this afternoon into the evening from far western north Texas to central and northeastern Oklahoma. Location... The Slight Risk exists north of a line from near Knox City, Texas, to Lawton, Oklahoma, to Norman, and to Chandler. A Marginal Risk covers the rest of the Oklahoma and western north Texas. Timing... The most likely time for severe storms will be from 5 pm to midnight. Impacts... Hail up to the size of tennis balls and wind gusts to 70 mph. The tornado risk is very low. Discussion... Later this afternoon into the evening, isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop near a triple point in the eastern Texas panhandle. These thunderstorms may consolidate into a complex that may affect parts of western Oklahoma and adjacent north Texas. Another complex of thunderstorms may develop along a boundary in north central Oklahoma and shift southward into central Oklahoma. In addition, scattered thunderstorms may develop in southern and southeastern Oklahoma late afternoon in the warm sector. .Spotter and emergency management statement... Storm spotter groups and emergency management personnel across the risk areas should prepare for possible severe weather operations through the late afternoon and evening, especially those within the Slight Risk area. .Heavy Rainfall... Slow-moving thunderstorms may result in locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms will linger across portions of the region through Monday. Thunderstorm chances will return on Wednesday night into Friday. Severe thunderstorms will be possible Wednesday night, primarily across north central Oklahoma. Severe thunderstorms will be possible again on Friday. .Heavy Rainfall... Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms through the week may result in significant rainfall totals for portions of the region. At this time, the heaviest bouts of rainfall will occur at the end of the week and across the northern half of Oklahoma. This, combined with recent rainfall, and the chance of strong thunderstorms, may result in increasing flooding concerns late in the week. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook. Kurtz/Mahale
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1237 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W GOULD 34.67N 99.83W
04/15/2017 M81 MPH HARMON OK MESONET
&&
MAHALESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
202 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
OKZ039-045-161930-
Stephens OK-Jefferson OK-
202 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR south central Stephens and
northwestern Jefferson Counties Until 230 PM CDT...
AT 200 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles southeast of
Waurika, moving northeast at 20 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to one-half inch diameter...
Wind gusts to 40 MPH...
Locations impacted include...
Waurika and Addington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3408 9784 3410 9804 3438 9795 3438 9778
3427 9768
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 208DEG 17KT 3414 9794
MAHALESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
226 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
OKZ039-045-162000-
Stephens OK-Jefferson OK-
226 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR southeastern Stephens and
northwestern Jefferson Counties Until 300 PM CDT...
AT 225 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 5 miles east of
Addington, moving northeast at 20 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to the size of nickels...
Wind gusts to 40 MPH...
Minor flooding in areas of poor drainage...
Locations impacted include...
Waurika, Loco and Addington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3417 9776 3418 9802 3449 9790 3447 9771
3436 9761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 208DEG 17KT 3425 9788
MAHALESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
431 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
OKZ039-045-162200-
Stephens OK-Jefferson OK-
431 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR southwestern Stephens and north
central Jefferson Counties Until 500 PM CDT...
AT 429 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles north of
Addington, moving northeast at 25 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to the size of nickels...
Wind gusts to 50 MPH...
Minor flooding in areas of poor drainage...
Locations impacted include...
Duncan, Comanche, Addington and eastern Waurika Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3421 9793 3426 9805 3431 9808 3448 9797
3445 9777 3437 9769
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 223DEG 21KT 3430 9795
MAHALEThe Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:37 UTC.
5 hail, 3 tornado, 2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Three feet of standing water on highway 70.
Highway 70 was closed due to flooding between the towns of Waurika and Ringling.
A storm chaser from KOCO (TV) observed a tornado estimated to have occurred about 5 miles southwest of Bouse Junction. The tornado slowly drifted south or southwest through 647 pm CDT. No known damage occurred.
A KOCO (TV) storm chaser observed a tornado just east of US-281 near county road EW-48. No known damage occurred.
A KOCO (TV) storm chaser observed a third tornado to the NNW of Chester. No damage was observed and the specific tornado path is estimated.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed an RV on the north side of Seiling. The time of the wind is estimated.
Lightning strike caused home and tree damage at a residence on US highway 75. Time is estimated based on report and radar data.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2017Warnings in Oklahoma, April 2017
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: 691978, 691979, 691980, 691729, 691730, 691733, 695157, 691981, 691982, 691983, 691984, 691985.