Strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 16th along a frontal boundary that extended across northeastern Oklahoma. These storms moved east across the area into the evening hours, producing large hail up to quarter size, damaging wind, and flash flooding.
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.
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 16th along a frontal boundary that extended across northeastern Oklahoma. These storms moved east across the area into the evening hours, producing large hail up to quarter size, damaging wind, and flash flooding. Another area of storms developed during the early morning hours of the 17th across southeastern Kansas. These storms moved southeast across northeastern Oklahoma during the morning hours of the 17th, producing more flash flooding across portions of the area.
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 Aug 16, 11:16 AM CST, 3 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1216 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 .AVIATION... CONCERNING TAF SITES KTUL/KRVS/KBVO/KMLC/KXNA/KFYV/KFSM/KROG. Thunder chances with MVFR vsbys and MVFR/VFR cigs will increase across northeast Oklahoma later this afternoon. Later this evening Storm activity will increase, with best chances across the far NW AR sites as a cold front approaches. Some of this activity make move south and impact KFSM after 06z. Otherwise, VFR elements to prevail outside of thunderstorm periods. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 1019 AM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018/ DISCUSSION... MCV to the west and cold front to the north will set the stage for scattered thunderstorms, especially along and north of Interstate 40 this afternoon. Chance pops for the afternoon look good at this time per latest hi res solutions, so will leave as they are for now. Temperatures are also tracking towards advertised high temperatures and are supported by area 12z soundings. Current heat advisory will be left as is also, but will revisit early afternoon and add zones if needed. No update planned at this time. && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for OKZ049-053. AR...None. && AVIATION.....23
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
129 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-171030-
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-
129 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018
This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.
.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...Mainly northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
ONSET...After 3 pm.
FLASH FLOOD.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
ONSET...Late afternoon.
HEAVY RAINFALL.
RISK...Limited.
AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
ONSET...Late afternoon.
DANGEROUS HEAT.
RISK...Elevated.
AREA...Most of Eastern Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas.
ONSET...Ongoing
DISCUSSION...
Scattered thunderstorms have developed to the west of the area this
afternoon.
This activity, along with additional development will likely move
into parts of eastern Oklahoma, and possibly northwest Arkansas
this evening. Forecast instability and wind shear are sufficient
to support some severe storms, with damaging winds gusts and
locally heavy rainfall being the main threats. Uncertainty remains
as to how far east the severe weather risk will translate during
the evening and overnight hours, so stay aware of the latest
updates.
Afternoon temperatures into the lower to mid 90s along with high
humidity will result in heat index values between 100-110 degrees
across much of eastern Oklahoma and west central Arkansas. A heat
advisory is in effect until 7 pm for most of eastern Oklahoma, and
west central Arkansas.
SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Local Spotter Activation May Be Needed.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.
FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Dangerous Heat Potential.
SATURDAY...Thunderstorm Potential.
SUNDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential.
MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential.
TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY...No Hazards.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will be possible
Friday, and again later in the weekend and into the early part of
the next work week as a series of storm systems affect eastern
Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The best chance of thunderstorms
will be on Sunday into Sunday night as a strong cold front and
associated upper level storm system move through the region.
Drier and cooler weather is expected by Tuesday and Wednesday as
high pressure builds into the region.
weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
200 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
OKZ054-059-064-161930-
Osage OK-Pawnee OK-Creek OK-
200 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OSAGE...NORTH
CENTRAL CREEK AND SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...
At 200 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 3 miles east of
Terlton, moving east at 15 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations in or near the path include...
Mannford... Westport...
Terlton... Walnut Creek State Park...
LAT...LON 3634 9627 3616 9622 3616 9630 3613 9630
3611 9649 3623 9652
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 255DEG 13KT 3619 9642Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
216 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
OKZ060-067-161945-
Tulsa OK-Wagoner OK-
216 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WAGONER AND
SOUTHEASTERN TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...
At 216 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located 4 miles east of
Oneta and 4 miles north of Stonebluff.
Movement was east at 15 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations in or near the path include...
Broken Arrow... Coweta...
Stonebluff... Oneta...
Redbird... Leonard...
LAT...LON 3610 9557 3609 9555 3609 9556 3608 9558
3607 9557 3608 9544 3607 9539 3588 9559
3589 9586 3611 9564
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 270DEG 15KT 3603 9563 3594 9575Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
225 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
OKZ059-060-064-162000-
Tulsa OK-Pawnee OK-Creek OK-
225 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CREEK...SOUTHEASTERN
PAWNEE AND CENTRAL TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...
At 225 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located near Keystone State
Park and 4 miles northwest of Jenks Riverside Airport. Movement was
east at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations in or near the path include...
Tulsa... Sand Springs...
Bixby... Jenks...
Mannford... Westport...
Keystone State Park... Jenks Riverside Airport...
Gray...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 213 and 230.
LAT...LON 3625 9636 3623 9633 3623 9625 3621 9624
3620 9624 3617 9627 3616 9627 3616 9600
3618 9600 3614 9582 3600 9587 3604 9629
3625 9638
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 279DEG 29KT 3614 9626 3607 9606Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 228 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018 OKZ054-059-060-064-162000- Tulsa OK-Osage OK-Pawnee OK-Creek OK- 228 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN OSAGE...NORTH CENTRAL CREEK...SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE AND WEST CENTRAL TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT... At 228 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Westport, moving east at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Tulsa... Sand Springs... Mannford... Westport... Keystone State Park... Walnut Creek State Park... LAT...LON 3609 9639 3626 9643 3638 9608 3615 9603 TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 256DEG 15KT 3620 9632
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
254 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
OKZ054-059-060-064-162030-
Tulsa OK-Osage OK-Pawnee OK-Creek OK-
254 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN OSAGE...NORTHERN
CREEK...SOUTHERN PAWNEE AND WEST CENTRAL TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM
CDT...
At 254 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Glencoe to 5 miles northeast of Keystone State
Park. Movement was east at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations in or near the path include...
Tulsa... Sand Springs...
Mannford... Jennings...
Westport... Osage...
Hallett... Terlton...
Maramec... Keystone State Park...
Walnut Creek State Park... Gray...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 213 and 218.
LAT...LON 3628 9600 3601 9604 3612 9662 3616 9662
3616 9682 3624 9682 3625 9684 3625 9692
3632 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 271DEG 15KT 3621 9690 3619 9620The Tulsa radar (KINX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:39 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 9 flash flood, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a large tree onto a vehicle near W 41st Street and S Union Avenue.
Roads were flooded near E 15th Street and S Yale Avenue.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew the awning off of a building and snapped large tree limbs near Highway 412 and S Main Street.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured to 58 mph.
Strong thunderstorm wind flipped over a small aircraft at the Jenks Riverside Airport.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
Portions of S Union Avenue were flooded near W 71st Street S.
Roads were flooded near E 31st Street and S Peoria Avenue.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs in Glenpool.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph south of Copan.
Portions of S Yale Avenue were flooded between E 81st Street and E 91st Street.
S Elwood Avenue was flooded at Hager Creek, just north of W 81st Street S.
Portions of Charles Page Boulevard were flooded with one to two feet of water near S 81st W Avenue. Cars were stranded in high water.
Several roads were reported flooded. High water flooded a business and threatened a home.
Portions of Highway 16 were flooded and closed.
Several county roads were flooded and closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, August 2018
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: 777710, 777711, 777712, 777713, 777714, 777715, 777716, 777717, 777718, 777721, 777722, 777723, 777724, 777725, 777726, 777727, 777729, 777730, 777731, 777737.