Severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico during the afternoon of the 30th. These storms moved east across much of Oklahoma during the evening and then into eastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 31st.
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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.
Severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico during the afternoon of the 30th. These storms moved east across much of Oklahoma during the evening and then into eastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 31st. The thunderstorms had evolved into a line by the time they reached eastern Oklahoma, and produced locally damaging wind gusts across 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 May 30, 7:35 PM CST, 3 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 835 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 ...UPDATE... .DISCUSSION... Main concern for the rest of the night is the likelihood of a severe MCS moving through at least a portion of northeast Oklahoma early Thursday morning. Severe thunderstorms have already developed early this evening across portions of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, and this activity will continue to move eastward this evening and early tomorrow morning. Some increase in coverage is likely as the low level jet increases later tonight. Low level moisture has pooled across portions of northeast Oklahoma along and north of a subtle boundary laying just north of Highway 412 right now, per Mesonet observations. Dew points to the north of the boundary are in the upper 70s in a few spots, with a marked drop off into the lower 70s near and south of Interstate 40. Low level wind fields in the HRRR show that this boundary will continue to move northward this evening, likely lying across parts of southern Kansas by the time the MCS reaches areas this far east. This should mean that the instability maximum would be located along and north of the Kansas border after midnight as well, leading to an eventual east-northeasterly propagation of the strongest portion of the MCS. As a result, confidence in severe weather occurrence is highest in portions of northeast Oklahoma along and to the north of Interstate 44. Major changes to the going forecast include an increased temporal resolution in the POP grids, delaying thunderstorm onset until 11 pm, and decreasing low temperatures across portions of northeast Oklahoma most likely to see heavier rainfall overnight. Updates already out. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 330 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018/ DISCUSSION... Another complex of thunderstorms is forecast to move across at least the northern portions of the forecast area late tonight followed by several days of heat and humidity before a cold front arrives Saturday. Storms have already formed across the higher terrain in southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico this afternoon, and this marks the beginning of tonight's convective complex. Storms will form into a forward propagating MCS that will track across southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, primarily after midnight. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts and heavy rain. There will be a limited threat for tornadoes given that the low level inflow will be greater than last night's complex. In any event, the potential is there for damaging wind gusts tonight. If storms can train, particularly along the KS/OK border, there would be an increased chance of localized flash flooding. There will be low chances for storms continuing early on Thursday especially if storms can form along any residual outflow boundaries, so will maintain low chances northeast. The heat and humidity will take center stage by Friday, when heat advisories will likely be needed. The cold front arrives Saturday, and the timing will be important for high temperatures and related heat index values. If drier air can work into the northern sections of the forecast area earlier on Saturday, it will keep heat index values across northeast Oklahoma just below criteria. Areas south of I-40 will likely see some areas reach the 100 degree mark. Upper ridge builds in for the beginning of next week, after a "cooler" Sunday with highs only in the mid to upper 80s. There are minimal chances for showers and storms next week, but will leave the going forecast dry for now. && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...22
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 451 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-311030- 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- 451 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 ...SEVERE STORMS LIKELY LATE TONIGHT IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Limited. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma. ONSET...After Midnight. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Significant. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...After Midnight. AREA AT GREATEST RISK...Northeast Oklahoma to the West of Highway 75. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...After Midnight. DANGEROUS HEAT. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to move into portions of northeast Oklahoma after midnight and move toward northwest Arkansas early Thursday morning. Damaging wind gusts to 70 mph will be the main severe weather threat. A limited tornado threat will also exist along the leading edge of the stronger portions of the line, especially as it moves across parts of northeast Oklahoma along and west of Highway 75. In addition, heat index values in the 100 to 105 degree range will persist through the rest of this afternoon and into early evening across much of eastern Oklahoma and west central Arkansas. Take appropriate heat safety precautions. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...Dangerous Heat Potential. SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...No Hazards. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Thunderstorms may be ongoing across portions of far northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Thursday morning. Additional thunderstorms may develop during the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, mainly in parts of northwest Arkansas. Hot and humid conditions will persist into the weekend, with heat index values climbing above 105 degrees in some areas Friday and Saturday. A weak cold front will bring some relief from the heat by Sunday. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT... With dangerous heat and humidity likely both Friday and Saturday, consider taking any advance actions necessary to mitigate heat related illnesses. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
The Tulsa radar (KINX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:31 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew shingles off the roof of a house and damaged the siding.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped numerous large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a large tree.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a large tree.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power lines and large tree limbs.
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, May 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: 757238, 757239, 757240, 757241, 757242, 757243, 757245, 757246.