Dirty southwest flow aloft and daytime heating resulted in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the northern half of Northeast Texas into portions of Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas during the afternoon and evening hours of May 3rd. Some of these storms produced strong wind gusts which resulted in some spotty wind damage in Wood County, Texas.
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 SHV wrote it up.
Dirty southwest flow aloft and daytime heating resulted in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the northern half of Northeast Texas into portions of Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas during the afternoon and evening hours of May 3rd. Some of these storms produced strong wind gusts which resulted in some spotty wind damage in Wood County, Texas. This damage consisted of downed or snapped trees and an empty horse trailer that was rolled into a tree near the community of Alba. These storms quickly dissipated with sunset.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 3, 3:00 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 400 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018 .SHORT TERM.../Tonight through Friday night/ A large disparity in weather conditions across the region this afternoon as showers and thunderstorms are ongoing across the NW sections of our CWA, generally along and north of a line from TYR to TXK to LIT. This activity is still producing some small linear structures with the broken line of convection, but so far nothing has really stood out as far as any severe storms are concerned. That threat appears to have mostly diminished with the convection earlier in the day having already tapped into the more unstable air mass which was in place prior to this afternoon. Therefore, have not included severe wording in tonight's forecast for these NW locations. Farther south and east, expect cloudy skies but not much in the way of convection with mainly spotty showers and a stray thunderstorm possible. Overnight lows will once again only manage to drop into the upper 60s to lower 70s with the abundance of cloud cover and warm air advection continuing through Friday. During the day on Friday, the upper trough responsible for these showers and storms will lift farther NE into the mid-section of the country and nudge a cold front south into our region Friday through Friday night. This front will further enhance convection through the remainder of the short term forecast period, but the severe threat looks to be very minimal at this point with meager instability in place ahead of the front. Convection will gradually spread from NW to SE through the day and into the overnight hours with the cold front eventually clearing the region near daybreak Saturday morning. However, post-frontal convection will still persist through the end of the short term forecast period. .LONG TERM.../Saturday through Thursday/ Upper-level trough across the region to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to southern Arkansas and northeast Louisiana on Saturday. Conditions to improve on Sunday as upper-level ridge and northwest flow become better established across the region. Temperatures through early next week to range from highs in the mid 80s to lows in the lower 60s. Surface and upper ridge to shift east across the Appalachians on Tuesday allowing for a return flow of gulf moisture across the ArkLaTex. A weak upper-level trough will bring a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms to portions of southeast Oklahoma and southern Arkansas on Wednesday. Otherwise, temperatures to range from highs in the mid 80s to lows in the low to mid 60s during the middle of next week. /05/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1227 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018/ AVIATION... Line of convection across central Texas and southeast Oklahoma to continue to shift east through 04/00Z allowing for -TSRA conditions and gusty winds around 15 to 25 knots across these areas. -SHRA conditions with embedded thunderstorms to prevail across mainly GGG/TXK/SHV/ELD terminal sites overnight. Ceilings to become MVFR/IFR after 04/09Z. Otherwise, conditions to gradually improve on Friday with winds becoming west at around 5 to 10 knots. /05/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 69 77 62 80 / 20 70 60 20 MLU 67 80 64 79 / 10 40 70 40 DEQ 68 73 56 82 / 60 50 20 10 TXK 69 72 58 78 / 50 50 30 10 ELD 69 77 60 79 / 20 40 60 20 TYR 70 74 59 80 / 30 80 40 10 GGG 69 74 60 80 / 30 80 60 10 LFK 70 80 62 80 / 10 80 60 30 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && 19/05
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 1207 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018 ARZ073-LAZ003>006-010>014-017>022-TXZ152-153-165>167-041715- Union-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto-Red River-Bienville- Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle- Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 1207 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana and east Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible, mainly late tonight. However, no hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... A slow moving upper level trough out to our west will result in a gradually increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday. A weak cold front will providing a better focus for additional coverage of more widespread thunderstorm activity by Friday night. The cold front will gradually shift on through the area during Saturday with the threat of showers and thunderstorms decreasing for the latter half of the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators and storm spotters will not be needed through tonight. ARZ061-071-072-LAZ001-002-TXZ126-137-138-149>151-041715- Nevada-Lafayette-Columbia-Caddo-Bossier-Marion-Gregg-Harrison- Cherokee-Rusk-Panola- 1207 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Isolated to possibly scattered showers and thunderstorms possible, mainly late this afternoon and tonight. Although strong gusty winds and isolated small hail may occur in stronger storms, no widespread severe weather is expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... A slow moving upper level trough out to our west will result in a gradually increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday through Friday night. A weak cold front will gradually shift on through the area during Saturday with the threat of showers and thunderstorms decreasing for the latter half of the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators and storm spotters, is not anticipated through tonight. ARZ050-051-059-060-070-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124-125-136- 041715- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Miller-McCurtain-Red River- Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Smith- 1207 PM CDT Thu May 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon through tonight. Large hail and strong to damaging winds may occur in stronger storms. Isolated tornadoes are possible, but remain more of a remote threat at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... A slow moving upper level trough out to our west will result a continued chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday through Friday night, but with a decreased threat for strong to severe storms. A weak cold front will gradually shift on through the area during Saturday with the threat of showers and thunderstorms decreasing for the latter half of the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators and storm spotters may possibly be needed late this afternoon through much of tonight. 19
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1217 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
OKZ077-TXZ096-031800-
McCurtain OK-Red River TX-
1217 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MCCURTAIN AND
NORTHWESTERN RED RIVER COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1217 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southwest of Raymond Gary State Park, or 12 miles southeast of
Hugo, moving northeast at 55 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Idabel, Broken Bow, Manchester, Wright City, Valliant, Millerton,
Haworth, Garvin, Rufe, Moon, Hochatown, Goodwater, Shinewell,
Woodland, Redland, Kanawha, Glover, America, Kiomatia and Oak Hill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3382 9448 3371 9531 3388 9531 3388 9528
3391 9528 3389 9527 3389 9525 3393 9525
3396 9523 3395 9519 3395 9518 3394 9516
3415 9515 3436 9474
TIME...MOT...LOC 1717Z 246DEG 48KT 3390 9534
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1259 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
ARZ050-059-OKZ077-TXZ096-031845-
Sevier AR-Little River AR-McCurtain OK-Red River TX-
1259 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LITTLE RIVER...
WESTERN SEVIER...SOUTHERN MCCURTAIN AND NORTHEASTERN RED RIVER
COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...
At 1259 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Idabel, or 24 miles northeast of Clarksville, moving northeast at 55
mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
De Queen, Horatio, Idabel, Broken Bow, Winthrop, Gillham, Arkinda,
Millerton, Haworth, Garvin, Eagletown, Moon, Cerrogordo, Goodwater,
Central, Shinewell, America, West Line, Oak Hill and Golden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3419 9447 3419 9433 3380 9413 3369 9473
3370 9474 3369 9475 3366 9490 3397 9503
3431 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1759Z 246DEG 49KT 3390 9479
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
113 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
TXZ108>110-124-125-136-031900-
Upshur TX-Smith TX-Camp TX-Wood TX-Franklin TX-Titus TX-
113 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SMITH...FRANKLIN...
WOOD...NORTHWESTERN UPSHUR...TITUS AND CAMP COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM
CDT...
At 112 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles west of Hagansport to 9 miles northwest
of Mount Vernon to near Como to near Pleasant Grove to Golden to 6
miles north of Van. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Pleasant, Mineola, Pittsburg, Winnsboro, Leesburg, Hagansport,
Mount Vernon, Quitman, Cookville, Scroggins, Pleasant Grove,
Hainesville, Golden, Wilkerson, Newsome, Purley, Cason, Winfield,
Talco and Midway.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3296 9550 3296 9531 3337 9531 3338 9530
3337 9524 3340 9510 3338 9505 3340 9495
3339 9491 3340 9488 3338 9486 3338 9482
3300 9482 3283 9491 3257 9559 3269 9559
3270 9561
TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 241DEG 48KT 3335 9535 3324 9537 3310 9541 3292
9548 3274 9555 3261 9562
19Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
129 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
ARZ050-051-059-031915-
Howard AR-Sevier AR-Little River AR-
129 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN LITTLE RIVER...SEVIER
AND HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT...
At 129 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Gillham to near Horatio to Arkinda.
Movement was east northeast at 40 mph.
Strong winds of 40 to 45 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
De Queen, Nashville, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Horatio, Foreman,
Umpire, Lockesburg, Wilton, Winthrop, Gillham, Ben Lomond, Corinth,
Center Point, Athens, Oak Grove, Silver Ridge, Geneva, Central and
Muddy Fork.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3427 9394 3426 9392 3419 9392 3418 9382
3397 9382 3375 9396 3372 9448 3392 9437
3419 9446 3419 9425 3427 9424 3435 9397
3435 9394
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 253DEG 37KT 3416 9437 3394 9430 3376 9446
15The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:00 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Damaging winds rolled an empty horse trailer into a tree near Alba. Trees and numerous large limbs were also downed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, 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: 744380.