A strong storm system translated into the Southern Plains from the Southern Rockies on the 26th, resulting in a very strong surface pressure gradient developing across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas by the evening. The gradient wind was enhanced by the evaporative cooling processes associated with an area of high-based showers that developed across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A strong storm system translated into the Southern Plains from the Southern Rockies on the 26th, resulting in a very strong surface pressure gradient developing across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas by the evening. The gradient wind was enhanced by the evaporative cooling processes associated with an area of high-based showers that developed across the region. Very little of this rain reached the ground, as there was a deep layer of dry air between the cloud base and the ground. Westerly wind gusted to 45 mph across much of the area but was higher in some locations. The ASOS unit at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) measured peak wind gusts of 58 mph.
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 Nov 26, 7:56 PM CST, 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
756 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019
.DISCUSSION...
What an evening so far across northeast Oklahoma. Wind gusts
enhanced by a band of showers, some evaporating before they hit
the ground, and along a strong cold front reached 60 to 70 mph
earlier this evening. Coffeyville KS had a gust to 75 mph. The
HRRR seems to have picked up on the signal starting with the 23z
run and onward and suggests that the high wind gust potential will
depart to the northeast by 03Z. At this time, more than likely
the high wind warning will be replaced by a wind advisory and will
run until 06Z. A wind advisory was issued downstream into NW AR
from 03Z to 12Z.
The isolated storm that the HRRR was forecasting for much of the
day developed near Pryor but didn't mature until it moved into SW
MO where severe and tornado warnings were later issued in that
area.
To top everything off, very dry air is accompanying this front,
and in combination with the strong winds Red Flag conditions are
spreading farther into eastern Oklahoma than earlier anticipated.
It's rare for this dry of an airmass to push this far east after
dark. Further eastward expansion of the Red Flag warning is
possible this evening.
Lacy
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 521 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019/
AVIATION...
CONCERNING TAF SITES KTUL/KRVS/KBVO/KMLC/KXNA/KFYV/KFSM/KROG.
Strong low pressure system moving across Kansas this evening will
result in a period of strong west winds with gusts of 30-40 knots
through about 09z. Scattered thunderstorms may impact western AR
TAF sites at the beginning of the forecast period and may result
in brief MVFR conditions. Otherwise VFR will prevail through the
period with winds diminishing and becoming more northerly during
the day Wednesday.
PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 327 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019/
DISCUSSION...
Rapidly deepening low pressure system in the Plains is causing
lots of active weather across a large area this afternoon. To our
north and west, a winter storm will bring several inches of snow
along an axis from Nebraska through Minnesota. Surface cold front
is now pushing into far western Oklahoma where dewpoints have
fallen into the single digits/teens and dangerous fire weather
conditions are ongoing.
Very strong surface winds are occurring across western Oklahoma
this afternoon with gusts in the 50-60mph range in some locations.
These winds will spread into northeast Oklahoma and northwest
Arkansas late this afternoon and tonight, with a wind shift to the
west this evening and gusts possible in the 40-45 mph range.
A line of showers and thunderstorms will gradually move out of
western Arkansas late this afternoon. Wind profiles will improve
tonight, but instability has been lacking to support a more
organized severe threat in northwest Arkansas. The higher severe
threat will be across central AR/northern LA. There will be a low
potential for isolated strong storms tonight across northwest
Arkansas, if storms can redevelop as the cold front moves east
and interacts with the better moisture.
On Wednesday, the gradient will relax, with decreasing winds and
high temperatures back in the upper 40s to lower 50s. This day will
be the quieter weather day ahead of the next storm system, which
will begin affecting eastern Oklahoma by Wednesday night.
Widespread cold rain will develop for Thanksgiving Day, with
highs only in the low to mid 40s. A warm front will move back
north into the area on Friday, with surface moisture rapidly
returning. A squall line may develop late Friday into early
Saturday morning, with the potential for severe storms across
eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The rest of the holiday
weekend will dry out on Saturday with highs back in the 60s, with
another cold front arriving by Sunday.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL 35 50 37 41 / 10 0 60 100
FSM 39 53 40 45 / 30 0 20 100
MLC 36 51 38 44 / 10 0 60 100
BVO 33 50 34 42 / 10 0 50 100
FYV 35 48 36 43 / 40 0 20 100
BYV 35 49 35 41 / 40 0 20 90
MKO 34 50 37 40 / 10 0 50 100
MIO 34 48 34 44 / 20 0 20 100
F10 36 50 37 41 / 10 0 60 100
HHW 38 53 41 48 / 20 10 50 90
&&
.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Wednesday for OKZ069.
Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for OKZ065-066-068-070-
071-073.
High Wind Warning until midnight CST tonight for OKZ054>064-067.
Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for OKZ054>056-
059>061-064>066.
AR...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Wednesday for ARZ001-002-010-011.
&&
LONG TERM....30Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 426 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-271130- 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- 426 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019 ...WINDY CONDITIONS...HIGH FIRE DANGER...LOW SEVERE THREAT THIS EVENING... 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...East of highway 69. ONSET...After 6 PM...ending by 9 PM. SIGNIFICANT WINDS. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma. ONSET...This evening. FIRE WEATHER DANGER. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Along and west of highway 75. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... There is a limited severe thunderstorm threat this evening, mainly to the east of highway 69. Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats. Isolated severe storms may develop along a Pacific cold front as it advances east across the region this evening into a weakly unstable but strongly sheared environment. Wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph are possible this evening across northeast Oklahoma behind a Pacific cold front. The strong winds and low humidity will elevated the fire weather danger for areas along and west of highway 75 into the early evening before humidity levels begin to rise. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Local Spotter Activation May Be Needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. WEDNESDAY...No Hazards. THURSDAY...No Hazards. FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. SATURDAY...High Wind Potential. SUNDAY...High Wind Potential. MONDAY...No Hazards. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Rain chances will increase Wednesday night and continue through Thanksgiving day. Periods of heavy rain will be possible. The upper system and cold front will draw closer on Friday. Chances for thunderstorms will exist along with the potential for severe weather along and ahead of the cold front Friday afternoon or evening. Drier air and gusty winds behind the front on Saturday may once again raise fire weather concerns for at least parts of the area. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
605 PM CST TUE NOV 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE PAWNEE 36.35N 96.75W
11/26/2019 M58 MPH PAWNEE OK MESONET
&&
LACYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
619 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019
ARZ001-010-OKZ068-069-270045-
Benton AR-Washington AR-Adair OK-Cherokee OK-
619 PM CST Tue Nov 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BENTON...CENTRAL
WASHINGTON...ADAIR AND SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM
CST...
At 618 PM CST, a cluster of strong thunderstorms was located from
far southwest Cherokee county to central Adair county, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations in or near the path include...
Fayetteville... Springdale...
Siloam Springs... Stilwell...
Farmington... Prairie Grove...
Elkins... Tontitown...
West Fork... Lincoln...
Westville... Greenland...
Highfill... Watts...
Springtown... Adair State Park...
Christie... Northwest Arkansas Regional Air...
Cincinnati... Maryetta...
This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 51 and 73.
LAT...LON 3600 9397 3576 9448 3576 9449 3575 9449
3564 9473 3564 9482 3578 9497 3635 9435
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 234DEG 46KT 3591 9466
LacyPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
731 PM CST TUE NOV 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0721 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NE ONETA 36.04N 95.68W
11/26/2019 WAGONER OK PUBLIC
WIND DAMAGE REPORTED VIA MPING
&&
LACYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
732 PM CST TUE NOV 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0637 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BARTLESVILLE 36.75N 95.98W
11/26/2019 M66 MPH WASHINGTON OK ASOS
&&
LACYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
735 PM CST TUE NOV 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ENE COPAN 36.91N 95.89W
11/26/2019 M63 MPH WASHINGTON OK MESONET
&&
LACYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
759 PM CST TUE NOV 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0702 PM NON-TSTM WND GST TULSA 36.13N 95.92W
11/26/2019 M66 MPH TULSA OK ASOS
&&
LACYThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS unit at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport measured 58 mph wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, November 2019
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: 858451.