A large complex of showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours of May 22nd across Southwest Oklahoma and Northwest/West-Central Texas, along a dry line/weak surface trough intersection, as an upper level disturbance ejected northeast across the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles into portions of Kansas. This mesoscale convective complex (or MCS) shifted east across Southern Oklahoma…
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.
A large complex of showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours of May 22nd across Southwest Oklahoma and Northwest/West-Central Texas, along a dry line/weak surface trough intersection, as an upper level disturbance ejected northeast across the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles into portions of Kansas. This mesoscale convective complex (or MCS) shifted east across Southern Oklahoma and North Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours, eventually moving into extreme Southeast Oklahoma and Northeast Texas just before midnight. These storms produced strong winds which downed a tree just north of Broken Bow, weakening further as they moved into Southwest Arkansas and North Louisiana.
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 22, 11:31 PM CST, 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 1231 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020 .AVIATION... Convection currently across the extreme northern portion of our airspace early this morning. Whether or not this convection comes south into our I-20 Corridor terminal locations is anyone's guess but given the abundance of guidance that shows an acceleration overnight towards the pre and post down hours further south, went ahead and began mentioning VCTS from north to south through the morning hours leaving mention out of the LFK/MLU terminals until later this afternoon. Otherwise, look for IFR/MVFR ceilings to return north this morning as was the case on Friday with ceilings eventually becoming VFR or scattering out this afternoon outside of convection. Winds will be mostly southerly to southeasterly near 10kts with much higher gradient gusts across our western terminals and of course in association with convection. Eventually, we will a return to VFR conditions areawide by this afternoon into the evening hours. 13 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 910 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020/ UPDATE... The latest run of the HRRR is capturing the ongoing severe convection in S OK/N TX quite well and has it moving into the I-30 corridor just before midnight tonight. Currently, only McCurtain County is in a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in our area; will have to closely monitor this situation as the evening progresses. This activity will spread slowly eastward into SW AR into the early morning hours, thus will not make any major changes to the forecast at the moment. 35 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 71 87 70 83 / 10 50 40 60 MLU 72 89 70 87 / 10 40 20 50 DEQ 68 85 67 82 / 10 50 60 70 TXK 70 85 69 82 / 10 50 50 70 ELD 70 88 69 85 / 10 30 30 60 TYR 72 84 69 80 / 10 60 50 70 GGG 71 86 68 82 / 10 60 50 60 LFK 72 87 69 83 / 10 60 40 60 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && 13/35
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 220 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-231930- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto- Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn- Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp- Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk- Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 220 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Showers and thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado will be possible this afternoon and into the overnight. The greatest threat for storms will generally be along and to the northwest of I-30. Flash flooding will also be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday... Isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible across the entire region this weekend and through much of next week as several disturbances move across the region. No widespread hazardous weather is expected at this time, although locally heavy rainfall will be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters may be needed for this afternoon. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 642 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020 TXZ152-153-166-230045- Nacogdoches TX-San Augustine TX-Shelby TX- 642 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN NACOGDOCHES... SOUTHWESTERN SHELBY AND NORTHWESTERN SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT... At 642 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Nacogdoches, moving east at 15 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Martinsville, Appleby and Arcadia. 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. This storm 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 3160 9459 3174 9461 3179 9432 3161 9429 TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 262DEG 13KT 3167 9456 19
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
729 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020
TXZ124-136-230115-
Smith TX-Wood TX-
729 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SMITH AND
SOUTHWESTERN WOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM CDT...
At 729 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Van, or 15 miles southwest of Mineola, moving north at 30 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mineola, Hainesville, Hoard, Golden, Alba and Carroll.
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.
This storm 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 3274 9533 3240 9550 3245 9555 3248 9559
3269 9559 3272 9564 3282 9565
TIME...MOT...LOC 0029Z 197DEG 25KT 3246 9560
19Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1148 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020
OKZ077-TXZ096-230545-
McCurtain OK-Red River TX-
1148 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL MCCURTAIN AND NORTH
CENTRAL RED RIVER COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 AM CDT...
At 1148 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Raymond Gary State Park, or 15 miles east of Hugo, moving east at 30
mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Idabel, Broken Bow, Wright City, Valliant, Millerton, Garvin, Farmers
Hill, Rufe, Redland, Holly Creek, Glover, Slim, 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.
This storm 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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
southeastern Oklahoma.
LAT...LON 3421 9475 3393 9469 3387 9521 3396 9523
3396 9521 3394 9516 3416 9515
TIME...MOT...LOC 0448Z 260DEG 26KT 3401 9524
19Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1221 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020
OKZ077-230615-
McCurtain OK-
1221 AM CDT Sat May 23 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MCCURTAIN COUNTY UNTIL
115 AM CDT...
At 1221 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17
miles northwest of Broken Bow, or 35 miles northeast of Hugo, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Herman, Sherwood and Bethel.
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.
This storm 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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
southeastern Oklahoma.
LAT...LON 3426 9453 3415 9502 3429 9505 3431 9504
3445 9460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0521Z 244DEG 20KT 3421 9494
19The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 141 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:39 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was blown down across Highway 259 just north of Sweet Home Road north of Broken Bow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2020
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: 887268.