Multiple lines of storms produced strong winds with isolated severe wind gusts across western 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 OUN wrote it up.
Multiple lines of storms produced strong winds with isolated severe wind gusts across western Oklahoma.
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 Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 6:02 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 702 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Monday) Issued at 250 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 It's become quite unstable across OK and portions of north TX this afternoon ahead of a mid level shortwave/MCV over central TX. As a result, an area of moist convection is starting to blossom near the Red River. Expect this trend to continue into the early evening hours with widely scattered storms extending from perhaps as far west as Wichita Falls, east to Atoka. Some hail up to the size of golf balls and severe wind gusts could accompany the stronger storms here but do not expect much organization with weak deep layer shear/effective bulk shear present. The main concern for the short term forecast period will occur later this afternoon into tonight across western OK/N TX as a similar scenario to last night unfolds. Expect even more convection to develop along a dryline and stalling cold front by late this afternoon over the panhandles, and then propagate eastward into our western zones. Very large hail will be the initial threat over the extreme west, with bowing segments and wind damage then possibly moving further east overnight. It appears most solutions, again, want to dissipate this line a bit too early especially with more mid to upper lift moving out of west TX tonight combined with LLJ moisture transport so will keep some categorical PoPs in the forecast through 12Z Mon from southern OKC metro into the Red River. After the overnight convection wanes tomorrow morning, some redevelopment may occur over the northern and eastern halves of OK ahead of the convectively enhanced mid to upper vort max. A break in precipitation may occur during the day for most of the area before the final, main upper trough axis and cold front again result in redevelopment shifting southward throughout the evening. By this time instability for most of the FA will be on a downtrend so do not expect giant hail producers, but increasing deep layer shear and some localized pockets of heating across SE OK/near Red River could result in a few severe storms by Mon afternoon/eve. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through next Saturday) Issued at 250 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 By Monday night into Tuesday the upper trough will begin closing off, with an upper low likely centered somewhere along the Red River by Tuesday morning. Models have been trending towards a further south and east solution the past couple days, which may tend to focus the heaviest rainfall totals and flooding threat across southern and eastern portions of the area by Tuesday afternoon (or potentially even south of our area altogether). However, there is still a lot of uncertainty remaining regarding the details on how this system will evolve and exactly where the axis of highest precipitation totals will set up. For now, have maintained a chance for daily showers and thunderstorms for much of the area through the period as the low slowly meanders over the region. As we get towards the end of the week into next weekend the tendency should be for less widespread shower and thunderstorm activity as the low weakens and drifts away from the area. Severe weather potential appears fairly low through the period as instability and shear remain low. Clouds and rain should keep temperatures cool with highs mostly in the 70s and lows in the 60s. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 659 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 Scattered thunderstorms are expected into western Oklahoma and adjacent parts of northern Texas this evening moving into central Oklahoma overnight. Ceilings will pass through MVFR and to IFR Monday morning in many areas where rain and some thunderstorms will continue through the day. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 64 73 60 72 / 70 70 50 50 Hobart OK 62 73 57 72 / 80 50 50 40 Wichita Falls TX 64 75 61 72 / 80 60 70 50 Gage OK 59 69 53 74 / 80 40 30 30 Ponca City OK 65 74 60 74 / 40 80 60 50 Durant OK 65 76 63 75 / 40 50 80 80 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && SHORT TERM...03 LONG TERM....08 AVIATION...09
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 1117 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-251630- Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield- Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-Kingfisher-Logan-Payne- Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Oklahoma-Lincoln-Grady-McClain- Cleveland-Pottawatomie-Seminole-Hughes-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson- Tillman-Comanche-Stephens-Garvin-Murray-Pontotoc-Coal-Cotton- Jefferson-Carter-Johnston-Atoka-Love-Marshall-Bryan-Hardeman- Foard-Wilbarger-Wichita-Knox-Baylor-Archer-Clay- 1117 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... .Thunderstorms... There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms, mainly this evening and tonight across western and portions of central and northern Oklahoma as well as western north Texas. A few thunderstorms will be possible across southern and eastern Oklahoma through the afternoon. These storms will have a risk for isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts. By late this afternoon, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop along the dryline across the eastern Texas panhandle. Instability and wind fields will be favorable for a few of these storms to become severe. This activity is expected to develop quickly into a line or line segments as they move into western Oklahoma and western north Texas this evening with a threat of large hail and damaging wind gusts. Some risk of severe weather will continue through the evening and into the overnight period as storms move east across the area. .SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT... Storm spotter groups and emergency management personnel across the risk areas should prepare for severe weather operations late this afternoon and tonight. .Heavy rain... Heavy rainfall will be possible tonight as rain and thunderstorms become widespread across the area. Some isolated flooding will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms are expected to continue off and on through Saturday. The chance of severe weather during this time will be low. .Heavy rain... Heavy rainfall is possible Monday and Tuesday. Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK 758 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 OKZ009-014-021-250130- Roger Mills OK-Beckham OK-Ellis OK- 758 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR western Roger Mills... northwestern Beckham and southwestern Ellis Counties Until 830 PM CDT... AT 754 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from 5 miles northeast of Lipscomb to 5 miles southeast of Wheeler, moving east at 35 MPH. HAZARDS INCLUDE... Hail up to the size of nickels... Wind gusts to 50 MPH... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. && LAT...LON 3639 10000 3642 9972 3542 9968 3541 10000 TIME...MOT...LOC 0054Z 271DEG 28KT 3630 10020 3539 10020 Ware
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK 815 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 OKZ004-009-010-250145- Woodward OK-Harper OK-Ellis OK- 815 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR west central Woodward... southwestern Harper and northwestern Ellis Counties Until 845 PM CDT... AT 811 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from 10 miles southwest of May to 4 miles southeast of Higgins, moving east at 30 MPH. HAZARDS INCLUDE... Hail up to the size of nickels... Wind gusts to 50 MPH... LAT...LON 3664 10000 3668 9950 3615 9973 3601 10000 TIME...MOT...LOC 0111Z 264DEG 27KT 3652 9990 3606 9998 Ware
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK 827 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 OKZ009-014-021-250200- Roger Mills OK-Beckham OK-Ellis OK- 827 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR Roger Mills...northwestern Beckham and southwestern Ellis Counties Until 900 PM CDT... AT 826 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from 5 miles northeast of Higgins to 8 miles west of Sweetwater, moving east at 25 MPH. HAZARDS INCLUDE... Hail up to the size of nickels... Wind gusts to 50 MPH... LAT...LON 3608 10000 3624 9960 3553 9957 3503 10000 TIME...MOT...LOC 0126Z 253DEG 24KT 3619 9997 3543 10006 Ware
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK 833 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 OKZ004-009-010-250200- Woodward OK-Harper OK-Ellis OK- 833 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR west central Woodward...southern Harper and Ellis Counties Until 900 PM CDT... AT 829 PM CDT, a funnel cloud was reported near Shattuck, along a line of thunderstorms extending from 3 miles northwest of May to 4 miles northeast of Higgins, moving east at 30 MPH. However, organized storm rotation was not detected. HAZARDS INCLUDE... Hail up to the size of nickels... Wind gusts to 50 MPH... LAT...LON 3664 10000 3677 9944 3619 9960 3602 10000 TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 261DEG 24KT 3665 9980 3616 9998 Ware
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
858 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
OKZ033-036-TXZ083-084-087-250230-
Harmon OK-Jackson OK-Foard TX-Knox TX-Hardeman TX-
858 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR southern Harmon...southwestern
Jackson...Foard...Knox and Hardeman Counties Until 930 PM CDT...
AT 853 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from
3 miles northwest of Tell to 6 miles southwest of Swearingen to 8
miles east of Guthrie, moving east at 25 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to the size of nickels...
Wind gusts to 50 MPH...
LAT...LON 3423 10005 3424 10001 3423 10000 3480 9999
3440 9947 3340 9947 3340 9999 3383 10000
3384 10005
TIME...MOT...LOC 0153Z 255DEG 23KT 3441 10044 3410 10023 3360 10019
WareSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
900 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
OKZ004-005-009-010-015-250230-
Woodward OK-Dewey OK-Harper OK-Woods OK-Ellis OK-
900 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR Woodward...northwestern Dewey...
Harper...northwestern Woods and central Ellis Counties Until 930 PM
CDT...
AT 856 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from
11 miles south of Sitka to 4 miles southeast of Arnett, moving east
at 40 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to the size of nickels...
Wind gusts to 50 MPH...
LAT...LON 3700 9909 3599 9912 3600 9938 3601 9938
3603 9974 3700 9974
TIME...MOT...LOC 0156Z 267DEG 33KT 3701 9969 3611 9969
WareThe Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:58 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An irrigation system was flipped over by an apparent gustnado.
Several power lines were downed.
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: 897476, 897478, 897144.