Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 25th across southeastern Oklahoma, to the north of an upper level disturbance approaching the area from eastern Texas. The atmosphere had become moderately unstable ahead of the thunderstorms, and the low level wind shear had become strong.
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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.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of the 25th across southeastern Oklahoma, to the north of an upper level disturbance approaching the area from eastern Texas. The atmosphere had become moderately unstable ahead of the thunderstorms, and the low level wind shear had become strong. The combination of instability and wind shear promoted the development of supercell thunderstorms, which formed ahead of a squall line. The supercells produced multiple tornadoes, along with damaging wind.
These thunderstorms also produced widespread two to four inches of rain across much of eastern Oklahoma. This rainfall occurred following several days of rain, which resulted in five-day totals of four to eight inches across portions of eastern Oklahoma. Moderate flooding of the Neosho River near Commerce, and the Poteau River near Panama, resulted from this widespread heavy rain.
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 25, 1:13 PM CST, 3 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
213 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
.DISCUSSION...
The main forecast concerns today are the ongoing potential for
isolated severe weather and flooding through tonight. The existing
Flash Flood Watch will be unchanged with this forecast, with the
best chance for flooding continuing to be near and east of Highway
75.
Thunderstorms continue to expand across eastern Oklahoma and
western Arkansas early this afternoon, with additional storms
poised to move northward into the area into this evening and
overnight from northern and eastern Texas. Current mesoanalysis
shows the highest instability near the east of the
Oklahoma/Arkansas border, with CAMs indicating a modest additional
increase is likely into early evening. Wind fields will also
increase some through the rest of the afternoon, as the upper
disturbance in North Texas lifts northward. The expected increase
in instability and shear could lead to isolated severe
thunderstorms, including some tornado potential. Overall, the
severe weather potential should wane mid to late evening with the
loss of daytime heating, although the locally heavy rain and flash
flood potential will continue into the overnight. A general
reduction in the thunderstorm coverage should occur overnight from
southwest to northeast as the aforementioned disturbance moves
northward through the region.
The main upper low is expected to move slowly across North Texas,
eventually lifting northward across parts of Arkansas mid to late
week. The greatest shower and thunderstorm coverage for the
remainder of the week will be across parts of southeast Oklahoma
and into western Arkansas, with the peak coverage mid to late
afternoon. Temperatures through this period should be a few
degrees below normal.
Medium range model trends indicate that dry and warmer weather
should be on track for the latter part of the upcoming weekend
and into early next week. The main changes to the national blended
guidance in the extended were to remove shower/thunderstorm
chances Sunday and next Monday afternoons, as well as to raise
afternoon temperatures with the likelihood of upper level ridging
overhead.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL 61 75 63 75 / 90 50 50 70
FSM 65 78 64 75 / 90 70 70 80
MLC 61 75 61 74 / 90 60 60 80
BVO 61 73 61 76 / 90 50 40 70
FYV 63 75 62 73 / 90 60 70 80
BYV 64 77 63 73 / 90 70 70 80
MKO 63 74 62 74 / 90 60 60 80
MIO 64 74 62 76 / 90 60 50 80
F10 61 74 62 74 / 90 60 50 70
HHW 63 75 62 74 / 80 70 60 80
&&
.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for OKZ049-053-055>058-
060>063-066>076.
AR...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for ARZ001-002-010-011-
019-020-029.
&&
LONG TERM....22Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 500 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-261045- 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- 500 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ...SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. TORNADO. RISK... Limited. AREA... Far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. ONSET... Ongoing. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK... Limited. AREA... Far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. ONSET... Ongoing. FLASH FLOOD. RISK... Elevated. AREA... Eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. ONSET... Ongoing. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Elevated. AREA... Eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. ONSET... Ongoing. DISCUSSION... Strong to severe storms will be possible for the remainder of this afternoon with the threat continuing into the evening hours. The main severe threats will be damaging wind gusts along with a few brief, weak tornadoes. The area of greatest concern will generally be across far eastern Oklahoma from about Jay south- southwestward to about Stigler and south to the Red River and points eastward into northwest Arkansas. In addition to the severe potential, widespread heavy rainfall is likely across much of eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas through the remainder of the afternoon and continuing into the evening and overnight hours. A tropical airmass in place will allow for high rainfall rates exceeding one inch per hour at times. Rainfall for this afternoon and overnight is expected to be on the order of 1 to 3 inches for most areas with locally higher amounts of 4 to 5 inches possible. This may lead to flash and main stem river flooding. Remember to turn around, don't drown if you encounter a flooded roadway. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Local Spotter Activation May Be Needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. TUESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. WEDNESDAY... Thunderstorm Potential. Heavy Rainfall. THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... Thunderstorm Potential. SUNDAY...No Hazards. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Pockets of locally heavy rainfall remain possible across portions of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Tuesday through Thursday with the greatest heavy rainfall potential expected on Wednesday as storm chances continue north of an upper low over northern Texas. This upper low will slowly move across north Texas and will continue into eastern Oklahoma and northern Arkansas through at least Friday, yielding thunderstorm chances each day this week. A cold front may bring this to an end from north to south by next weekend. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information. Snider
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
428 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
OKZ076-252200-
Le Flore OK-
428 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN LE FLORE COUNTY
UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 427 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Muse, moving
northwest at 25 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations in or near the path include...
Fanshawe... Whitesboro...
Talimena State Park... Lake Wister State Park...
Muse... Summerfield...
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 3459 9486 3485 9505 3486 9500 3492 9500
3499 9478 3465 9466
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 156DEG 21KT 3469 9480Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 449 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 OKZ070-072-074-252215- Haskell OK-Muskogee OK-Sequoyah OK- 449 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HASKELL... NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH AND EAST CENTRAL MUSKOGEE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... At 448 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles southwest of Tamaha, moving northwest at 25 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Vian... Gore... Webbers Falls... Tamaha... Kanima... This includes Interstate 40 in Oklahoma between mile markers 281 and 295. 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 3530 9493 3526 9506 3548 9524 3558 9499 TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 156DEG 21KT 3534 9501
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 457 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 OKZ074>076-252230- Haskell OK-Latimer OK-Le Flore OK- 457 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN HASKELL... NORTHEASTERN LATIMER AND NORTHWESTERN LE FLORE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... At 457 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 5 miles southwest of Lake Wister State Park, moving northwest at 25 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Bokoshe... Fanshawe... Lake Wister State Park... Milton... Summerfield... 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 3488 9471 3481 9487 3508 9514 3520 9478 TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 156DEG 21KT 3489 9484
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 514 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 OKZ068-070-072-074-252245- Haskell OK-Muskogee OK-Sequoyah OK-Cherokee OK- 514 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN HASKELL...NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH...SOUTH CENTRAL CHEROKEE AND EAST CENTRAL MUSKOGEE COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT... At 514 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles southeast of Webbers Falls, moving northwest at 25 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Vian... Gore... Webbers Falls... Greenleaf State Park... Lake Tenkiller State Park... This includes Interstate 40 in Oklahoma between mile markers 282 and 295. LAT...LON 3543 9496 3538 9512 3560 9532 3573 9501 TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 156DEG 21KT 3548 9507
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
528 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
OKZ074-076-252300-
Haskell OK-Le Flore OK-
528 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN HASKELL AND
NORTHWESTERN LE FLORE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 527 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles southwest of
Bokoshe, moving north at 30 mph.
Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations in or near the path include...
Keota... Mccurtain...
Bokoshe... Milton...
Kanima...
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 3503 9493 3506 9493 3506 9496 3527 9512
3537 9483 3533 9482 3532 9480 3504 9471
3499 9490
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 163DEG 27KT 3509 9485Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
534 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
ARZ029-OKZ075-076-252300-
Sebastian AR-Latimer OK-Le Flore OK-
534 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SEBASTIAN...
NORTHEASTERN LATIMER AND LE FLORE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 534 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 5 miles northeast of Queen Wilhelmina State Park to 2
miles north of Big Cedar. Movement was northwest at 40 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations in or near the path include...
Poteau... Heavener...
Mansfield... Wister...
Howe... Hartford...
Huntington... Fanshawe...
Midland... Octavia...
Heavener Runestone State Park... Big Cedar...
Lake Wister State Park... Muse...
Patterson... Arkola...
Crossroads... Witcherville...
Liberty... Summerfield...
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 3503 9509 3516 9417 3509 9416 3506 9425
3506 9423 3497 9423 3495 9434 3496 9437
3493 9445 3451 9447 3451 9475
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 150DEG 35KT 3473 9429 3468 9466The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:33 UTC.
5 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
This tornado destroyed boat storage units, blew down power poles, and snapped large tree limbs. It was observed by storm chasers. Based on the damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 80 to 85 mph.
Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted a couple trees and snapped large tree limbs.
Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted trees.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
This tornado uprooted trees and snapped large tree limbs. It was recorded by a tower camera in West Siloam Springs, and was witnessed by several storm chasers. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 85 to 90 mph.
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
This tornado snapped large tree limbs, and was observed by storm chasers. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 70 to 80 mph.
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph.
This tornado uprooted trees. It likely had a longer path length, but occurred in a heavily-wooded area that was mostly inaccessible by road. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 85 to 95 mph.
This tornado snapped large tree limbs as it crossed several county roads. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 70 to 80 mph.
The Poteau River near Panama rose above its flood stage of 29 feet at 1:45 am CDT on May 26th. The river crested at 34.56 feet at 5:45 am CDT on the 27th, resulting in moderate flooding. Agricultural lands and rural roads were flooded. The river fell below flood stage at 4:45 am CDT on the 29th.
The Neosho River near Commerce rose above its flood stage of 15 feet at 10:45 am CDT on May 26th. The river crested at 19.78 feet at 2:30 pm CDT on the 28th, resulting in moderate flooding. Low lying areas around Miami were flooded, including Riverview Park, and Highway 125 near the Fairgrounds was flooded. The river fell below flood stage at 5:30 am CDT on the 31st.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2020Warnings 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: 891062, 892317, 892318, 892319, 891696, 892320, 891699, 892321, 891701, 891703, 897527, 897523.