Tornado and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, July 10 to 11, 2021

Name: Tornado and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, July 10 to 11, 2021
Start: 2021-07-10T18:25
End: 2021-07-11T02:25
Location: Oklahoma

July 10 to 11, 2021 · NWS OUN · 20 events in 14 counties and zones

A line of thunderstorms originating across eastern Kansas built southwestward into northern and central Oklahoma during the evening of the 10th, leading to numerous severe wind, hail and flood reports.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $60,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jul 10, 5:52 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 5:52 PM CST, 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
652 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

...New AVIATION, UPPER AIR...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 322 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

Storms are expected to continue to develop across southwest
Missouri, southern Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and eventually
north-central Oklahoma this afternoon.

Storms will continue to develop along and ahead of a cold front that
is moving into northwest Oklahoma this afternoon. Modest instability
and strengthening deep layer sheer will support, storms with
supercellular characteristics, at least initially. These storms will
pose a large hail, damaging wind and at least a very low tornado
risk. However, veered low level flow and more linear forcing along
the surface front will lead to an expected quick transition to a
more linear mode along the boundary. Primary hazard will become
damaging wind gusts and with a secondary heavy rainfall concern as
precipitable water values remain high. However, progressive nature
of this activity is expected to limit the overall heavy rainfall
threat.

HRRR would suggest convection would approach the I-40 corridor 9pm
or a little after. There has been a trend of slowing the southward
progression down in the laster few runs. The storms would then
approach the Red river around 3 or 4 in the morning. Although an
overall downward trend is expected after midnight, some severe risk
does appear possible through the night time hours.

Will keep some lingering precip chances along the Red river Sunday
morning, but most of the activity should be south of the area.
Models are also showing another embedded shortwave rotating around
the upper low to our northeast during the day Sunday. This may
result in a few showers or thunderstorms during the afternoon hours,
mainly along and east of the I-35 corridor. Otherwise, daytime temps
will be a bit lower on Sunday as will the dewpoints as slightly
drier air filters south behind the front.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday night through next Friday)
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

The front exits the area and winds become light Sunday night and
winds veer to the SE/S by Monday afternoon as the surface ridge
axis moves eastward. The NAM/GFS suggest thunderstorm development
over western north TX and western OK Monday evening into early
Tuesday morning as a LLJ develops atop the retreating cold front,
or weak warm front. Left POPs low for now, but will continue to
watch trends.

The midlevel low pressure system that brought us the cold front
moves slowly across the midwest, before lifting northeast across
the Great Lakes on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the broad upper ridge that
has contributed to record heat across the western CONUS begins to
break down and north flow aloft will likewise weaken over our area.

A wave then translates across the northern plains midweek, and
there are low POPs for precipitation for northern Oklahoma on
Wednesday night into Thursday and again Thursday night into Friday.
The associated frontal boundaries and bulk of precipitation,
however, appears to remain well to our north.

Thompson

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 640 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase along a cold
front currently moving across northern Oklahoma. Although
expecting ceilings with the CBs to lower just above MVFR,
reduced visibilities during heavy rain may produce brief periods
of MVFR to IFR conditions. Otherwise away from the CBs, conditions
should stay VFR. Winds behind the cold front will shift and
become northerly. However, outflow boundaries produced from storms
may result in more variable directional surface winds.

&&

.UPPER AIR...
Issued at 640 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

No upper air flights are planned at this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  68  85  64  87 /  80   0   0  10
Hobart OK         68  90  65  90 /  50   0  10  10
Wichita Falls TX  73  93  68  92 /  70  10  10  10
Gage OK           65  88  63  91 /   0   0   0   0
Ponca City OK     66  82  62  86 /  50  20  10   0
Durant OK         72  92  67  91 /  90  30  10  20

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...30
LONG TERM....01
AVIATION...68

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 10, 6:14 PM CST, 11 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
714 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-120015-
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-
714 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight...

.Thunderstorms...
There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms this evening
across portions of central Oklahoma. Additional severe thunderstorms
are also possible across southwestern and southern Oklahoma, and
western north Texas late tonight through early Sunday morning. The
main threats will be wind gusts exceeding 60 mph and hail up to
the size of golf balls. The severe weather threat should end after
3 AM.

.SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT...

Storm spotter groups and emergency management personnel across
Oklahoma and north Texas should prepare for severe weather
operations from mid afternoon through early Sunday morning.

.Heavy rainfall...
Localized flooding will be possible through late tonight mainly
across portions of central and south central Oklahoma.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday...

.Thunderstorms...
Thunderstorms will remain possible Sunday morning and afternoon
across southern Oklahoma and north Texas, although the severe
weather potential will be low. Isolated storms will be possible
over southeast Oklahoma and north central Texas on Monday. Storms
will again be possible later in the week from Wednesday night
through Friday with the highest chances of storms across northern
and western Oklahoma Thursday night and Friday.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 3:34 PM CST, 2 hours 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
434 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

OKZ008-102200-
Kay OK-
434 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR northeastern Kay County Until 500
PM CDT...

AT 430 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Hardy, moving
east at 30 MPH.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to one-half inch diameter...
Wind gusts to 40 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 3679 9676 3683 9692 3700 9693 3700 9675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 282DEG 25KT 3692 9683

30

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 5:01 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Norman OK
601 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

OKZ013-020-102330-
Payne OK-Noble OK-
601 PM CDT Sat Jul 10 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR northeastern Payne and eastern
Noble Counties Until 630 PM CDT...

AT 600 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were along a line extending from
near Sooner Lake to 4 miles west of Morrison, moving east at 25 MPH.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
Hail up to one-half inch diameter...
Wind gusts to 40 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 3651 9701 3651 9703 3633 9703 3633 9692
      3625 9692 3625 9682 3618 9682 3616 9671
      3615 9671 3622 9720 3653 9707 3653 9700
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 280DEG 24KT 3645 9702 3628 9709

30

Local storm report, Jul 10, 6:20 PM CST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
720 PM CDT SAT JUL 10 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0710 PM     HAIL             5 NNE STILLWATER        36.20N 97.04W
07/10/2021  E0.50 INCH       PAYNE              OK   PUBLIC

            MPING REPORT

&&

JT

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:23 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Payne

When: July 10, 6:25 PM CST to 6:27 PM CST
Where: Payne County, 1.89 mi SW of Yale to 2.57 mi S of Yale
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.4 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.088, -96.720

A tornado touched down within the bend of the Cimarron River southwest of Yale and traveled almost a mile and a half to the southeast. At the beginning of the path, the tornado damaged oil tanks and trees. Multiple barns were heavily damaged as the tornado moved southeast across E3530 Road. The tornado then turned more south-southeast damaging numerous trees, a barn and a pivot irrigator.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: July 10, 6:44 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 1.38 mi N of Agra
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.920, -96.870

Estimated severe wind gust.

Hail, Logan

When: July 10, 7:23 PM CST
Where: Logan County, 2.8 mi E of Guthrie
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.880, -97.370

Hail, Logan

When: July 10, 7:31 PM CST
Where: Logan County, 5.04 mi W of Meridian
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.840, -97.340

Thunderstorm Wind, Canadian

When: July 10, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Canadian County, 4.45 mi SW of Concho
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.560, -98.040

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: July 10, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Caddo County, Bridgeport
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.550, -98.380

Estimated severe wind gust.

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When: July 10, 8:45 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma County, 1.66 mi W of Valley Brook to 0.27 mi SW of Valley Brook
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.398, -97.509

Access roads almost impassable at the I240/I35 junction. Underpasses quickly filling with water.

Thunderstorm Wind, McClain

When: July 10, 9:38 PM CST
Where: McClain County, 2.68 mi SE of Blanchard
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.110, -97.630

Four inch diameter tree blocking the road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When: July 10, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Grady County, 4.47 mi ENE of Norge
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 35.020, -97.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When: July 10, 10:08 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, 1.79 mi NE of Meers
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.800, -98.560

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When: July 10, 10:10 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Elgin
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.780, -98.290

Damage to roof of a post office. Estimated 65 to 70 mph wind gust. Power lines also downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When: July 10, 10:10 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, 1.13 mi W of Elgin
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.780, -98.310

Thunderstorm Wind, Pontotoc

When: July 10, 10:24 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, 1.79 mi NE of Ada
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.790, -96.660

Estimated severe wind gust.

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 10:54 PM CST to July 11, 1:54 AM CST
Where: Comanche County, 3.04 mi WSW of (Fsi)fort Sill to 4.69 mi SSW of (Fsi)fort Sill
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.657, -98.431

Water is 9 inches high and moving into a home. Vehicles reported stalled.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stephens

When: July 10, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 2.2 mi NW of Comanche
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.390, -98.000

Trees bent over.

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 11:10 PM CST to July 11, 2:10 AM CST
Where: Comanche County, 2.67 mi WSW of (Fsi)fort Sill to 4.01 mi N of Lawton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.650, -98.420

Two vehicles stranded. Water continues to rise.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: July 10, 11:20 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.69 mi N of Ringling
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.190, -97.590

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 11:25 PM CST to July 11, 2:25 AM CST
Where: Comanche County, 2 mi NNE of Lawton to 3.85 mi ESE of Lawton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.638, -98.383

Water rescue with water coming into vehicle.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When: July 10, 11:35 PM CST
Where: Carter County, 1.14 mi W of Ardmore
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.170, -97.160

Tree blown across highway.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman

When: July 11, 12:06 AM CST
Where: Tillman County, 1.14 mi W of Frederick Arpt
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.350, -99.000

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2021 Warnings in Oklahoma, July 2021

Sources

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: 976867, 972913, 972914, 972915, 972916, 972917, 972918, 972919, 972920, 972921, 972922, 972923, 972924, 972925, 972926, 972927, 972928, 972929, 972930, 972931.