Strong to severe thunderstorms developed over central and southwestern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 11th, as a dry line sharpened across the area. These thunderstorms moved east and northeast across eastern Oklahoma during the late evening.
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 TSA wrote it up.
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed over central and southwestern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 11th, as a dry line sharpened across the area. These thunderstorms moved east and northeast across eastern Oklahoma during the late evening. The strongest storms produced damaging wind gusts and large hail up to quarter size.
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 11, 8:52 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 952 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 ...New SHORT TERM... .SHORT TERM... (The rest of tonight) Issued at 948 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 Strong to severe thunderstorms with a history of short-lived tornadoes are approaching the western parts of our forecast area at this time. The tornado risk has likely peaked, but will remain non-zero for at least the next couple hours as the storms enter eastern Oklahoma. At least a marginal hail and wind threat will also persist for the next several hours. Have adjusted short-term pops to account for current trends, with the rest of the forecast on track at this time. && .LONG TERM... (Tomorrow through Thursday) Issued at 201 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 The upper level low currently located over southeast CO this afternoon will lift slowly northeast into the Central Plains Friday afternoon, with weakening wind fields trending less favorable for organized severe weather. However, a very unstable airmass with SB CAPE on the order of 4000 J/Kg is expected to be in place by Friday afternoon with weak capping in place and potentially a couple of sfc boundaries left from tonight. Severe weather threat will persist as a result with a few organized clusters of storms posing a large hail and wind threat. The remainder of the forecast trends toward overall weaker synoptic forcing, but with a sfc boundary slowly pushing southeast and warm and unstable conditions resulting in daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. The pattern becomes less favorable for severe weather after Friday, but at least a locally heavy rain threat will develop through early next week. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 609 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 Storms ongoing across central OK into N TX will slowly spread eastward this evening into the overnight hours with an eventual weakening trend. Forecast will retain a mention of thunderstorm overnight with weakening impact with eastward extent. MVFR ceilings are likely to develop overnight and persist into Friday morning before rising into low VFR levels by afternoon. Scattered showers and storms are possible again Friday with low confidence in placement supporting a broad mention in the terminal forecasts. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 81 68 88 65 / MMM 60 20 40 FSM 82 69 88 69 / MMM 60 50 30 MLC 81 68 85 65 / MMM 60 40 40 BVO 81 62 88 61 / MMM 60 20 30 FYV 79 64 85 64 / MMM 60 50 30 BYV 76 65 84 66 / MMM 50 40 20 MKO 81 67 84 65 / MMM 60 40 40 MIO 79 67 85 66 / MMM 40 20 30 F10 81 67 84 64 / MMM 60 30 40 HHW 80 69 83 67 / MMM 40 50 30 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...07
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 516 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-121000- 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- 516 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Limited. AREA...Mainly Far Southeast Oklahoma. ONSET...After Sunset. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...After Sunset. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Mainly Eastern Oklahoma. ONSET...After Sunset. DISCUSSION... Scattered severe thunderstorms will likely increase in coverage across central and south central Oklahoma early this evening with all severe weather hazards possible. These storms will move into parts of eastern Oklahoma later this evening, with a continued severe weather risk. The greatest tornado threat in our area is likely to be near the Red River in far southeast Oklahoma, with a lesser threat to the north. The severe weather threat is expected to decrease after midnight as the storms approach the Oklahoma/Arkansas state line. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential. SATURDAY through WEDNESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... The daily chances of thunderstorms will continue into early next week as the weather pattern remains unsettled. The greatest potential for thunderstorms will be Saturday into Sunday as a frontal boundary slowly moves through the region. Locally heavy rain will be the main concern during this time. However, a few storms may become strong to marginally severe. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
941 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023
OKZ054-059-120330-
Osage OK-Pawnee OK-
941 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Osage and
western Pawnee Counties through 1030 PM CDT...
At 941 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 4 miles
northeast of Glencoe, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Pawnee... Fairfax...
Ralston... Blackburn...
Skedee...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3662 9665 3644 9641 3616 9681 3616 9682
3625 9682 3625 9692 3633 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0241Z 222DEG 23KT 3626 9685
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
69Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1044 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023
OKZ054-120445-
Osage OK-
1044 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Osage County
through 1145 PM CDT...
At 1044 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Wynona, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Bartlesville... Pawhuska...
Hominy... Barnsdall...
Wynona... Elgin...
Bigheart... Pearsonia...
Bartlesville Municipal Airport... Hulah...
Sunset Lake... Osage Hills State Park...
Okesa... Wah Sha She State Park...
Tallant... Pershing...
Nelagoney...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3700 9600 3672 9600 3628 9631 3645 9662
3700 9637
TIME...MOT...LOC 0344Z 206DEG 28KT 3654 9636
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
69The Norman radar (KTLX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:37 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Oklahoma Mesonet station near Stuart measured 66 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
The ASOS at the McAlester Regional Airport measured 64 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto power lines.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2023
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: 1086615, 1093715, 1093717, 1093716.