A squall line developed over northwestern Kansas during the late morning of the 9th, and translated southeast across the state during the day. The line of storms moved into northeastern Oklahoma during the 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.
A squall line developed over northwestern Kansas during the late morning of the 9th, and translated southeast across the state during the day. The line of storms moved into northeastern Oklahoma during the evening. The strongest storm in the line produced 59 mph wind gusts.
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 9, 5:41 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 641 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (The rest of this afternoon and Tonight) Issued at 230 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 A warm and muggy afternoon today could lead to an isolated thunderstorm or two developing later this afternoon near a weak surface pressure trough across northeast Oklahoma. Best potential for seeing a storm will be across far northeast Oklahoma, mainly north of I-44. Large instability could lead to a storm being strong to severe, though weak shear should keep any afternoon storms largely disorganized, with some gusty wind potential being the primary threat. A better chance for storms will come this evening and tonight as a complex of storms currently across central Kansas will progress south, southeastward through the afternoon following a fairly tight instability gradient and warm frontal boundary. Convection should generally be on a weakening trend as it approaches the forecast area as the cluster leaves the better shear environment of central Kansas and interacts with markedly weaker shear across northeast Oklahoma. Some severe wind gusts will be possible along the leading line, especially across the northern row of counties in northern Oklahoma, before weakening as it progresses near the I-44 corridor. The cooler outflow will filter in across parts of the area, providing some slightly cooler overnight lows from near Highway 412 and north. Bowlan && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Tuesday) Issued at 230 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 Scattered thunderstorm chances will continue through much of the rest of the forecast period with weak southwesterly flow aloft overtop the muggy environment in place across the region. A heavy rain threat could also develop as multiple rounds of showers and storms could move over the same areas through the weekend. On Wednesday, a MCV is forecast to drift northward from eastern Texas and track through southeastern Oklahoma and into western Arkansas. This will serve as a point of focus for shower and thunderstorm development across much of the forecast area on Wednesday. Widespread cloud cover will limit instability somewhat, so more showery weather is expected, with very low severe chances shaping up. A few stronger storms could develop during the afternoon hours, across northeast Oklahoma where some pokes of sun and greater instability exists. Showers will likely continue into early Thursday morning, before the MCV lift north and east of the local region. Focus will then shift to Thursday afternoon, when the western CONUS trough is progged to eject and lift northeast across the Central Plains by Thursday evening. The main synoptic forcing will likely stay well north and west of the forecast area, but storms could develop along a sharpening dryline across central Oklahoma during the afternoon hours. Any storms that do develop will have a high likelihood of becoming severe, with all hazards possible as they move into parts of eastern Oklahoma during the evening hours. Beginning Friday and into the weekend, several rounds of showers and storms are expected to affect the region as weak western troughing remains intact. High moisture content could also lead to a local heavy rain and flash flooding threat as storms could move over the same areas throughout the weekend. The severe weather threat looks to be minimal during this time, with weak flow aloft limiting the shear over much of the region. Some isolated stronger to severe storms would still be possible with the muggy environment that is in place. Some places could see a good 2-3 inches of rain through the weekend, with some locally higher amounts likely within a heavier axis. A cold front is expected to move through the region on Monday, dropping temperatures a bit and shifting rain chances south of the region for a few days at the beginning of next week. Bowlan && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 640 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 The main aviation concern in the near term will be the storm complex moving into NE OK late this afternoon. Used TEMPOs at the NE OK and far NW AR sites to highlight the best time window of impact. Some low clouds and/or fog is possible at some sites early Wednesday morning. By Wed afternoon, expect areas of showers and some storms to increase in coverage as upper low moves north from TX. Lacy && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 65 83 64 80 / 60 50 40 60 FSM 68 81 66 81 / 20 70 50 60 MLC 65 78 63 80 / 10 70 50 60 BVO 59 84 61 80 / 70 40 40 60 FYV 64 82 62 79 / 40 60 50 70 BYV 63 81 63 76 / 60 60 40 70 MKO 66 80 64 78 / 20 60 50 60 MIO 62 83 64 78 / 70 50 40 60 F10 65 78 63 78 / 20 70 40 60 HHW 65 76 64 80 / 10 80 40 60 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...04 LONG TERM....04 AVIATION...30
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 506 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-101000- 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- 506 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023 This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Tonight. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and Far Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Far Northeast Oklahoma. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... Strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Kansas are expected to continue to move southeast into northeast Oklahoma and far northwest Arkansas into the evening hours. A threat for damaging winds and possibly large hail will exist primarily for areas along and north of Highway 412, with the expectation that storms will decrease in intensity farther south. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. WEDNESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. THURSDAY and FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential. SATURDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. SUNDAY and MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Daily thunderstorm chances are expected to continue through the weekend as a moist and unstable airmass lingers over the region. The best chance of severe weather looks to occur on Thursday evening in areas northwest of Interstate 44, as storms that develop to the west along the dryline move into the area. Over the weekend, a cold front will slowly move through the area, providing a focus for more widespread showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall possible. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
522 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
OKZ054-055-092315-
Osage OK-Washington OK-
522 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Osage and
northwestern Washington Counties through 615 PM CDT...
At 521 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 3 miles east of Fall River to 4 miles north of
Dexter to 3 miles southwest of Oxford. Movement was southeast at 40
mph. Wind gusts will precede thunderstorms as a strong outflow
boundary and wind shift moves into the area.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects.
Locations in or near the path include...
Shidler... Burbank...
Elgin... Grainola...
Foraker... Bigheart...
Pearsonia... Hulah...
Sunset Lake... Southern Kaw Lake...
Webb City... Wah Sha She State Park...
Apperson...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 9579 3668 9636 3667 9705 3669 9706
3670 9703 3669 9693 3675 9689 3674 9683
3677 9682 3678 9675 3700 9675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 334DEG 34KT 3762 9597 3725 9669 3724 9720
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
612 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
OKZ054>056-059-100000-
Osage OK-Pawnee OK-Nowata OK-Washington OK-
612 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Osage, northern
Washington, northern Nowata and northwestern Pawnee Counties through
700 PM CDT...
At 609 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated an outflow of strong winds
along a line extending from near Peru to 4 miles north of Pearsonia
to 5 miles west of Newkirk. Movement was southeast at 35 mph. The
outflow winds were ahead of a line of thunderstorms which will
continue to move south into northeast Oklahoma through 7 pm.
Additional strong gusts may accompany the storms.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects.
Locations in or near the path include...
Bartlesville... Pawhuska...
Dewey... Fairfax...
South Coffeyville... Copan...
Shidler... Wynona...
Ralston... Burbank...
Wann... Elgin...
Grainola... Foraker...
Bigheart... Bartlesville Municipal Airport...
Osage Hills State Park... Pearsonia...
Hulah... Sunset Lake...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 9541 3652 9629 3644 9703 3651 9703
3655 9690 3658 9689 3660 9692 3659 9705
3668 9706 3670 9703 3668 9694 3675 9689
3674 9683 3677 9682 3678 9675 3700 9675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 336DEG 29KT 3706 9611 3686 9647 3686 9715
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
700 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
OKZ054>059-061-100045-
Craig OK-Osage OK-Rogers OK-Ottawa OK-Pawnee OK-Nowata OK-
Washington OK-
700 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Craig, northwestern
Rogers, Osage, northern Ottawa, Washington, Nowata and Pawnee
Counties through 745 PM CDT...
At 657 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated an outflow of strong winds
along a line extending from 5 miles west of Chetopa to 2 miles
southeast of Dewey to near Ralston. The winds extended ahead of a
broken line of storms moving into northeast Oklahoma from Kansas.
Gusty winds are possible both with the outflow and closer to the
individual storms. Movement of the storms was southeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects.
Locations in or near the path include...
Bartlesville... Miami...
Baxter Springs... Nowata...
Pawhuska... Pawnee...
Hominy... Dewey...
Cleveland... Commerce...
Fairfax... Barnsdall...
Quapaw... South Coffeyville...
Copan... Welch...
Ramona... Shidler...
Wynona... Ochelata...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 302 and 324.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3668 9694 3675 9689 3678 9675 3686 9675
3700 9609 3700 9462 3687 9462 3654 9553
3642 9600 3639 9600 3616 9670 3616 9678
3624 9682 3625 9686 3643 9704 3651 9703
3658 9689 3660 9692 3659 9705 3668 9706
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 306DEG 29KT 3704 9520 3677 9591 3651 9670
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
746 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
OKZ054>064-067-100115-
Tulsa OK-Craig OK-Osage OK-Rogers OK-Delaware OK-Ottawa OK-Pawnee OK-
Nowata OK-Washington OK-Creek OK-Mayes OK-Wagoner OK-
746 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Craig, Rogers,
Delaware, Osage, Ottawa, northern Creek, Mayes, Washington, Nowata,
northwestern Wagoner, Pawnee and Tulsa Counties through 815 PM CDT...
At 745 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated an ouflow of strong winds
along a line extending from 4 miles south of Seneca to 2 miles
northwest of Sperry to 4 miles west of Pawnee. Showers and
thunderstorms trailed the outflow from Pawhuska to Welch and may
result in further wind gusts. Movement of the storms and outflow was
southeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects.
Locations in or near the path include...
Tulsa... Broken Arrow...
Bartlesville... Sand Springs...
Claremore... Miami...
Vinita... Baxter Springs...
Nowata... Pawhuska...
Jay... Pawnee...
Pryor... Owasso...
Bixby... Sapulpa...
Jenks... Glenpool...
Coweta... Pryor Creek...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 204 and 322.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3676 9613 3700 9496 3700 9464 3638 9461
3602 9566 3592 9661 3616 9662 3616 9682
3624 9682 3625 9690 3646 9703 3651 9703
3658 9689 3660 9692 3659 9705 3668 9706
TIME...MOT...LOC 0045Z 318DEG 33KT 3676 9456 3631 9599 3631 9685
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHThe Tulsa radar (KINX), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:01 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS at the Tulsa International Airport measured 59 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
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: 1086373.