A small cluster of thunderstorms moved across portions of south-central Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 20th. Despite strong convective inhibition in place, a report of wind damage occurred across central Garvin County, near the community of Elmore City.
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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 OUN wrote it up.
A small cluster of thunderstorms moved across portions of south-central Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 20th. Despite strong convective inhibition in place, a report of wind damage occurred across central Garvin County, near the community of Elmore City.
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 Sep 20, 2:28 AM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 328 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 327 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023 A mid-level wave/trough currently over eastern Oklahoma is expected to move eastward into the Mississippi Valley Region by this afternoon so could still see scattered thunderstorms moving across our area through the morning, although it should stay east of I-35 during the afternoon hours. By late afternoon heating, moderate elevated instability and deep-layer shear associated with the trough may be sufficient for low-end severe thunderstorms to initiate. Expecting most of this afternoons severe risk to be across eastern Oklahoma, although will include our southeastern CWA. Severe hazards across southeast Oklahoma would be up to quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts, with the severe risk decreasing within a few hours after sundown this evening. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 327 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023 Pressure heights will start rising on Thursday as a weak upper ridge starts building over the Southern Plains while upstream a deep amplitude trough over western Canada starts digging into the western United States. The trough is expected to expel a short-wave downstream with a series of vort max's propagating through our ridging by the early afternoon which may start initiating some elevated storms across area. The Southern Plains may also be positioned under the left exit quadrant of the upper jet maxima by early afternoon, which may provide some additional forcing for convection. Meanwhile a dryline will be stretched across the Southern High Plains while to the east Oklahoma and northern Texas will be in the moist and high-end moderately unstable sector with increasing 60-plus degree dewpoints to perhaps near 70 degrees from west to east at the surface. A nearly stationary surface boundary may also be stretched across our southwest near the Red River, and gradually lift as a warm front across southern Oklahoma as the day progresses. Although our northern CWA could stay capped from any surface-based storms firing up by late afternoon heating, the cap may be weak enough to break across the rest of our area for storms to initiate with additional overrunning by the warm front across southern Oklahoma. Should any storms develop, deep-layer shear would be sufficient to keep them organized. By the evening hours, a 40-45 kt low-level jet at 850 mb starts firing up out of the southwest increasing the low-level shear for convection becoming multi to supercells capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. As a result, severe weather will be possible on Thursday by late afternoon and into the evening hours. The severe threat for Thursday is low-end marginal but covers most of our entire Oklahoma/northern Texas CWA. By Friday, could see the advancing warm front stretched across our western CWA with storms initiating eastward as the day progresses. Certainly our low-level moisture will still be in place although limited instability should inhibit any severe storms. Will keep rain/storm POPs restricted to the eastern half of our CWA. This weekend, the aforementioned trough over the Western U.S. starts digging into the Central U.S. and breaking down the building ridge over the Southern Plains as well a pushing a cold front into our area late Saturday into Sunday. We could see storms develop late Saturday into Sunday with this system coming through and cannot rule out a few severe thunderstorms, although that risk so far remains across northern Oklahoma. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1046 PM CDT Tue Sep 19 2023 Showers and thunderstorms have moved east of all the terminals, but a few remain close to OUN and LAW. There is a low chance (20-30%) of additional showers and thunderstorms developing after 09Z for any of the terminals, but currently we do not feel confident enough to include TEMPO groups. MVFR cigs appear likely enough to include them over PNC after 10Z. Otherwise, expect mid to high clouds to increase again overnight through late Wednesday morning. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 87 68 86 67 / 10 10 50 60 Hobart OK 93 67 87 67 / 0 0 50 30 Wichita Falls TX 97 72 92 71 / 0 10 50 40 Gage OK 87 63 87 62 / 0 10 30 20 Ponca City OK 83 65 84 65 / 10 10 30 60 Durant OK 93 71 91 68 / 50 10 50 60 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && SHORT TERM...68 LONG TERM....68 AVIATION...03
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 422 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-210930- 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- 422 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern... western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms will be ongoing through this morning across our area. A few of these morning storms could produce strong wind gusts and small hail, but severe storms are unlikely. Thunderstorms will be possible again in the afternoon through the evening across southeast Oklahoma. Some of the afternoon/evening storms could become severe with up to golf ball size hail and damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph as the primary hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... .Thunderstorms... Thunderstorms will be possible across our area every day from Thursday through Tuesday. Some of these storms could become severe on Thursday with large hail and damaging wind gusts as the hazards. Storms could also be severe on Saturday and overnight as a cold front moves through. 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
257 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
OKZ047-051-200830-
Johnston OK-Marshall OK-
257 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Johnston
and northern Marshall Counties through 330 AM CDT...
At 257 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mannsville, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Madill, Tishomingo, Dickson, Mannsville, Ravia, Milburn, Russett,
Little City, northeastern Lake Texoma, and Oakland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Severe weather is not expected and no warnings are anticipated at
this time.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3415 9694 3431 9693 3427 9649 3401 9665
TIME...MOT...LOC 0757Z 287DEG 22KT 3422 9685
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
11Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
402 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
OKZ023-024-027>029-201000-
Grady OK-Canadian OK-Caddo OK-Cleveland OK-McClain OK-
402 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
...Strong winds will impact portions of northern Grady, northeastern
Caddo, northwestern Cleveland, southern Canadian and northwestern
McClain Counties through 500 AM CDT...
At 356 AM CDT, meteorologists were tracking strong and gusty winds
near Weatherford, southeast toward Binger and Hinton. These gusty
winds were associated with heat bursts that will continue to
progress southeast into western and southern portions of the OKC
metro area.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and rising temperatures.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Southwestern Oklahoma City, Moore, Newcastle, Blanchard, Mustang,
Tuttle, Hinton, Union City, Minco, Binger, Amber, Bridge Creek,
Lookeba, Pocasset, Cogar, Middleberg, and Cedar Lake.
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 85 and 113.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Severe weather is not expected and no warnings are anticipated at
this time.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3552 9837 3539 9767 3538 9766 3538 9763
3535 9749 3500 9770 3531 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 0856Z 294DEG 33KT 3536 9837
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
11Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
427 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
OKZ023-027>029-040-201000-
Grady OK-Caddo OK-Cleveland OK-Garvin OK-McClain OK-
427 AM CDT Wed Sep 20 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Garvin,
southern Grady, southeastern Caddo, southeastern Cleveland and
McClain Counties through 500 AM CDT...
At 426 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 3 miles northwest of Tabler to 4 miles
southeast of Chickasha to near Cement. Movement was east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Chickasha, Blanchard, Purcell, Slaughterville, Lindsay, Lexington,
Maysville, Cyril, Dibble, Wayne, Washington, Cole, Alex, Cement,
Amber, Norge, Bradley, Tabler, Agawam, and Criner.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 35 between mile markers 82 and 100.
Interstate 44 between mile markers 66 and 92.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Severe weather is not expected and no warnings are anticipated at
this time.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3508 9722 3482 9734 3468 9767 3494 9828
3499 9798 3517 9787
TIME...MOT...LOC 0926Z 287DEG 30KT 3509 9785 3497 9791 3492 9813
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
11The Norman radar (KTLX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:40 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Relayed images showing multiple large (6 12-inch diameter) tree limbs blown down in/near the community of Elmore City. Time is radar estimated.
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, September 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: 1139148.