Hot temperatures, combined with very dry fuels, lead to a significant fire start and spread across portions of Atoka County.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 OUN wrote it up.
Hot temperatures, combined with very dry fuels, lead to a significant fire start and spread across portions of Atoka County.
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 6, 11:22 AM CST, 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Norman OK 1222 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 ...New AVIATION... .UPDATE... Issued at 946 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 Very large swath of smoke/haze is evident from latest surface plots with prominent visibility reductions extending from Oklahoma and northward into South Dakota. The HRRR smoke model clearly shows a large plume of smoke being transported S/E within the low-level ridge. Higher modeled concentrations (10 to 15 micrograms per cubic meter) to reach our northern tier of counties in north-central Oklahoma today and into tonight. Added haze to the weather grids for today and will likely do so with the package later today as the HRRR model shows smoke concentrations not lifting northeast until late tomorrow. Thompson && .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 247 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 Models show the frontal boundary stalling in north TX today. Cooler temperatures are expected north of the boundary with highs ranging from around 90 to upper 90s across most of the area. Some storms could develop near the boundary later this afternoon so depending on where exactly the boundary stalls a few storms may affect areas near the Red River. However, most of the activity could remain south of the fa. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 247 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 Southerly winds and the heat will return to the entire fa Thursday. Models show a sfc low developing in SE CO/NE NM. This sfc low is expected to move into parts of the fa Friday with a boundary extending across the fa but there is some uncertainty on position of sfc features which will have an impact on temperatures and fire weather concerns Friday. The hot temperatures, triple digit highs, will return Thursday with the southerly winds and warm 850mb temps. Models show H850 temps ranging from around 26C to 30+C Thursday afternoon. With the hotter temperatures, heat index values of 105+ will also return, especially across portions of southern OK and western north TX making the possibility for a heat advisory in the fa fairly high for Thursday. Like previously mentioned, depending on the position of sfc features, another hot day with 105+ heat indices could be possible Friday afternoon in at least portions of the fa. Thursday and Friday could also see elevated fire weather conditions in parts of western OK and western north TX although there is more uncertainty on Friday compared to Thursday due to the uncertainty of positions of sfc low/boundary Friday afternoon. There is a low chance for showers/storms to develop late Thursday evening/night. This activity could develop on the nose of the LLJ that is expected to strengthen. Models also show a weak disturbance moving through the flow that could combine with the sfc features to bring a chance for showers/storms to parts of the fa Friday/Friday night. A shift to a cooler and wetter weather pattern will be possible this weekend into next week. Models show the center of the upper high slowly shifting westward with NW flow developing over the area. Disturbances moving through this flow could bring a more widespread chance for showers/storms over the weekend into next week. Temperatures are also expected to become closer to normal or possibly even below normal next week. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1220 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 Aviation concerns largely center around a plume of smoke that has made its way into northern Oklahoma this morning. MVFR conditions have been reported at times, with KAVK sitting at 4-mile visibility most of the morning. However, it appears that with midday sun, visibility is largely improving. Otherwise, light northeasterly winds will veer to southeasterly by tomorrow morning and increase somewhat to about 10 knots. Clear skies are expected. Meister && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Oklahoma City OK 68 99 73 100 / 0 10 10 10 Hobart OK 68 105 75 105 / 0 0 0 10 Wichita Falls TX 73 106 78 109 / 0 0 0 10 Gage OK 63 104 66 98 / 0 10 10 10 Ponca City OK 63 96 68 95 / 0 10 20 10 Durant OK 71 104 76 105 / 10 10 10 20 && .OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. TX...None. && SHORT TERM...01 LONG TERM....25 AVIATION...04
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Norman OK 316 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-070830- 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- 316 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 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... A few isolated storms will remain possible early this morning. Cloud to ground lightning and gusty winds will be the main concerns. A few isolated storms may affect some areas along the Red River later this afternoon and early evening, although most of the activity is expected to remain south. If these storms do occur, gusty winds will be the main concern. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... .Thunderstorms... Some thunderstorms could develop and affect areas east of I-35 late Thursday evening and night. Some of these storms could become strong to severe with strong winds and hail the main concerns. There are low storm chances again Friday and Friday night mainly across portions of southern Oklahoma and western north Texas. More widespread and higher rain chances are expected over the weekend into next week. .Heat... Triple digit temperatures and heat indices will be possible Thursday and Friday, especially across portions of southern Oklahoma and western north Texas. .Fire Weather... Elevated fire weather conditions will be possible both Thursday and Friday afternoons across portions of western Oklahoma and western north Texas. Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
839 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0728 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 E Haynesville 34.09N 98.90W
09/05/2023 Wichita TX Trained Spotter
Downburst caused damage to power lines,
fences, and several buildings including one
home. Time estimated by radar.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
850 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 N Fort Sill 34.73N 98.41W
09/05/2023 Comanche OK Public
Public reported very strong winds which
resulted in tree damage.
&&
OUNPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
852 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0953 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNE Pink 35.29N 97.11W
09/05/2023 Pottawatomie OK Emergency Mngr
Siding removed from barn with debris strewn
across property. Time estimated by radar.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
905 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0908 PM Hail 2 WSW Bethel Acres 35.29N 97.09W
09/05/2023 E1.50 inch Pottawatomie OK Storm Chaser
Social media picture. Location estimated by
radar.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
950 AM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0940 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Lake Thunderbird 35.24N 97.24W
09/05/2023 Cleveland OK Public
Several trees damaged near Indian Point Rd.
(near Thunderbird Boathouse). Time estimated
by radar.
&&
OUNThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The 'Limestone Gap Fire' spread over 5,824 acres across northern Atoka County. End time is approximate.
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: 1139409.