Hail, Cherokee
- When
- May 17, 2:37 PM CST
- Where
- Cherokee County, 2 mi S of Tahlequah
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.891, -94.970
Hail in Oklahoma, May 17, 2024
Scattered strong thunderstorms developed across portions of eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 17th, as an upper level disturbance moved into the Southern Plains. The strongest thunderstorms produced hail up to penny size.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 TSA wrote it up.
Scattered strong thunderstorms developed across portions of eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 17th, as an upper level disturbance moved into the Southern Plains. The strongest thunderstorms produced hail up to penny size.
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 Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 17, 12:28 PM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 12:28 PM CST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 128 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Thru Tonight) Issued at 127 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 A NE-SW oriented trof axis sits over the region this afternoon, with an embedded vort max clearly evident in the cloud field on satellite imagery over SE OK. CAMs suggest shower/storm coverage will be greatest over W AR and neighboring far E OK ahead of this feature as it, and the parent trough, slide east with time. Coverage should begin to wind down this evening though, due to the loss of daytime heating. Organized severe weather is not expected due to weak deep-layer shear. Later on tonight, mostly clear skies and a moist BL will set the stage for more dense fog, much like what occurred last night except shifted farther east. Will let the evening and night shifts evaluate the need for an advisory later if need be. Lacy && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Friday) Issued at 127 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 We dry out and warm up for the weekend. We'll likely see the first 90 degree high temps for 2024. There's a decent signal that storms will come off the dryline on Sunday afternoon well to our west, and some of this activity may survive into NE OK Sunday night in a weakened state. Capping looks stronger on Monday along the dryline, so the focus shifts to a sagging front across KS. Storm activity should stay north of the state line thru Monday night. As the front sinks slowly southeast on Tuesday, storm chances will increase across the region. Exact evolution remains uncertain, but chances of severe weather will go up with strong flow aloft and favorable late May thermodynamics. Storm chances continue Wednesday with the front, mainly over the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area. Storm chances will continue thru the end of the week. Lacy && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Areas of fog this morning have cleared this afternoon, with mostly VFR conditions now noted across the region. A system moving across SE OK will bring chances for scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, mainly for NW AR sites. Fog is also likely to return tonight, shifted a little east from where it was this morning. Greater fog coverage will likely be across far E OK and will impact W AR sites late tonight into tomorrow morning with at least IFR conditions expected. Bowlan && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 61 88 64 90 / 0 0 0 0 FSM 63 87 65 91 / 20 10 0 0 MLC 60 88 64 90 / 10 0 0 0 BVO 57 87 60 89 / 0 0 0 0 FYV 58 84 57 88 / 20 10 0 0 BYV 58 83 60 88 / 20 10 0 0 MKO 60 85 63 88 / 10 0 0 0 MIO 59 84 61 87 / 0 0 0 0 F10 60 85 63 88 / 10 0 0 0 HHW 62 86 64 88 / 20 0 0 0 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...30 LONG TERM....30 AVIATION...04
Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 12:04 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 104 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-181030- 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- 104 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Limited. AREA...Southeast Oklahoma and West Central Oklahoma. ONSET...Afternoon. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. ONSET...Afternoon. POOR VISIBILITY. RISK...Elevated. AREA... Far Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...After Midnight. DISCUSSION... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon, mainly along and south of I-44 in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as a compact system moves through the area. Lack of any deep layer shear will keep storms rather unorganized, but a limited severe potential will exist with the strongest storms. The primary threat will be strong downbursts with damaging wind gusts possible. The storms will also be slow moving and locally heavy rainfall could occur with a seasonably moist airmass in place. Saturated soils from recent rainfall could also aid in an isolated flash flood threat where storms rain over the same areas. Later tonight, more fog is expected across the region, with greater coverage of dense fog possible across far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas after midnight tonight. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Local Spotter Activation May Be Needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. SATURDAY...Dense Fog Potential. SUNDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. MONDAY...High Wind Potential. TUESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential. WEDNESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Areas of Dense fog could be ongoing Saturday morning across parts of eastern Oklahoma and especially northwest Arkansas. Fog should dissipate by mid morning. Above normal temperatures return for the weekend. Both Sunday night and Monday night, the southern end of expected thunderstorm complexes to the north of the Kansas and Missouri borders may affect parts of northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as well. A cold front Tuesday should increase the shower and thunderstorm chances areawide. Severe weather is looking more likely with the Tuesday storms, although details are uncertain at this time. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 17, 1:45 PM CST, 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
245 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
ARZ019-172015-
Crawford AR-
245 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY
THROUGH 315 PM CDT...
At 245 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Lee Creek. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary or drifting
slowly westward.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Cedarville... Natural Dam...
Lee Creek...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3560 9429 3559 9446 3576 9449 3576 9429
3575 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 098DEG 3KT 3571 9437
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, May 17, 2:29 PM CST, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
329 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
OKZ069-172100-
Adair OK-
329 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ADAIR COUNTY THROUGH 400
PM CDT...
At 329 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Christie. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.
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 hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Westville... Christie...
Baron... Proctor...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3587 9454 3587 9477 3601 9478 3603 9456
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 170DEG 2KT 3594 9468
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, May 17, 2:34 PM CST, 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
334 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
OKZ068-172100-
Cherokee OK-
334 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY THROUGH
400 PM CDT...
At 334 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Tahlequah. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.
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 hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Tahlequah...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3580 9485 3581 9509 3598 9509 3598 9486
TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 170DEG 2KT 3588 9499
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe radar
The Tulsa radar (KINX), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:35 UTC.
Event by event
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, May 17, 2024
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Florida, May 17 to 18, 2024
- Flash Flooding in Mississippi, May 17, 2024
- Tornado in Ohio, May 17, 2024
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 17 to 18, 2024
- High Wind in Idaho, May 17, 2024
- Damaging Winds in South Dakota, May 17, 2024
- Damaging Winds in South Dakota, May 17, 2024
- Damaging Wind in Arkansas, May 17, 2024
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, May 17, 2024
- Hail and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, May 17, 2024
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 17, 2024
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2024
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: 1182541.