Surface analysis identified a cold front advancing into the Ark-La-Tex region early in the afternoon on May 22nd. Weak surface troughing preceded the cold front, noted by a wind shift from southerly to the south of the boundary to northerly to the north of it.
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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 SHV wrote it up.
Surface analysis identified a cold front advancing into the Ark-La-Tex region early in the afternoon on May 22nd. Weak surface troughing preceded the cold front, noted by a wind shift from southerly to the south of the boundary to northerly to the north of it. This troughing was influential in the intensification of thunderstorms moving into parts of Southwest Arkansas through mid afternoon. The air mass ahead of the boundary was characterized by ample low-level moisture and very strong buoyancy. MLCAPE was over 3000 J/kg across the entire region, and vertical shear was quite strong with bulk shear values in the 50 to 60 knot range. Although some minimal convective inhibition remained early on, it eroded quickly with robust thunderstorm development along and ahead of these boundaries. Initially, a more cellular mode favored large hail as the primary risk. As a result, a report of 1.5 inch hail was received near Carter Mountain along Highway 259 in northcentral McCurtain 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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 22, 12:00 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Shreveport LA 100 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 ...New AVIATION... .UPDATE... Issued at 1027 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024 Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 284 will be in effect until 500 PM CDT for southeast Oklahoma and adjacent portions of northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas, with southern and eastward expansion likely later today. Strong areas of convection have begun to light up across eastern Oklahoma as of the 15Z hour and do not show any signs of weakening as they trek south and east into the ArkLaTex. The southernmost of these cells is approaching Pushmataha and Choctaw counties and looks to begin impacting McCurtain county Oklahoma within an hour or two. This development is representative of a somewhat earlier progression of today's severe weather than the latest model runs suggested, but the ultimate mode of convection appears consistent. Additional discrete development pushing out of central Texas later today is possible, followed by coalescing into an MCS as the event progresses. Large hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter and damaging severe wind gusts will be the primary threats associated with these storms, but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. Increased PoPs across our northernmost zones to represent this accelerated arrival of storms, and based on yesterday's highs despite cloud cover, nudged today's highs up a degree or two. Ingested the most recent several hours of temperature and dewpoint observations and interpolated through to 00Z Thursday. /26/ && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 100 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024 VFR conditions are expected this afternoon and at least a portion of this evening, with cu cigs expected to persist across much of the region through this time. However, convection will continue to increase through the afternoon across portions of NE TX/SW AR, possibly affecting the TXK terminal by mid-afternoon. This convection should eventually build farther SE across E TX and into N LA by/after 00Z Thursday, affecting the I-20 terminals between 00-03Z. MVFR cigs with gusty winds/reduced vsbys are likely in/near the convection, although these storms should develop a cold pool deep enough to delay the onset of low cloud development through much of the overnight hours generally along/N of I-20. However, low MVFR/IFR cigs will be possible at LFK especially if convection does not affect this terminal late this evening/overnight. Once diurnal heating commences shortly after daybreak, should begin to see IFR/low MVFR cigs develop over the area, which will slowly lift/eventually scatter out by the end of the 18Z TAF period. S winds 8-13kts with occasional higher gusts to 20kts, will become SSE and diminish below 10kts, except gusty in/near convection. Winds should diminish to 5kts or less once the convection diminishes late tonight. /15/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 93 74 91 74 / 50 70 20 20 MLU 92 72 90 72 / 40 60 20 20 DEQ 88 67 82 67 / 90 70 50 50 TXK 92 71 88 72 / 90 70 40 40 ELD 91 68 87 68 / 80 60 30 30 TYR 92 73 89 73 / 60 70 20 20 GGG 93 72 90 72 / 50 70 20 20 LFK 91 73 92 74 / 20 50 20 20 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && SHORT TERM...26 AVIATION...15
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 323 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077-TXZ096- 097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-231200- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto- Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn-Grant- Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass- Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk-Panola- Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 323 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms will become widespread late this afternoon, into the evening and overnight hours across much of the Four State Region. Large hail, damaging thunderstorm wind gusts and locally heavy downpours will be the primary threats with an isolated tornado threat as well. The severe weather threat should end from northwest to southeast across the Four State Region overnight tonight. While widespread flooding is not likely through tonight, flooding of low lying and flood prone areas will be possible with heavy downpours through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Severe weather will be possible once again late Thursday into Thursday Night, late Friday into Friday Night and again late in the day on Saturday across mainly portions of Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas. Large hail and damaging thunderstorm wind gusts will again be the main threats Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A strong cold front will move through the region on Memorial Day and Monday Night bringing with it another chance of thunderstorms. Before the cold front arrives late on Monday, we will see some of the hottest temperatures of the late Spring Season with afternoon high temperatures both Saturday and Sunday in the lower to middle 90s. Combine this with high afternoon humidity and heat indices could approach 105 degrees across some locations. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be likely later this afternoon and into the late evening and early overnight periods tonight with the development of severe thunderstorms. 13
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
118 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
OKZ077-221845-
McCurtain OK-
118 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL MCCURTAIN COUNTY
THROUGH 145 PM CDT...
At 118 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northeast of Fort Towson, or 22 miles east of Hugo, moving east
at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Wright City, Slim, Rufe, Ringold, and Glover.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 500 PM CDT for
southeastern Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3407 9476 3401 9516 3410 9516 3421 9515
3430 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 252DEG 28KT 3411 9514
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
20Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
121 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
OKZ077-221845-
McCurtain OK-
121 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MCCURTAIN COUNTY
THROUGH 145 PM CDT...
At 120 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles southwest of Octavia, or 29 miles southeast of Clayton, moving
east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Battiest, Bethel, and Smithville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 500 PM CDT for
southeastern Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3438 9460 3430 9494 3440 9498 3451 9475
3451 9467
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 252DEG 28KT 3438 9490
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
20Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
154 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
ARZ060-061-221945-
Hempstead AR-Nevada AR-
154 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL HEMPSTEAD AND
NORTHWESTERN NEVADA COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 154 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
just southeast of Oakhaven, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hope, Prescott, Emmet, Perrytown, Washington, Oakhaven, and Laneburg.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 500 PM CDT for
southwestern Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3363 9367 3374 9377 3391 9342 3368 9325
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 245DEG 20KT 3370 9361
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
15The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:22 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Ping pong ball size hail reported north of Carter Mountain near the intersection of Highway 259 and Timbuktu Trail.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2024
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: 1187045.