Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 25 to 26, 2024

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 25 to 26, 2024
Start: 2024-05-25T22:06
End: 2024-05-26T01:54
Location: Oklahoma

May 25 to 26, 2024 · NWS TSA · 20 events in 7 counties and zones

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 23
Property damage: $50 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

Severe thunderstorms developed over western Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 25th, along a sharpening dry line, and moved east across Oklahoma through the evening and into the early morning hours of the 26th. The atmosphere east of the dry line across Oklahoma was moist and very unstable. Wind fields above the ground and deep layer wind shear strengthened during the afternoon through the early morning hours of the 26th, as an upper level disturbance translated into the Southern Plains. Additionally, low level wind shear increased late in the evening and continued very strong into the early morning hours of the 26th. These conditions were very supportive for the development of supercell thunderstorms. One of these supercells became particularly intense and long-tracked as it moved across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, producing multiple tornadoes, several of which were strong. Large hail to base ball size and swaths of damaging straight-line wind also occurred, resulting in considerable damage.

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 25, 8:30 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 8:30 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
930 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

...New SHORT TERM...

.SHORT TERM...
(The rest of tonight)
Issued at 920 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

Update mainly is for adding tornado watch 311 which will include
most of NE OK and far NW AR. Bulk of storm coverage is expected
to stay north of I 40 tonight, though isolated to widely scattered
storms that develop across SE OK and WC AR will still have severe
potential. Made some adjustments to PoPs through 06 based on
expected coverage, and just a few minor tweaks to PoPs in the
06-12z time frame. Overnight temperatures look reasonable at this
time.

Updated ZFP/AFM/PFM already sent

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tomorrow through Saturday)
Issued at 230 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

Thunderstorms are expected to have waned and / or focused more
east of the local region by early Sunday. However, the cold front
associated with the passing wave will not clear western AR and SE
OK until late afternoon and conditions will become increasingly
unstable ahead of the boundary. Veered low level winds will limit
frontal convergence and overall storm coverage is likely to be
low, however at least isolated storms are possible along the
boundary by mid to late afternoon before the front clears the
forecast area to the east and south. Otherwise, dry weather and
warm weather will prevail west of the front. Sfc high pressure
builds across the region Monday providing a pleasant day area
wide.

The pattern transitions toward more northwesterly flow through the
southern Plains by Tuesday with daily thunderstorm complexes
likely to develop and track in or near the forecast area from
Tuesday night through Thursday. Locally heavy rainfall and at
least a limited risk of severe weather would accompany these
events.

By late week into next weekend the pattern reverts to more
southwesterly flow aloft and likely remains unsettled with daily
thunderstorm chances continuing.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 631 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

The main focus this TAF period is to time potential for storm
impacts at the TAF sites this evening and overnight. Per latest
HRRR and WoFS, TEMPO groups were used where probs were greater for
storm impacts near the KS/MO borders. This would include the KBVO,
KXNA and KROG TAF sites. Storm potential was also higher at KMLC
per model data, so a TEMPO was used there also. There may also be
a period of MVFR cigs as well during the overnight. A front will
push thru on Sunday, with conditions at all sites returning to
VFR with gusty winds veering to the W/SW.

Lacy

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   71  89  62  87 /  50   0   0   0
FSM   73  91  66  89 /  40  20  20   0
MLC   72  91  64  89 /  30   0  10   0
BVO   67  88  58  86 /  60  10   0   0
FYV   69  87  61  85 /  50  20  10   0
BYV   68  88  61  84 /  50  30  10   0
MKO   71  90  62  85 /  30   0   0   0
MIO   67  86  59  83 /  60  10  10   0
F10   71  91  61  86 /  30   0   0   0
HHW   71  89  65  89 /  50  10  10   0

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
AR...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...23
LONG TERM....07
AVIATION...30

Hazardous weather outlook, May 25, 4:03 PM CST, 6 hours 3 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
503 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-261015-
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-
503 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...Through Tonight.

TORNADO.
	RISK...Elevated.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma.
	ONSET...This evening.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
	RISK...Elevated.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...This evening.

SIGNIFICANT WINDS.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.

DISCUSSION...
Severe storms are underway across northwest Texas and
southwest Oklahoma, with additional development across the Texas and
Oklahoma panhandles late this afternoon. As these storms move east
towards central Oklahoma, the potential for severe thunderstorms
across parts of eastern Oklahoma remains in place later this
evening. The storms will likely be widely scattered, but will pose
the threat of large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes. As
activity moves further into eastern Oklahoma, storms are expected to
weaken some as they move into Arkansas. Further north, an organized
MCS that track east across southern Kansas may clip parts of far
northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas late tonight. These storms
will carry mainly a damaging wind threat along with an isolated
tornado potential.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.
SUNDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential.
MONDAY...No Hazards.
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential.
FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
A couple of quiet days are expected for the remainder of the
holiday weekend. A few thunderstorms will be possible on Sunday
across far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as a cold front
moves through, but will quickly shift eastward. Nightly
thunderstorm chances will return by mid week as northwest flow
aloft sets up and chances increase for storm complexes moving into
the region overnight. Some severe potential will likely exist on
those nights, along with the threat for heavy rainfall and
isolated flooding.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 25, 7:30 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
830 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

OKZ054-059-260230-
Osage OK-Pawnee OK-
830 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMs WILL IMPACT NORTHERN OSAGE AND NORTH CENTRAL
PAWNEE COUNTIES THROUGH 930 PM CDT...

At 829 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 3 miles
southwest of Tonkawa, moving northeast at 55 mph. Other strong
thunderstorms were northwest of Grainola.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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...
Pawhuska...                       Fairfax...
Barnsdall...                      Shidler...
Wynona...                         Burbank...
Grainola...                       Foraker...
Pearsonia...                      Southern Kaw Lake...
Webb City...                      Tallant...
Apperson...                       Pershing...
Nelagoney...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9639 3653 9614 3651 9701 3653 9698
      3655 9690 3658 9689 3660 9692 3658 9698
      3659 9705 3660 9704 3668 9706 3670 9703
      3668 9694 3675 9689 3674 9683 3677 9682
      3678 9675 3700 9675
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 239DEG 50KT 3665 9734

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

69

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 6 tornado, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Tulsa

When: May 25, 10:06 PM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 4.77 mi NE of Skiatook
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.410, -95.930

Hail, Rogers

When: May 25, 10:14 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, 2 mi NE of Oologah
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.471, -95.675

Tornado, Rogers

When: May 25, 10:19 PM CST to 10:48 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, 5.65 mi SE of Collinsville to 7.8 mi ESE of Sequoyah
Rating: EF3
Path length: 18.7 mi
Path width: 2,000 yd
Continued into: Mayes, Ok (TSA)
Injuries: 19 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $40 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.307, -95.765

This is the first segment of a two-segment tornado. This tornado developed northeast of Owasso near Limestone, and moved east-southeast through Keetonville. Homes were damaged, outbuildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado turned to the east-northeast as it approached Claremore, where numerous homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed, and numerous trees and power poles were blown down. It blew a large portion of the roof from Will Rogers Downs on the east side of town, and destroyed numerous recreational vehicles at a park near the Downs. The tornado continued to move east, then northeast, as it moved away from Claremore and toward the Rogers/Mayes County line. Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed between Claremore and the county line. Numerous outbuildings were destroyed, and many trees and power poles were blown down. In total, more than 40 homes and businesses were destroyed by the tornado, and about 1200 others were damaged. Nineteen injuries occurred in Rogers County from the tornado. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 145 to 155 mph. The tornado continued into Mayes County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rogers

When: May 25, 10:20 PM CST
Where: Rogers County, 6.22 mi WNW of Verdigris
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.270, -95.780

Strong thunderstorm wind blew shingles from the roofs of homes, and snapped large tree limbs.

Tornado, Mayes

When: May 25, 10:48 PM CST to 10:59 PM CST
Where: Mayes County, 6.95 mi WNW of Pryor to 1.98 mi NW of Pryor
Rating: EF3
Path length: 5.2 mi
Path width: 1,400 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.337, -95.436

This is the second segment of a two-segment tornado. The tornado moved into Mayes County at about the W 470 Road, and continued to produce significant damage, snapping many trees at the county line. As it moved east-southeast, the tornado destroyed a mobile home less than a mile east of the county line, where two fatalities and four injuries occurred. The tornado destroyed several homes near the N 428 Road, about four miles northwest of Pryor, and then dissipated about two miles northwest of Pryor. In total, about 60 homes were damaged, eighteen of which were destroyed, more than 50 outbuildings were destroyed, and many power poles were blown down. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 145 to 155 mph.

Tornado, Mayes

When: May 25, 11:07 PM CST to 11:19 PM CST
Where: Mayes County, 1.65 mi NW of Salina to 4.96 mi E of Salina
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.1 mi
Path width: 2,000 yd
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.320, -95.167

This tornado developed over Lake Hudson and moved generally east-southeast. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, about 30 homes were damaged, one of which was destroyed, more than 30 outbuildings were destroyed, and power poles were snapped along its path from the lake shore to near Kenwood Road. It produced a tornadic debris signature from the KINX WSR-88D. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 105 to 110 mph.

Tornado, Mayes

When: May 25, 11:25 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
Where: Mayes County, 0.52 mi W of Salina to 2.03 mi ESE of Lake Hudson
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.4 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $3.8 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.300, -95.159

This tornado developed just north of Salina, and moved south-southeast across town, dissipating over an inlet of Lake Hudson. The tornado damaged about 40 homes and businesses, of which seven were destroyed, damaged more than a dozen government and commercial buildings, destroyed about twenty outbuildings, uprooted and snapped trees, and blew down power poles. It produced a tornadic debris signature from the KINX WSR-88D. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.

Tornado, Delaware

When: May 25, 11:36 PM CST to 11:39 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 4.07 mi ESE of Kenwood to 4.25 mi SSW of Eucha
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.8 mi
Path width: 650 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.304, -94.915

This tornado developed over rugged terrain near Bull Hollow, moved across County Road 546, where trees were uprooted, and then moved northeast and dissipated before reaching County Road 487. It produced a tornadic debris signature from the KINX WSR-88D. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 100 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware

When: May 25, 11:51 PM CST to 11:58 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 1.27 mi WSW of Colcord to 3.85 mi E of Row
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.263, -94.701

Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted trees, snapped large tree limbs, damaged the roofs of homes, blew down power lines, and destroyed outbuildings in a broad swath from west of Colcord to west of Cherokee City, AR.

Hail, McIntosh

When: May 25, 11:52 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 3 mi SW of Onapa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.369, -95.588

Hail, McIntosh

When: May 25, 11:58 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 3.45 mi SE of Onapa
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.363, -95.509

Hail slightly larger than golf ball size damaged homes and vehicles.

Tornado, Delaware

When: May 25, 11:59 PM CST to May 26, 12:01 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, 3.77 mi ENE of Row to 5.64 mi ENE of Row
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.8 mi
Path width: 2,300 yd
Continued into: Benton, Ar (TSA)
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.301, -94.618

This is the first segment of a two-segment tornado. This tornado developed north of County Road 500 and west of S 712 Road, about a mile and a half from the state line. It damaged several homes, destroyed outbuildings, snapped and uprooted trees, and snapped power poles as it moved northeast into Arkansas, crossing near Welch Road. This tornado produced a tornadic debris signature from KINX and KSRX WSR-88Ds. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: May 26, 12:10 AM CST
Where: Osage County, 1 mi W of Hulah
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.930, -96.048

Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.

Hail, Osage

When: May 26, 12:14 AM CST
Where: Osage County, 4 mi NNW of Hulah
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.983, -96.058

Golf ball size hail damaged vehicles.

Hail, Mayes

When: May 26, 12:27 AM CST
Where: Mayes County, Mazie
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.100, -95.370

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 26, 1:26 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 1 mi N of Miami
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.895, -94.880

Golf ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 26, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 2 mi N of Miami
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.909, -94.880

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 26, 1:42 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Fairland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.750, -94.850

Golf ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When: May 26, 1:47 AM CST to 1:50 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 4.4 mi NE of Wyandotte to 5.15 mi SSE of Peoria
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.842, -94.670

Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted trees and snapped numerous large tree limbs in a broad swath damage.

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 26, 1:54 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 6.6 mi SSE of Wyandotte
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.710, -94.690

Hail slightly larger than golf ball size damaged homes and vehicles.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Mayes	2024-05-25	61	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Mayes	2024-05-25	35	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2024 Warnings 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: 1183926, 1183461, 1184519, 1183460, 1184520, 1184521, 1184522, 1184523, 1188113, 1183462, 1183464, 1184526, 1183467, 1183466, 1183469, 1183482, 1183939, 1183484, 1188110, 1183485.