Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, April 2, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
251 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 251 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

  - Severe storm chances this morning into the afternoon.

  - At least limited severe potentials continue Thursday and
    Friday, mainly across SE OK and W-Central AR.

  - Rain chances continue through the weekend with heavy rain and
    flood potential increasing, especially across SE OK and
    W-Central AR.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today)
Issued at 251 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

Warm, moist air continues to advect northward into eastern
Oklahoma and western Arkansas this morning thanks in part to gusty
southerly winds noted across the region. The main concern in the
near term is thunderstorm chances, including severe potential,
evolving over the next few hours and lasting throughout the
morning hours. A cold front currently draped across northwest
Oklahoma will advance eastward throughout the morning and interact
with the warm, moist airmass in place with dewpoints in the mid to
upper 60s over most of the area. At the same time, an upper level
jet streak associated with a shortwave trough is currently
ejecting out into the Plains as noted in water vapor imagery. High
res guidance continues to indicate that storms will break out
along the dryline/cool front over the next hour or two over
central Oklahoma as this source of lift intersects the
aforementioned boundaries. These storms would then advance
eastward into eastern Oklahoma and near the Tulsa metro area
around rush hour this morning. Uncertainties still exist to the
extent and strength of these storms as a substantial capping
inversion is still in place over the region, though slowly eroding
as low level moisture increases. Storms may remain elevated in
nature which would limit the tornado risk substantially. Still,
steep mid level lapse rates and strong deep layer shear would
support large to very large hail with any discrete storm. If any
storm can become surface based, then the tornado threat would
increase as well. Storms will likely become more linear as they
advance eastward, with the severe threat being maintained as the
line advances into a still highly unstable, highly sheared
environment.

Storms should clear the forecast area by early to mid afternoon as
the front advances well into Arkansas by this time frame. Clearing
skies and warming temperatures will follow into the afternoon
across eastern Oklahoma with breezy westerly winds common through
the afternoon.

Bowlan

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tonight through Tuesday)
Issued at 251 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop
overnight tonight into Thursday as a warm front lifts back north
of the Red River and another shortwave trough moves through the
southwesterly flow aloft. The highest severe chances will stay
confined to southeast Oklahoma and west central Arkansas, south of
the boundary, where large hail will once again be a primary
threat. More isolated thunderstorms and showers are expected north
of the boundary into northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas
through Thursday afternoon.

The cutoff upper trough will begin slowly advancing eastward
through the latter part of the week and into the weekend, with
strong southwest flow aloft continuing over the region through at
least Saturday. The threat will transition to more of a heavy
rain and flooding threat as we move into the weekend, especially
across southeast Oklahoma and west central Arkansas. Several
rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected from Friday
through Sunday morning, focused along the stalled frontal boundary
meandering over the region. Continued moist advection along and
south of the boundary will bring unseasonably high PWAT values
into the region for several days. Efficient, heavy rainfall is
expected near the boundary, where upwards of 6-8 inches of rain
could fall locally by the time all is said and done on Sunday.
FLooding, both flash flooding and mainstem river flooding, will
likely become a concern across a portion of the area. A FLood
Watch will likely be needed in coming shifts as guidance hones in
on the area most likely to see the heaviest rainfall.

The trough axis finally shifts east of the region during the day
Sunday, with notably colder temperatures and drier air filtering
in behind the cold front for the first part of next week. Low
temperatures both Monday and Tuesday morning could approach
freezing values across the northern half of the forecast area. The
forecast looks to dry out through at least the first half of next
week, with primarily northwest flow aloft keeping temperatures
slow to warm through the week.

Bowlan

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1202 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

MVFR ceilings will overspread the terminals for the remainder of
the night with strong LLWS area wide. Scattered to numerous
thunderstorms are expected to develop after 3 AM and move through
the E OK terminals by mid morning. NW AR terminals will be
impacted a few hours later as storms remain progressive with the
passing cold front. Gusty winds continue in wake of the cold front
with ceilings rising in to VFR levels. Winds diminish around
sunset.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   77  52  64  52 /  60  30  80  30
FSM   82  58  68  60 /  80  60 100  70
MLC   82  54  66  57 /  60  70  90  70
BVO   76  47  64  47 /  40  30  70  20
FYV   79  51  64  54 /  90  40  90  50
BYV   77  52  61  53 /  80  20  90  50
MKO   80  52  63  53 /  70  50  90  50
MIO   77  50  61  50 /  70  30  80  30
F10   79  51  63  53 /  60  50  90  60
HHW   79  58  71  61 /  80  80  90  90

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Wind Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for OKZ054>076.

AR...Wind Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for ARZ001-002-010-
     011-019-020-029.

&&

SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM....04
AVIATION...07

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
330 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-022030-
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-
330 AM CDT Wed Apr 2 2025

...SIGNIFICANT THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING...

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.
TORNADO.
	RISK...Elevated.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma.
	ONSET...This Morning.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
	RISK...Significant.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...This Morning.

	AREA AT GREATEST RISK...Northeast Oklahoma.

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

DISCUSSION...
The cold front will continue east through the day today with
severe weather potential continuing along and ahead of the front
into western Arkansas this morning through the early afternoon.
Strong wind shear and instability will support the potential for
significant severe weather including large hail, damaging winds,
and a few tornadoes. The severe storm potential is expected to
shift east of the region by early to mid afternoon, however
additional storms are likely to develop near the Red River late
Wednesday night as the front lifts back northward. A few severe
storms will be possible during this time frame along with locally
heavy rainfall.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Spotter Activation Not Expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.
THURSDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential.
FRIDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential.
SATURDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential...Heavy Rain Potential.
SUNDAY...High Wind Potential.
MONDAY...No Hazards.
TUESDAY...No Hazards.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
The weather pattern remains favorable for multiple rounds of
heavy rain Thursday through Saturday especially from southeast
Oklahoma through northwest Arkansas. Expect both flash flooding
and main stem river flooding concerns to increase both Friday
and Saturday.

Rain chances will gradually end during the daytime Sunday, with
breezy northerly winds persisting through the afternoon.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT...
Severe weather and flooding impacts are likely to impact
parts of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas now through the
weekend. Multiple periods of response may be required.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.