Showers and a few thunderstorms developed across northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 20th, as a strong upper level storm system translated across the region. Strong wind shear was present across the area due to the approach of this storm system, which resulted in some thunderstorm rotation.
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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 TSA wrote it up.
Showers and a few thunderstorms developed across northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 20th, as a strong upper level storm system translated across the region. Strong wind shear was present across the area due to the approach of this storm system, which resulted in some thunderstorm rotation. One of the thunderstorms produced a weak, brief tornado in Tulsa 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 Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 20, 11:20 AM CST, 4 hours 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1120 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1114 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 - Widespread showers and thunderstorms through this evening. Severe chances low, localized flooding concerns. - Cold front Friday will drop temperatures closer to seasonal normals this weekend. - Increasing rain chances again late weekend into early next week. && .SHORT TERM... (Through Tonight) Issued at 1114 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue through much of the day today into this evening as an upper level wave tracks over the region. Heavier rainfall totals will likely set up from I-44 south, with less rainfall expected across far northern parts of the forecast area through the afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall of an additional 1 to 2 inches could cause some flooding concerns, especially in more urban or low lying areas. A lack of instability will limit much in the way of severe potential. Portions of far southeast Oklahoma could destabilize some by this afternoon as the final cluster of storms moves from west to east, and locally raise some concern for strong to severe storms. Increasing low level shear near the surface low as it tracks through southeast Oklahoma could allow for a brief tornado with any more robust storm that can develop this afternoon. Chances are pretty low at this point though with widespread rain and cloud cover streaming over the region. Rain will begin to push east tonight with some lingering showers and possibly a thunderstorm possible as the trough axis swings through. Temperatures will remain fairly steady today, generally in the mid to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Thursday) Issued at 1114 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Lingering showers Friday morning, mainly across northwest Arkansas, should quickly push east with the exiting wave. A cold front will follow the upper low moving from northwest to southeast through the day Friday. The result will be more seasonable temperature settling in for the weekend. Highs tomorrow could reach the mid 70s across south and east portions of the forecast area, where the front will be later to arrive. Clearing skies will lead to a pleasant afternoon for most on Friday. Cooler and drier conditions will settle in on Saturday and again Sunday as another system approaches the area from the west. Latest trends in the guidance have come into better agreement on timing of any precipitation associated with the next system. The upper low is also trending to track further north, limiting more of the heavy rain threat that has been noted in previous forecasts. Still widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms are progged to moves across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas Sunday night into Monday. Overall, the severe weather threat appears rather limited but a few stronger storms will be possible, especially across southeast Oklahoma Sunday night. Locally, another 1 to 2 inches of rain will be possible...with widespread totals around one half to one inch in the forecast. A series of cold fronts will keep temperatures closer to or possibly below normal into the Thanksgiving holiday, with dry weather prevailing after Monday. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1114 AM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 Areas of showers with some embedded thunderstorms will continue much of today and this evening, with flight conditions overall continuing to deteriorate. MVFR ceilings by this afternoon will mostly prevail with IFR or even LIFR developing in may areas tonight. Overall precip coverage will taper off from west to east overnight, with potential for more robust convection later this afternoon into the evening generally south of I-40. Some improvement in conditions possible very late in the forecast period across eastern OK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 60 71 47 62 / 70 10 0 0 FSM 62 75 51 67 / 80 20 0 0 MLC 60 74 48 65 / 80 10 0 0 BVO 55 69 43 60 / 70 10 0 0 FYV 59 70 47 63 / 90 20 10 0 BYV 59 70 49 62 / 90 30 10 0 MKO 60 72 48 63 / 70 10 0 0 MIO 60 70 47 60 / 80 20 10 0 F10 58 73 47 63 / 70 10 0 0 HHW 61 74 49 68 / 80 20 0 0 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...04 LONG TERM....04 AVIATION...14
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 106 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-211915- 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- 106 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025 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 into West Central Arkansas. ONSET...This Afternoon. HEAVY RAIN & FLASH FLOOD. RISK...Limited. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... Periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue through this evening before tapering off from west to east late tonight. A couple strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening mainly across southeast Oklahoma and west central Arkansas, where a very low tornado threat may briefly develop late this afternoon and early this evening. Locally heavy rainfall will also remain possible, which may lead to localized flash flooding, especially if additional rounds of heavy rain occur in the same parts of far southeast Oklahoma that saw heavy rainfall overnight. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Local Spotter Activation May Be Needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...No Hazards. SUNDAY AND MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...No Hazards. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Another upper level storm system looks to affect the area Sunday and Monday bringing another round of showers and storms and the potential for locally heavy rainfall. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
326 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025
OKZ060-067-202200-
Tulsa OK-Wagoner OK-
326 PM CST Thu Nov 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN WAGONER AND
SOUTHEASTERN TULSA COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM CST...
At 325 PM CST, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Jenks Riverside Airport, moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Broken Arrow... Jenks...
Glenpool... Jenks Riverside Airport...
Bixby... Oneta...
Tulsa... Catoosa...
Coweta...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 217 and 232.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3620 9582 3616 9581 3616 9575 3600 9565
3593 9600 3599 9603 3607 9603 3608 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 245DEG 15KT 3602 9596
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MejiaThe Tulsa radar (KINX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:00 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A storm chaser observed a brief tornado that snapped small tree limbs. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 50 to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2025Warnings in Oklahoma, November 2025
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: 1295149.