Hail, Osage
- When
- April 26, 6:30 PM CST
- Where
- Osage County, 2 mi S of Foraker
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 36.841, -96.550
Severe thunderstorms developed across northeastern Oklahoma during the evening of the 26th, near a warm front as an upper level disturbance approached the region from the west. The atmosphere across eastern Oklahoma became very unstable during the afternoon and early evening and the deep-layer wind shear was strong with the approach of the upper level disturbance.
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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.
Severe thunderstorms developed across northeastern Oklahoma during the evening of the 26th, near a warm front as an upper level disturbance approached the region from the west. The atmosphere across eastern Oklahoma became very unstable during the afternoon and early evening and the deep-layer wind shear was strong with the approach of the upper level disturbance. Some of the thunderstorms were able to develop into supercells due to the favorable combination of instability and wind shear. Several tornadoes and large hail up to quarter size occurred with the strongest thunderstorms.
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 Apr 26, 5:26 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 626 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1244 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 - Severe storms are possible this afternoon through early tonight, however confidence remains low in overall storm coverage. - Thunderstorm and severe weather chances linger into Monday and Tuesday across eastern areas. - After a break from active weather on Wednesday, rain and low thunderstorm chances return late week. Severe potential appears low at this time. && .SHORT TERM... (Through tonight ) Issued at 1244 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 A mid level trough gradually ejects from the Rockies today, while a warm front lifts north and moisture advection continues at the surface east of a dryline and sfc low in Western/Central OK. The eastern end of the warm front will likely struggle with its northward advance, and the front is expected to end up draped across our area this afternoon and evening, oriented NW to SE. This maintains widespread 60+ dewpoints, with pockets of 70+ possible this evening, and results in an increasingly unstable airmass across the warm sector. With steep lapse rates and increasing wind shear, the environment will certainly be supportive of severe weather and any storm that develops and takes advantage will likely become severe. All severe hazards will be possible this afternoon into tonight, including large to very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes (particularly if sfc-based storms are present in the evening). With that said, storm coverage remains uncertain, and overall storm chances remain fairly low... only between 20 and 40 percent this afternoon through tonight. Warm advection storms will be possible north of the front with additional isolated storms possible across the remainder of the area as inhibition decreases, with preference along the dryline/triple point. The environment will continue to support severe weather into the overnight period, however, thunderstorm and severe chances should generally trend downward by late overnight/early morning. Overall, it remains to be seen how many storms will develop to take advantage of the environment today, but it is a day to remain weather aware and appreciate the potential. && .LONG TERM... (Monday through Sunday) Issued at 1244 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Additional thunderstorm development will be possible along and ahead of an advancing dryline/frontal boundary Monday afternoon/early evening, some of which may be severe. Based on the latest timing expectations, this places far E OK and NW AR in the greater risk for severe weather. Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary concerns Monday. The front is expected to stall in the vicinity of western Arkansas and SE OK Monday night into Tuesday as another shortwave moves across the region. This results in yet another day of severe weather potential, particularly along and south of I-40 in E OK and into W-Central and NW AR during the afternoon and evening. The cold front will eventually move south of the local area Tuesday night, with high pressure providing a break from the active weather pattern on Wednesday. Precip chances increase late week as another shortwave passes overhead and an upper low moves east out of the Desert SW. Instability during this period continues to look fairly weak, so thunder chances remain much lower through the end of the week with no severe weather expected. Quiet weather is possible Sunday with another period of high pressure. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 625 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 VFR conditions will prevail into the evening. The main concern in the near term will be scattered storm potential across NE OK over the next several hours. Used PROB30s to cover potential. Another round of storms is expected later tonight from the west, mainly across NE OK. Storm chances greatest at KBVO, a bit lower at KTUL/KRVS. Kept TEMPO mention at KBVO and PROB30 mentions at KTUL/KRVS for the overnight storms. Storm chances/coverage too uncertain to mention storms at the SE OK and NW AR TAF sites at this time. MVFR cigs are expected to overspread the region from the south late tonight and will persist into Monday morning. Skies will clear from west to east with a front during the day. Storm chances Monday afternoon should be east of the TAF sites. Lacy && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 69 89 55 74 / 40 10 10 40 FSM 68 87 64 82 / 30 30 30 70 MLC 71 89 63 80 / 20 20 20 60 BVO 65 86 49 72 / 40 10 0 20 FYV 66 84 57 78 / 40 40 30 80 BYV 66 83 55 79 / 30 40 30 80 MKO 69 87 58 76 / 30 20 10 60 MIO 67 84 51 72 / 40 20 10 50 F10 69 87 57 76 / 20 10 10 50 HHW 69 87 66 80 / 20 20 20 60 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...43 LONG TERM....43 AVIATION...30
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 528 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ARZ001-002-010-011-119-120-129-219-220-229-OKZ049-053-055>071- 073>075-154-172-176-254-272-276-354-376-272230- Benton-Carroll-Washington AR-Madison-Northern Crawford- Northern Franklin-North and Central Sebastian-Southern Crawford- Central and Southern Franklin-Southern Sebastian-Pushmataha- Choctaw-Washington OK-Nowata-Craig-Ottawa-Pawnee-Tulsa-Rogers- Mayes-Delaware-Creek-Okfuskee-Okmulgee-Wagoner-Cherokee-Adair- Muskogee-McIntosh-Pittsburg-Haskell-Latimer-Western Osage- Northern Sequoyah-Northern Le Flore-Northeast Osage- Central and Southern Sequoyah-Central Le Flore-Southeast Osage- Southern Le Flore- 528 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...HIGHER END SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE OVERNIGHT... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Elevated to near Significant. AREA...Mainly Northeast Oklahoma. Some risk Northwest Arkansas and Southeast Oklahoma. ONSET...Late this afternoon. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Elevated to near Significant. AREA...Mainly Northeast Oklahoma. Some risk Northwest Arkansas and Southeast Oklahoma. ONSET...Late this afternoon. DISCUSSION... Thunderstorm coverage is expected to increase by late this afternoon across northeast Oklahoma. Multiple rounds of storms are expected across northeast Oklahoma from late this afternoon into the overnight hours. Storm coverage is more uncertain across northwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. Any storms that develop will have the potential to produce all severe hazards, including very large hail, locally damaging wind and tornadoes. Storms during the overnight hours, especially across northeast Oklahoma, will have higher-end tornado potential. The storm threat should come to an end by around 5 AM. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential. TUESDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential. WEDNESDAY...No Hazards. THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. FRIDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. SATURDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Strong to severe storm potential will increase Monday afternoon along and ahead of a cold front. This potential will be greatest east of Interstate 49 in northwest Arkansas, with lower potential across extreme southeast Oklahoma. Large hail and locally damaging winds will be the main threats. Another round of storms and some potential for severe weather Tuesday afternoon, south of the front across southeast Oklahoma and western Arkansas. A lull in storm chances is forecast Wednesday, however storm chances increase again for the latter part of the week with the approach of another storm system. At this time, the severe weather potential is expected to be low. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
658 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
OKZ154-270030-
Western Osage OK-
658 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN OSAGE COUNTY
THROUGH 730 PM CDT...
At 658 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near Kaw
City, 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 small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Shidler... Burbank...
Grainola... Foraker...
Pearsonia... Eastern Kaw Lake...
Webb City... Apperson...
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 Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3681 9643 3675 9644 3667 9685 3675 9689
3675 9687 3674 9683 3676 9682 3677 9682
3677 9679 3678 9679 3678 9675 3694 9675
3700 9664 3700 9656
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 243DEG 22KT 3679 9682
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe Tulsa radar (KINX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:27 UTC.
4 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
This tornado was witnessed by numerous storm chasers and remained over mainly open country. Power poles were snapped by the tornado on Foraker Road, south of Foraker. Otherwise, no known damage occurred from this tornado. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 85 to 95 mph.
This was a satellite tornado that occurred simultaneously with a portion of the Foraker tornado, and was witnessed by numerous storm chasers. It remained over open country with no known damage. The path details were based on the storm chaser observations and radar data.
This tornado was observed and documented by research meteorologists. It remained over open country with no known damage. The path details were based on their observations and radar data.
This tornado was observed by several storm chasers. It remained over open country with no known damage. The path details were based on the storm chaser observations and radar data.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2026Warnings in Oklahoma, April 2026
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: 1325053, 1325218, 1325220, 1325225, 1325230.