, lightning) and very dry fuels.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 OUN wrote it up.
A large wildfire ignited across western portions of Woods County, Oklahoma due to the combination of thunderstorm activity (i.e., lightning) and very dry fuels.
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 Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 16, 5:27 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
627 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 623 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
- Hot Wednesday, then back closer to average late in the week.
- Increased widespread rain chances will return late this week.
&&
.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of today and tonight)
Issued at 156 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
We have the potential for isolated to scattered thunderstorms to
develop across the north this afternoon and into this evening.
Almost all of the models (the HRRR being the primary exception)
develop a precipitation signal across northern Oklahoma by 00Z.
Mesoanalysis shows that CIN is weakening across southern Kansas
and cumulus development has been on the increase. Given
mesoanalysis trends and the signal on most models, we do expect
some storm development in the north late this afternoon.
Instability will be sufficient to support isolated severe
thunderstorms with the potential of hail and/or wind. These storms
will likely be diurnal in nature and will likely dissipate by mid
to late evening.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Wednesday through Thursday night)
Issued at 156 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
Wednesday in a word: hot. The heat returns for Wednesday with
widespread triple digit temperatures across the north and west and
triple digit heat index values areawide. Heat index values are
expected to climb to between 105 and 110 in a broad area from
north central to southwest Oklahoma and into western north Texas
tomorrow, so we have issued a Heat Advisory for this area. But
this heat will be short-lived as a cold front moves through the
area Wednesday night into Thursday bringing more seasonable
temperatures back into the area. Thursday highs will still be on
the warm side across southern Oklahoma and north Texas until the
front moves through, but it will be noticeably cooler in northern
and central Oklahoma.
Along with this front will be increasing chances of showers and
thunderstorms. Storms may begin developing late Wednesday
afternoon across northern Oklahoma, although it is more likely we
will start seeing development in the early evening. Again
instability will be enough that severe weather is possible. The
focus for storms will mainly be across northern Oklahoma Wednesday
night. More widespread thunderstorms are expected across a
broader area on Thursday near and north of the cold front. Surface
instability will be limited by the cooler and more stable airmass
behind the front, but elevated instability will be sufficient to
support strong to isolated severe thunderstorms again with the
primary threat being hail. The model consensus is for showers and
storms to become widespread Thursday night, although both the NAM
and operational GFS hint that there could be some convective
feedback issues which develops more model QPF, while the
operational ECMWF shows showers/storms decreasing over the area
and shifting to the east through the night. We will keep POPs
pretty high Thursday night at this point, but watch the trends
tomorrow.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Monday)
Issued at 137 AM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
Some showers will linger into Friday morning across the south on
Friday morning, but with cooler surface ridge building south through
the MS valley and residual cloud cover temperatures Friday will
again top out in the 80s, even across southern Oklahoma and north
Texas.
Most of the weekend looks to be dry with perhaps a isolated shower
or storm with warming trend. Triple digit heat returns to portions
of the area by Sunday afternoon, along with advisory level heat
indices.
Another weaker front may bring some additional rain chances to the
area late Sunday into Monday.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 627 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
VFR conditions are generally expected at most terminals with the
exception being KDUA.
Stratus is expected to develop late tonight across southeast
Oklahoma, which is expected to impact KDUA with MVFR to IFR
ceilings. There is also a low chance of thunderstorms impacting
KWWR this evening.
Southerly winds will decrease after sunset. The strengthening
low- level jet (LLJ) will result in the potential for low level
wind shear (LLWS). Winds will increase by mid to late tomorrow
morning and become gusty from the south. A weak wind shift will
shift the winds to the north at KWWR toward the end of the TAF
period.
Mahale
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK 73 98 76 88 / 10 0 0 40
Hobart OK 73 102 75 93 / 10 0 0 30
Wichita Falls TX 73 100 76 99 / 0 0 0 10
Gage OK 73 104 72 85 / 20 0 0 10
Ponca City OK 74 99 73 81 / 20 10 30 70
Durant OK 74 92 77 94 / 0 0 0 10
&&
.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Wednesday for OKZ005>008-
011>013-015>025-027-033>039-044-045.
TX...Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Wednesday for TXZ083>090.
&&
NEAR TERM...26
SHORT TERM...26
LONG TERM....30
AVIATION...10Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
657 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
OKZ004-005-010-170030-
Woodward OK-Harper OK-Woods OK-
657 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Woods,
northeastern Harper and northern Woodward Counties through 730 PM
CDT...
At 657 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles northeast of Selman, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Woods,
northeastern Harper and northern Woodward Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3694 9942 3695 9926 3671 9910 3669 9937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 330DEG 17KT 3686 9934
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MahalePreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
721 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0718 PM Hail Laverne 36.71N 99.90W
06/16/2026 E0.88 Inch Harper OK Fire Dept/Rescue
NWSChat.
&&
MDUPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
722 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM Hail 2 W Laverne 36.71N 99.93W
06/16/2026 E1.75 Inch Harper OK Broadcast Media
&&
MDUPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
723 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0723 PM Hail 3 W Laverne 36.71N 99.95W
06/16/2026 E2.50 Inch Harper OK Broadcast Media
&&
MDUSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Norman OK
723 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
OKZ005-010-170100-
Woodward OK-Woods OK-
723 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Woods
and northeastern Woodward Counties through 800 PM CDT...
At 723 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northwest of Freedom, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Freedom, Alabaster Caverns State Park, and Camp Houston.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor NOAA Weather
Radio, local radio stations or available television stations for
additional information and possible warnings from the National
Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3670 9898 3670 9926 3679 9930 3682 9929
3685 9932 3685 9931 3686 9932 3690 9934
3694 9917
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 333DEG 17KT 3682 9923
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
MahalePreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Norman OK
726 PM CDT Tue Jun 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM Hail 3 W Laverne 36.71N 99.95W
06/16/2026 E2.75 Inch Harper OK Broadcast Media
Corrects previous hail report from 3 W
Laverne.
&&
MDUThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The School Lands Fire burned 2,411 acres in western Woods County. This wildfire is believed to have been started by a lightning strike.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, June 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: 1355820.