A squall line moved through eastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 19th, exiting the area by early afternoon. Pockets of heavy rainfall occurred due to the slow movement of the storms.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 TSA wrote it up.
A squall line moved through eastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 19th, exiting the area by early afternoon. Pockets of heavy rainfall occurred due to the slow movement of the storms. Some of the storms moved repeatedly over the same areas, which also resulted in locally heavy rainfall. Flash flooding resulted from this rainfall in Miami.
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 19, 5:25 AM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 625 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 625 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 - Numerous showers and storms Tuesday morning into NE OK spreading southward through early afternoon. Severe weather possible along with locally heavy rainfall. - Cooler temperatures Wednesday-Friday with continued low to medium rain chances through the remainder of the week. && .SHORT TERM... (Through Tuesday Night) Issued at 1140 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 A line of strong and severe thunderstorms has formed across southeast KS, along a southeast-advancing cold front that is currently on the doorstep of the forecast area. The line of convection has produced a distinct outflow boundary that has pushed well ahead of the squall line. As long as this stays true, it will keep any tornado threat just about at zero. Main severe hazard with this line of storms will be damaging wind gusts, with isolated large hail embedded. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Pawnee, Osage, Washington (OK), Nowata, Craig, and Ottawa counties until 7 AM. The line is forecast to reach the I-44 corridor right around sunrise Tuesday, give/take an hour. Latest consensus in CAMs show some weakening of the line as it moves southeast of I-44, though pockets of strong and severe storms will still be possible as the line becomes more diffused. As it moves into southeast OK late in the morning and into the afternoon, the combination of daytime heating and existing outflow boundaries may cause re-intensification in the line; damaging winds would be the main threat if anything severe develops. The severe threat will shift south and east of the area by mid- afternoon, with lingering light to moderate stratiform rain lingering mainly across southeast OK and northwest AR through the remainder of the afternoon. Overall, rainfall amounts will vary from half an inch to around an inch. A few locations may have amounts closer to two inches with pockets of intense cores embedded in the line. Southwest flow aloft with maintain itself through the daytime and evening on Tuesday. Additional scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated to develop along the 925-850mb frontal boundary late Tuesday afternoon and evening, mainly across northeast OK and northwest AR. Severe thunderstorms are not expected, but an additional rainfall amount up to half an inch will be possible. Precipitation chances will continue through the end of the short- term period. Substantially cooler temperatures will follow the cold front overnight tonight and during the day Tuesday, with temperatures falling into the 60s and lower 70s immediately behind the front. Temperatures across southeast OK and northwest AR could reach the lower 80s in the afternoon prior to the frontal passage. The front will exit the forecast area sometime around sunset. Cloud coverage should stay thick through Tuesday night and should keep temperatures from plummeting overnight. Regardless, overnight lows will drop into the 50s and 60s by sunrise Wednesday. Mejia && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 1140 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 Consensus in model guidance continues to show a series of passing mid/upper-level waves through the remainder of the week, through this upcoming weekend, and even into early next week. As such, there will be daily chances of showers and thunderstorms through the long-term period. At this time, flow aloft is expected to be fairly light and not very supportive of severe weather through at least Thursday and much of Friday. However, PWATs are expected to remain abnormally high through the period and the upper-level waves will likely produce periods of moderate to heavy rainfall at times. One possible instance of heavy rainfall will occur Thursday afternoon/evening and into Thursday night as a couple of shortwaves combine over the area. Another instance of heavy rain is forecast to occur Friday night into Saturday morning as a more potent trough passes to the north of the area. Instability and shear will become a little more defined and a limited severe threat may develop Friday evening/night as storms are expected to initiate off a dryline in western OK Friday afternoon and push eastward into the region later. Better details on timing and severity will come in later days. An active pattern will persist Sunday and Monday, with isolated to scattered precipitation chances each day. Northerly winds and cloud cover (with precipitation chances) will keep temperatures below average through Thursday. Temperatures climb back near seasonal average by Friday before climbing above average by late in the weekend or early next week. Mejia && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 625 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 A couple hour period of thunderstorm impacts will affect all terminals except BVO during the first 6 hours or so of the valid TAF period, with IFR/MVFR ceilings and gusty northerly winds behind a cold front. Reduced visibilities should develop this evening and continue overnight, with a low chance of locally IFR visibilities that will not be mentioned for now. CAMs continue to show isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms after 06-08Z, which will be covered by PROB30 groups at all sites. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 72 57 71 61 / 70 70 20 60 FSM 79 66 80 65 / 90 50 70 50 MLC 77 62 77 65 / 80 50 40 40 BVO 66 52 69 55 / 40 70 10 60 FYV 77 62 75 61 / 80 60 50 40 BYV 77 60 70 59 / 90 70 40 20 MKO 75 59 74 62 / 90 60 30 50 MIO 72 55 68 58 / 80 80 30 50 F10 75 57 73 61 / 80 60 20 50 HHW 78 65 79 65 / 90 50 40 50 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...67 LONG TERM....67 AVIATION...22
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 423 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 ARZ001-002-010-011-119-120-129-219-220-229-OKZ049-053-055>071- 073>075-154-172-176-254-272-276-354-376-200930- 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- 423 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. SIGNIFICANT WINDS. RISK...Limited. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. DISCUSSION... A line of strong thunderstorms along a cold front moving southward through the area is located across parts of northeast Oklahoma early this morning. Thunderstorms will continue to move to the south and east through the morning and into the afternoon hours, with potential for both severe weather and heavy rainfall. Damaging winds will be the main severe weather threat, with locally large hail possible. The severe weather potential should diminish by late afternoon as colder air moves in behind the front. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. WEDNESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. THURSDAY...Thunderstorm and Heavy Rain Potential. FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... An active weather pattern will continue through the weekend and into early next week, with multiple opportunities for additional showers and thunderstorms. Thursday night and into Friday appears to feature the best chance for heavy rains as a disturbance moves through the region and deep layer moisture remains high. Overall the potential for severe weather is very low for much of the period, except for possibly Friday night. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
617 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
OKZ061-062-067-191200-
Rogers OK-Mayes OK-Wagoner OK-
617 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN ROGERS...MAYES AND
NORTHEASTERN WAGONER COUNTIES THROUGH 700 AM CDT...
At 617 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 5 miles south of Chelsea to 5 miles east of
Oneta. Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Pryor... Pryor Creek...
Chouteau... Inola...
Locust Grove... Salina...
Langley... Adair...
Pensacola... Hoot Owl...
Cherokee State Park... Sportsmen Acres Community...
Tiawah... Strang...
Mazie... Snowdale State Park...
Murphy...
This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 254 and 272.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 9503 3601 9526 3602 9566 3651 9544
TIME...MOT...LOC 1117Z 272DEG 21KT 3646 9540 3604 9561
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
654 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
OKZ067-068-070-191245-
Muskogee OK-Cherokee OK-Wagoner OK-
654 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN WAGONER...
SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE AND NORTHERN MUSKOGEE COUNTIES THROUGH 745 AM
CDT...
At 654 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 4 miles northeast of Porter to 4 miles south of
Tullahassee to 2 miles west of Oktaha. Movement was east at 30 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...
Muskogee... Wagoner...
Fort Gibson... Okay...
Hulbert... Porter...
Oktaha... Braggs...
Taft... Tullahassee...
Greenleaf State Park... Pumpkin Center...
Sequoyah State Park... Keefeton...
Wainwright... Summit...
Redbird... Lost City...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3601 9513 3585 9506 3558 9517 3555 9551
3555 9563 3576 9558 3602 9559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1154Z 256DEG 25KT 3593 9549 3578 9545 3559 9553
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
720 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
OKZ070-071-074-172-272-191245-
Haskell OK-Northern Sequoyah OK-Central and Southern Sequoyah OK-
Muskogee OK-McIntosh OK-
720 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HASKELL...NORTHEASTERN
MCINTOSH...NORTHWESTERN SEQUOYAH AND SOUTHEASTERN MUSKOGEE COUNTIES
THROUGH 745 AM CDT...
At 720 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 2 miles southeast of Keefeton to 4 miles south of
Warner to near Lake Eufaula State Park. Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Eufaula... Stigler...
Checotah... Warner...
Vian... Gore...
Porum... Webbers Falls...
Whitefield... Oktaha...
Tamaha... Rentiesville...
Stidham... Briartown...
Greenleaf State Park... Lake Eufaula State Park...
Lake Tenkiller State Park... Keefeton...
Kanima... Box...
This includes Interstate 40 in Oklahoma between mile markers 257 and
297.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3564 9546 3564 9495 3527 9495 3523 9543
3524 9545 3530 9545 3530 9550 3528 9552
3527 9551 3526 9553 3534 9578
TIME...MOT...LOC 1220Z 292DEG 35KT 3556 9530 3543 9531 3538 9563
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
723 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
ARZ001-OKZ058-063-191300-
Benton AR-Delaware OK-Ottawa OK-
723 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BENTON...NORTHERN
DELAWARE AND SOUTHEASTERN OTTAWA COUNTIES THROUGH 800 AM CDT...
At 723 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 5 miles
northwest of Jay, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and dime to penny 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...
Bella Vista... Jay...
Grove... Gravette...
Bernice... Maysville...
Honey Creek State Park... Bernice State Park...
Dodge... Cayuga...
Zena...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 9462 3650 9431 3646 9429 3633 9494
3667 9494 3673 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 1223Z 257DEG 41KT 3649 9486
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
727 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
ARZ001-010-OKZ062-063-068-069-191300-
Benton AR-Washington AR-Adair OK-Cherokee OK-Delaware OK-Mayes OK-
727 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN BENTON...WEST CENTRAL
WASHINGTON...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...SOUTHEASTERN MAYES...NORTHERN ADAIR
AND NORTHERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES THROUGH 800 AM CDT...
At 727 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 3 miles northeast of Leach to Tahlequah. Movement
was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and dime to penny 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...
Bella Vista... Tahlequah...
Siloam Springs... Gentry...
Gravette... Decatur...
Westville... West Siloam Springs...
Colcord... Kansas...
Hulbert... Watts...
Oaks... Springtown...
Christie... Peggs...
Rose... Cincinnati...
Hiwasse... Leach...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3646 9429 3584 9453 3588 9518 3631 9508
TIME...MOT...LOC 1227Z 265DEG 37KT 3624 9486 3590 9497
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
744 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
OKZ068>071-073-074-172-176-272-191330-
Haskell OK-Northern Sequoyah OK-Central and Southern Sequoyah OK-
Adair OK-Pittsburg OK-Muskogee OK-Northern Le Flore OK-Cherokee OK-
McIntosh OK-
744 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT HASKELL...EASTERN MCINTOSH...
SEQUOYAH...SOUTHWESTERN ADAIR...SOUTHERN CHEROKEE...NORTHEASTERN
PITTSBURG AND EASTERN MUSKOGEE COUNTIES THROUGH 830 AM CDT...
At 744 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 4 miles northwest of Cherokee Landing State Park
to 4 miles northwest of Tamaha to 4 miles southeast of Eufaula.
Movement was east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Tahlequah... Sallisaw...
Stilwell... Eufaula...
Stigler... Fort Gibson...
Muldrow... Warner...
Vian... Gore...
Porum... Webbers Falls...
Keota... Whitefield...
Gans... Kinta...
Marble City... Braggs...
Tamaha... Adair State Park...
This includes Interstate 40 in Oklahoma between mile markers 268 and
317.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3536 9463 3512 9522 3523 9572 3550 9541
3588 9520 3584 9455
TIME...MOT...LOC 1244Z 281DEG 28KT 3581 9496 3543 9504 3524 9553
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe Tulsa radar (KINX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:47 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Portions of several roads were flooded in and just east of Miami.
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, May 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: 1339941.