Storms Hit Western Oklahoma; Metro Could See Severe Weather This Evening And Overnight

Severe weather is expected across much of western and central Oklahoma today, mainly in the afternoon, evening and overnight.

Updated May 2, 2018 at 4:21 p.m.

Storms have developed in western Oklahoma, mainly along the border with the Texas Panhandle. Several severe thunderstorm warnings have gone into effect. There have been reports of baseball and tennisball-size hail near Sweetwater in Roger Mills County and quarter-size hail near Hollis in Harmon County. The storms are moving to the northeast.

Severe storms are still expected to arrive in central Oklahoma after 7:00 p.m.

Earlier post

The National Weather Service is calling for an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms, primarily in western parts of the state. The highest risk for severe storms will be in west-central and northwestern Oklahoma after 3:00 p.m. Affected communities include Woodward, Enid, Clinton and Weatherford.

Central Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City metro, Stillwater, and southwestern Oklahoma have a slight risk for severe storms.

National Weather Service meteorologists say the most common impact from storms during the afternoon and evening hours will be large hail up to the size of softballs and winds gusts that could reach as high as 80 miles per hour. Strong, violent tornadoes are possible. Overnight, damaging wind gusts will be the most common impact.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to form along a dryline this afternoon near the border between western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, creating conditions that could produce afternoon and evening tornadoes. New thunderstorms could hit the central and southern Oklahoma tonight. They could produce damaging wind gusts.

Thunderstorms will continue into Thursday in central and southern Oklahoma, and they could potentially be severe.

On Tuesday, a thunderstorm may have produced the first tornado of the spring weather season. Video captured what appears to be a tornado north of Buffalo in Harper County in northwestern Oklahoma. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service are counting it as a tornado while they investigate. However, they will not survey the area at this time due to the continuing severe weather threat.

Original post

Oklahoma could see its first strong storms of the spring on Wednesday.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Norman say the system could bring damaging wind, large hail, thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes. Forecaster Randy Bowers says it is expected to develop late on Wednesday.

“Thunderstorms may develop very late tomorrow afternoon, and more likely during the evening and then continue to increase into the overnight hours. Tomorrow evening and overnight are when we are more concerned, and if you live anywhere across the area, you should prepare for the possibility of severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes during this period,” Bowers said.

Hail up the size of tennis balls will be possible, as well as winds up to 80 miles per hour.

NWS warning coordination meteorologist Rick Smith tweets there is still uncertainty about Wednesday’s forecast before 7:00 p.m., and southwest and central Oklahoma could have favorable conditions for rotation if storms break in the late afternoon.

Most of the KGOU listening area will have a chance for tornadoes tomorrow. The strongest chance for tornadoes will be between Oklahoma City and Woodward, in an area that includes the communities of Clinton, Weatherford, Watonga and Enid.

Thunderstorms could continue into Thursday morning.

As a community-supported news organization, KGOU relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.