Eastern Oklahoma is staring down a long, stormy Saturday, with a tornado watch in effect for multiple counties through 11 p.m. Forecasters warn that storms this afternoon and evening could produce large hail, damaging straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes. Residents are urged to review their severe weather plans now and make sure they have multiple ways to receive warnings.
Local station KTUL spells out who is under the watch, listing Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Creek, Haskell, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Marshall, McCurtain, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha and Pontotoc counties in the advisory, according to KTUL. The station reports the watch will remain in place until 11 p.m. Saturday, and notes that local emergency managers and broadcasters will share updates as warnings and storm timing evolve through the evening.
The National Weather Service’s Tulsa office has highlighted the same watch and warned that "a few tornadoes are likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible," adding that widespread large hail and scattered damaging wind gusts are also possible, NWS Tulsa said. The office’s briefing also points to the potential for isolated very large hail and gusts approaching 80 mph in the strongest storms. Officials are urging residents to have a specific plan to move to sturdy shelter if a warning is issued.
Where The Risk Is Greatest
Forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center and major weather outlets have placed parts of central and southeast Oklahoma in an elevated risk for severe storms Saturday, with large to very large hail and a chance of strong tornadoes especially south of Highway 412, according to The Weather Channel. That environment, strong wind shear stacked over unstable air, is what prompts watch boxes to be issued across clusters of counties instead of a single statewide alert. Storms that evolve into discrete supercells tonight will carry the highest tornado risk.
How To Stay Safe
When a tornado watch is posted, Ready.gov advises preparing to move quickly to a designated shelter if a warning is issued; identify an interior room on the lowest floor of your home, avoid windows, and keep a battery-powered radio or NOAA Weather Radio handy, per Ready.gov. Mobile homes and vehicles are particularly vulnerable, so plan ahead to get to a sturdy building or community shelter if possible. Keep your phone charged, and follow local officials’ instructions if evacuation or sheltering orders are given.
Recent Severe Activity Adds Urgency
This watch follows a violent tornado that struck Enid earlier in the week, which National Weather Service damage surveys later rated EF-4 and which caused widespread destruction near Vance Air Force Base, underscoring the season’s volatility, according to CNN Newsource. Local emergency managers say response resources have been stretched by recent events and are urging heightened readiness across eastern Oklahoma. Even if a community escapes major damage, localized roof and structural damage from hail and wind remains a serious threat.
Residents are encouraged to monitor local TV and radio, sign up for NWS alerts, and check official office pages and apps for real-time warnings. If you live in an affected county, know where you will go now so you are not deciding under stress if a warning is issued. Local broadcasters and the National Weather Service will provide updates through the evening.
