A severe thunderstorm warning lit up the Oklahoma City area Tuesday evening as a fast-moving line of storms barreled across the south side of the metro, kicking up damaging wind and hail and prompting urgent alerts from forecasters.
Storm track and threats
The National Weather Service office in Norman issued the warning for Garvin, Seminole, Lincoln, Cleveland, Pontotoc, Murray, Pottotawatomie and McClain counties. Radar pegged storms along a line from 4 miles northeast of Harrah to near Norman to near Middleberg, sliding southeast at about 25 mph, with forecasters reporting gusts up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail — strong enough to dent vehicles, snap large limbs and damage mobile homes and outbuildings, according to The Oklahoman. A severe thunderstorm is defined by the National Weather Service as a storm with winds of 58 mph or greater or hail one inch in diameter or larger, which is why those kinds of signatures on radar or reports from spotters trigger immediate warnings.
Local impacts
The southeastward track put the south and east sides of the metro in the crosshairs for sudden wind damage and hail. In gusts this strong, fallen limbs and downed power lines are common, and drivers can run into blown debris and sharply reduced visibility inside the heaviest rain cores.
Safety steps
If you can hear thunder, the National Weather Service advises heading to a sturdy shelter right away and staying inside until at least 30 minutes after the last rumble. Keeping away from windows and avoiding corded electronics also cuts the risk while the storm is overhead. For official guidance and resources on lightning and thunderstorm safety, see the National Weather Service.
Stay on top of local alerts and skip nonessential trips while the line is moving through. For live radar and the latest local updates, see The Oklahoman.
