NORMAN, Okla. — Severe-weather experts are sounding the alarm for Sunday, as a dynamic spring storm system barrels toward the southern Plains with the ingredients to unleash multiple strong tornadoes, hurricane-force wind gusts, and hail the size of baseballs or larger.
The NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has maintained a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) in its latest outlook, covering a swath from central Oklahoma into north-central Texas. Cities in the bull’s-eye include Oklahoma City, Norman, Lawton, Wichita Falls, and the western Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.
What to Expect
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Timing: Thunderstorms are likely to erupt by mid-afternoon Sunday and could last well past midnight.
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Tornado Potential: Discrete supercells may quickly transition into fast-moving bow echoes, capable of spawning multiple, potentially long-track tornadoes.
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Damaging Winds: Forecast models show the atmosphere primed for 80–100 mph straight-line winds, strong enough to topple trees and power poles.
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Giant Hail: Early storm stages could drop 2- to 3-inch diameter hail — large enough to punch holes in roofs and shatter car windshields.
“Everything points to a classic Plains severe-weather setup,” SPC forecasters wrote. “Once storms mature, they’ll accelerate east-southeast, leaving only minutes — not hours — to take cover.”
Why This Event Stands Out
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Clash of Seasons: Rich Gulf moisture (dew points in the upper 60s) will meet a vigorous upper-level trough crashing out of the Rockies — a recipe often seen in memorable May/June outbreaks.
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Fast Storm Motions: Steering winds above 50 mph mean storms could race across counties in 20 minutes or less. Warning lead times will be short.
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Recent Quiet Stretch: After a relatively calm stretch in early May, some residents may be less attuned to severe-weather cues — a concern for emergency managers.
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Safety Checklist
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Know Your Safe Place: Lowest level, interior room, away from windows. Mobile-home residents should identify a sturdier shelter now.
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Multiple Alert Methods: NOAA Weather Radio, phone apps, local TV, and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Power and cell service can fail.
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Secure Loose Outdoor Items: Patio furniture and trampolines can become airborne at 70+ mph.
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Plan for Pets: Bring them inside well before storms arrive.
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Charge Devices & Fuel Vehicles: Outages could last into Monday.
A Bit of Tornado Trivia
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June 8, 1974: One of Oklahoma’s worst late-spring outbreaks produced an F4 tornado near Drumright, underscoring that the region’s tornado season doesn’t end with May.
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Wind vs. Tornado Damage: Straight-line winds over 90 mph can rival an EF1 tornado’s force, flattening barns and peeling roofs — yet often go under-reported because the damage pattern isn’t twisted.
Stay tuned to trusted local meteorologists and weather.gov for frequent updates. With volatile setups like this, forecasts can shift by the hour — but the underlying message is clear: Sunday is a day to stay weather-ready, not weather-surprised.
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