Monday, June 20, 2011

Severe Weather Update - Oklahoma


The above image was just taken from the Oklahoma City area radar.  As you can see, a solid line of strong to severe thunderstorms has formed along a dryline extending from just South of Enid to the Kansas border North of Newkirk.  This line is moving East at 15-20 mph, while individual thunderstorms within the line move North/Northeast at 30-35 mph.  Damaging winds of 60-70 mph and large hail are likely with this line of storms.  It continues to slowly build toward the South/Southwest.

Meanwhile, isolated thunderstorms are developing within the white circled areas, just Northwest of Guthrie, between El Reno and Oklahoma City, and just Southwest of Pauls Valley.  These storms are in their infancy stages, but are organizing and intensifying rapidly.  Large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will be possible with these storms as they move and/or develop toward the East and/or Northeast during the next hour.  

Isolated storms like those described in the paragraph above will have some tornado potential for the next couple of hours, before they are likely to join the developing line of storms currently further to the North.  By late evening, the severe weather threat in Oklahoma will almost exclusively consist of damaging winds, some of which may exceed 70-80 mph.  Once widespread damaging wind production begins, the line is expected to accelerate to the East rapidly.

If you live in central or eastern Oklahoma along or ahead of this developing activity, please remain alert & be prepared to seek shelter if threatening weather approaches your area.

2 comments:

Shamrock said...

Rob, when is this severe activity likely to dissipate? Any idea if and where/when it will?

Rob White said...

Shamrock, that's certainly the question of the evening. This activity is likely to persist well into the nighttime hours, with one or more thunderstorm complexes expected to form. We'll be able to know how this is likely top play out more in the next 2-3 hours. At least 1-2 more states East of the current location of activity are likely to be affected (particularly in central & northern portions of the region).