NWS Norman News

Hail Observation Research Project (3/20/2008 8:00 pm CDT) If you live within 90 miles of Norman, Oklahoma, you are invited to participate in a National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research project. The project is called the Hail Size Discrimination Experiment.  More information is available here.

Weather History for May 9 This day in 2003 marked the last day of a 3 day string of strong to violent tornadoes over Oklahoma. Like the day before, May 9, 2003 saw strong tornadoes plague central parts of the Sooner state. During the evening hours, tornadoes ripped through areas from near Binger, in Caddo County, east and northeast through Union City, Bethany and Warr Acres, into the northern parts of Oklahoma City, Wellston and Stroud. The strongest tornado produced F3 damage as it tore through the northeastern Oklahoma City and Luther areas. Remarkably, there were only 10 injuries and no fatalities. The low numbers are attributed to the preparedness and actions taken by Oklahomans, emergency management, broadcast media, and the National Weather Service Forecast Office.

On May 9, 1964, a supercell thunderstorm formed over eastern Greer County, in southwest Oklahoma. This storm then proceeded to drop hail larger than baseballs along its entire 135 mile path into the south central parts of the state. The damage was enormous. An Air Force plane that flew into the storm near Cooperton, in Kiowa County, disintegrated and crashed due to the barrage of hail, killing six people. Large hail damaged every roof in the community of Fletcher, just northeast of Fort Sill.

An outbreak tornadoes occurred on this date in central and eastern Oklahoma in 1959, and more than ten tornadoes were observed in the region. The most significant tornado, rated F4, touched down near Harden City in Pontotoc County, and produced a path of devastation before lifting north of Stonewall. Seven people were killed and another 12 injured by the twister. Many head of cattle were killed and 20 oil derricks north of Harden City were destroyed.

Learn more about the weather history for Oklahoma and western north Texas here.