Moore-Newcastle Tornado Now an EF5 Tornado (5/21/2013)

Here’s the latest from NWS Norman on the Newcastle/Moore tornado event…

Overview: The National Weather Service dispatched four damage survey teams to the path of the Newcastle/Moore OK tornado. New statements will be
issued throughout the day as these teams report findings. This information remains preliminary and the information here could change.

Newcastle/Moore Tornado:

Rating: EF5
Estimated peak wind: 210 mph
Path length: 17 miles
Path width-maximum: 1.3 miles (will change with further surveys)
Fatalities: N/A (still being finalized)
Injuries: N/A (still being finalized)

Start date: May 20 2013
Start time: 2:45 PM CDT
Start location: 4.4 W Newcastle, OK (Grady County, OK)
Start lat/lon: 35.2580 / -97.6775

End date: May 20 2013
End time: 3:35 PM CDT
End location: 4.8 E of Moore, OK (Cleveland County, OK)
End lat/lon: 35.3409 / -97.4007

Survey summary: four survey teams continue to survey this long track tornado. Initial damage was found around 4.4 miles west of Newcastle, South of Tecumseh Road also known as NW 16th street and East Lake
Road. The tornado tracked NE to the Interstate 44 bridge over the Canadian river and then took a more eastward track through Moore. Tornado damage abruptly ends 0.3 miles East of Air Depot Road and N of SE 134th St.

Initially producing EF0 and EF1 damage the storm intensified very rapidly in 4 miles producing EF4 damage before reaching Interstate 44. Mostly EF4 damage but pockets of EF5 has been found in Moore.

First pocket of EF5 was confirmed to be near and at Briarwood Elementary School near SW 149th St between Western Ave and Santa Fe.

Above is the track from NWS Norman on the track of the tornado from May 20, 2013.

Additional information such as maximum path width will be updated
as the teams complete their surveys.

Updates will be added as needed to this post.

(3 PM CDT 5/21/2013): Updated to include EF5 upgrade.

(7 PM CDT 5/21/2013): Updated to include track photo.

3-Day Severe Weather Outbreak for OKC: Your 7-Day OKC Forecast (5/17/2013)

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Warmer. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds around 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds around 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds around 10 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent. 

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms likely. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 70 percent. 

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent. 

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Storm Chances Wednesday to Sunday, Warm Temps: Your OKC 7-Day Forecast (5/14/2013)

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds 10 to 20 mph.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning…then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.
 
Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
 
Saturday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent. 

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. 

Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s.

Severe Storms Wednesday/Saturday, May Warmth: Your OKC 7-Day Forecast (5/13/2013)

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to near 60. Southwest winds around 10 mph. 

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 90. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 10 to 20 mph.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the afternoon. Highs around 80. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.
 
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the evening. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.
 
Sunday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s.

Storms Tonight & Mid Next Week, Mild Temps: Your 7-Day OKC Forecast (5/9/2013)

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Scattered thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. North winds around 10 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.
 
Friday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light and variable.
 
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
 
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
 
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.
 
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
 
Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.
 
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
 
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

11:45 AM CDT Oklahoma Severe Weather Update (5/9/2013)

COMPUTER MODELS CONTINUE TO FORECAST THE BEGINNINGS OF
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AROUND NOON, MAINLY FROM THE WICHITA FALLS TEXAS AREA INTO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, JUST SOUTH OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. THIS AREA OF STORMS IS FORECAST TO EXPAND RAPIDLY, RESULTING IN SCATTERED STORMS OVER ABOUT THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF OKLAHOMA AND PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS.

HOWEVER, CURRENT SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF SINKING AIR OVER MUCH OF THAT AREA, WHICH MAY DELAY STORM DEVELOPMENT BY SEVERAL HOURS. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A SURFACE BOUNDARY/FRONT LOCATED ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA, WHICH WILL PROBABLY
SERVE AS A FOCUSING MECHANISM FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT DURING THE AFTERNOON.

AT THIS TIME, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE
EXACT TIMING AND LOCATION OF STORMS FOR THIS AFTERNOON. IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE SEVERE WEATHER SLIGHT RISK AREA, GENERALLY NEAR AND SOUTH OF I-40, TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER TODAY. WHEREVER STORMS DO DEVELOP, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP QUICKLY AND RAPIDLY. SOME ARE LIKELY TO BE SEVERE. LARGE HAIL
AND STRONG WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERNS, BUT I CAN’T RULE OUT, PARTICULARLY OVER SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. MOST STORMS WILL MOVE TOWARD THE NORTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON.

1:00 PM CDT Oklahoma Severe Weather Update (5/8/2013)

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon over western Oklahoma and western North Texas. Additional development may occur farther east along the remains of an outflow boundary, extending from near Cheyenne Oklahoma to just north of Oklahoma City.

Storm development is likely to begin between 2 PM and 4 PM, and these storms may become severe within an hour. The storms are then expected to move mainly toward the east, reaching the I-35 area early this evening. If storms do form along the outflow boundary, those storms could affect the Oklahoma City and Enid areas during the middle to late afternoon.

The strongest storms may produce 2 inch diameter hail and winds up to 75 mph. Isolated tornadoes are possible, especially over far western Oklahoma and western North Texas. Stay alert for severe weather this afternoon and evening, especially across the western half of Oklahoma and western North Texas. I will post updates as soon as I get them.

Several Days of Storms, Some Severe: Your 7-Day OKC Forecast (5/6/2013)

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Light and variable winds.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds around 15 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.
 

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.
 
Friday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.
 
Friday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.
 
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
 
Sunday Night: Clear. Lows in the upper 40s.
 
Monday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

Gradual Warming Trend, Some Storms Too: Your OKC 7-Day Forecast (5/3/2013)

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
 
Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 10 mph. 

Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Friday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Cold Weather, Rain Off & On: Your OKC 7-Day Forecast (5/2/2013)

Wind Advisory in effect until 7 PM CDT this evening…

Freeze Warning in effect until 10 AM CDT Friday morning…
 
Tonight: Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds 15 to 25 mph shifting to the northwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
 
Friday: Partly cloudy. Not as cool. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
 
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain or snow in the evening…then a slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
 
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of showers 20 percent.
 
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
 
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s.
 
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.
 
Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs around 70.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 20 percent.
 
Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.
 
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.
 
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.