Tornadoes in northern Oklahoma, May 19, 2010
It was a busy day for the Storm Prediction Center and NWS Forecast offices in Texas and Oklahoma on May 19. There were 25 tornado reports, 8 reports of damaging winds, and 23 hail reports (The largest reported was 3.25 inches). Preliminary news reports suggest there was one injury associated with the severe weather when a tractor-trailer rig was blown over by winds. Of the NWS offices responsible for Oklahoma, Norman issued 24 tornado warnings, Amarillo 16, and Tulsa 12.
Two well-defined supercells were responsible for most of the tornado reports in Oklahoma. Here's how they looked on radar:
Reflectivity image from KTLX at 2301Z May 19 2010.
The reflectivity image shows two classic supercells with hook echoes in northern Oklahoma. Both storms have strong velocity shear couplets in the Doppler velocity radar image, indicating they both have mesocyclones.
Storm-relative velocity image from KTLX at 2301Z May 19 2010.
Video of three of the May 19 tornadoes is available on YouTube, and I've embedded it here.
Hennessey, OK Tornado
This is a very nice cone tornado. It reminds me of the Sitka, KS 1999 tornado which I saw while participating in SubVortex. The clear area behind and to the left of the tornado/wall cloud is the rear-flank downdraft.
Mulhall, OK Tornado
Stillwater, OK Tornado
On May 10, a tornado threatened the southern edge of OU's campus. On May 19, it was Oklahoma State's turn. This is pretty good for cell phone video.
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A South Central OK cell we should not neglect...
This supercell originated off the dryline in SW OK-somewhere near or S and W of Duncan. Did some damage in Garvin and Murray counties after it crossed I-35. Four tornado reports from rural areas including multivortex. Officials are out looking for damages today per The Oklahoman, OKC daily paper.
image credit: NWS Norman
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