Severe storms with large hail and strong winds swept across the Oklahoma City metro on Tuesday, prompting warnings and concerns about potential damage. According to a running blog by KOCO 5, the storms brought significant hail sizes and strong winds as they moved through the area.
By 9:20 p.m., the hail sizes had decreased, indicating a downward trend in the severity of the weather. However, the threat of severe weather still remained. Near Piedmont, nearly golf ball-sized hail was reported, although the storm was decreasing in strength. In Edmond, quarter-sized hail was possible.
The Norman and Moore areas were expected to be hit with golf ball-sized hail, and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore until 9:30 p.m. The warning also included the possibility of winds reaching up to 70 mph.
Storms began moving into the Oklahoma City metro around 8:20 p.m., accompanied by hail and strong winds. The risk for severe weather continued throughout the day, with a level-two slight risk for much of Oklahoma, including the OKC metro. Western, northern, and eastern Oklahoma were under a level-one marginal risk.
The main concern was the large hail, with areas under the slight risk potentially experiencing hail stones the size of golf balls. The tornado risk was low but still present, with central Oklahoma having a tornado index of 2 out of 10 and surrounding areas at 1 out of 10. Winds could reach up to 70 mph, posing a risk for tornadoes.
KOCO 5 meteorologist Jonathan Conder warned that the lingering rain in the morning would delay the timing of the severe storms. He provided a timeline for when to expect storms in different areas.
The window to watch for severe weather was between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. The OKC metro, as well as areas near Altus, Lawton, Ardmore, Ada, Seminole, Stillwater, Enid, Alva, and Clinton, could experience hail the size of golf balls, while surrounding areas might have smaller hail stones.
To stay updated on the weather conditions, residents were encouraged to download the KOCO 5 App, which provided customized weather alerts and team coverage. The app also allowed users to check for closings, access live, interactive radar, and watch KOCO 5 coverage.
Overall, the severe storms in the Oklahoma City metro brought large hail and strong winds, prompting warnings and concerns about potential damage. Residents were advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during the storm.
Original Story at www.koco.com – 2023-09-20 03:12:00
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