Thunderstorm Wind — Beckham, Oklahoma

2025-05-01 · near Elk City, Beckham, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Elk City Regional Business Airport (KELK) observation.

Wider weather episode

Numerous severe thunderstorms impacted portions of central and southern Oklahoma and western-north Texas early on the morning of the 2nd. Synoptically, this convective episode was driven by the approach of a weak shortwave trough rounding the periphery of a broader upper system across the Central and Northern Plains. Very strong elevated instability and sufficient wind shear promoted organized thunderstorm clusters and eventually a semi-organized line across the aforementioned region, producing large hail, thunderstorm wind damage and a tornado. Heavy rainfall contributed to flash flooding, particularly across parts of southern Oklahoma that continued to be impacted by prolonged river and stream flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.4308, -99.3943)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1259070. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.