High Wind — Atoka, Oklahoma

2025-05-18 · Atoka, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Non-thunderstorm wind damage occurred throughout the community of Atoka. Relayed images show roof and window damage to multiple buildings along with additional reports of trees and power lines blown down. A wake low was likely responsible for this event. The event time is approximate.

Wider weather episode

A deep upper-level trough continued to progress eastward across the Central and Southern Plains on the 18th, promoting another round of intense severe weather across the northwestern portion of the WFO Norman Forecast Area. During the early evening, a strong dryline served as the focus for thunderstorm initiation across the aforementioned area. A pair of intense supercell thunderstorms developed here, each producing large to very large hail, with multiple reports of hailstones ranging from four to five inches in diameter. In addition to very large hail, one of the supercells generated a tornado family consisting of four separate tornadoes across Ellis County. Among these was an intense EF3 tornado that impacted areas just southwest of Arnett, OK, causing significant damage along its path.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1259974. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.