Severe thunderstorm moving through Texoma (Kyle Guthrie, KFDX/KJTL)

Posted: Oct 4, 2023 / 10:33 AM CDT

Updated: Oct 4, 2023 / 05:39 PM CDT

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story will be updated frequently throughout the day on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, as the severe weather situation develops. The latest update will appear first. Refreshing this story often will ensure the reader is viewing the latest information.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 5:40 p.m.

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma has issued several new Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Texoma counties.

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Archer and Clay Counties in Texas that will remain in effect until 6:30 p.m. At 5:25 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Jolly to 4 miles east of Scotland to 7 miles southeast of Archer City, moving southeast at 30 miles per hour. Hazards in this warning include 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts.

The National Weather Service also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Baylor, Foard, Knox, and Wilbarger Counties in Texas that will remain in effect until 6:15 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles of Thalia to 4 miles southeast of Vera to near Rhineland, moving east at 45 miles per hour. Hazards in this warning include half-dollar-sized hail and 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts.

Stick with Texoma’s Weather Authority on Texoma’s Homepage as we monitor this and other severe weather threats that may impact Texoma. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 4:55 p.m.

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma has issued another Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties in Texas that will remain in effect until 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

According to Chief Meteorologist Michael Bohling, severe storms are moving into Wichita County all along Highway 6. He said the storms should begin impacting the county in about 15 minutes, just after 5 p.m.

Bohling said potential hazards as a part of the severe storms moving into Wichita County include wind speeds of up to 70 miles per hour and ping-pong-sized hail.

Other severe storms are moving into Archer and Wichita Counties that will hit in about 5 minutes, just before 5 p.m. The main concern for residents of Wichita Falls and the surrounding area is ping-pong-ball-sized hail and winds reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.

Bohling said 3 inches of rain has been recorded so far in Duncan, Oklahoma, and other portions of southwestern Oklahoma. He said the threat of severe thunderstorms has lessened in Jefferson and Stephens Counties in Oklahoma.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Archer, Baylor, Wichita, and Wilbarger Counties in Texas in effect until 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 4:21 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located five miles south of Grayback, moving east at 40 miles per hour. Hazards include golf-ball-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. Affected locations include Iowa Park, Electra, Holiday, Lake Diversion, Dundee, Mankins, Grayback, and northeastern Lake Kemp.

The National Weather Service has also issued a Flash Flood Warning for Comanche and Stephens Counties in Oklahoma that will remain in effect until 7:15 p.m.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 4:05 p.m.

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma has canceled the Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for southeastern Kiowa County in Oklahoma and northern Wichita County in Texas. The other counties included in this warning remain under the original warning, which is set to remain in effect until 4:30 p.m.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 3:55 p.m.

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma has issued more severe thunderstorm warnings for several Texoma counties as storms move through the area.

Severe thunderstorm warning in Texoma on October 4, 2023
Severe thunderstorm warning in Texoma on October 4, 2023
Severe thunderstorm warning in Texoma on October 4, 2023

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued at 3:43 p.m. for Comanche County, western Cotton County, southeastern Kiowa County, and eastern Tillman County in Oklahoma, as well as northern Wichita County in Texas, until 4:30 p.m.

At 3:42 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles east of Manitou near Chattanooga to 7 miles southeast of Faxon, moving northeast at 35 miles per hour. Hazards include 70-mile-per-hour wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.

Chief Meteorologist Michael Bohling said wind speeds of up to 90 miles per hour have been reported in Hollister and Grandfield, Oklahoma, with power outages being reported throughout the area, as well as a collapsed home in Frederick, Oklahoma.

The National Weather Service also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect until 4:30 p.m. for Foard, Hardeman, and Wilbarger Counties in Texas.

At 3:47 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Quanah to near Margaret to 5 miles northeast of Truscott, moving east at 40 miles per hour. Hazards include up to 70 mile-per-hour wind gusts and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 3:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma has now included Wichita County in a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Cotton and Tillman Counties in Oklahoma that is to remain in effect until 3:45 p.m.

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At 3:30 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles outside of Grandfield, moving northeast at 25 miles per hour.

Hazards in this warned storm include wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hailstones.

Chief Meteorologist Michael Bohling said damage from strong wind gusts is being reported in Hollister and Frederick in southern Oklahoma. Viewers in the area are advised to remain away from windows and to stay weather-aware as the storms move through the area.

Additionally, the National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Foard and Hardeman Counties in Texas in effect until 4:15 p.m.

Bohling said that flash floods in western Texoma could become a problem as storms continue to move across the area on Wednesday afternoon and into the evening hours.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 3:25 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect until 3:45 p.m. for Wilbarger County in Texas as well as Comanche, Cotton, Jackson, Kiowa, and Tillman Counties in Oklahoma.

Radar indicated severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 3 miles south of Tipton to 6 miles west of Frederick moving east at 35 miles per hour.

Chief Meteorologist Michael Bohling said weather spotters in Tillman County are reporting wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour and moving toward Cotton County.

Bohling advised viewers in this area to move away from windows as these strong winds move through the area. Viewers are also advised to stay weather-aware and seek shelter if they feel unsafe.

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 2:35 p.m.

With much of Texoma under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of the day on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, western portions of the area are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as severe weather moves through the area.

The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hardeman and Wilbarger Counties in Texas as well as Jackson and Tillman Counties in southern Oklahoma until 3:15 p.m.

At 2:25 p.m., radar indicated a severe thunderstorm located near Quanah, moving east at 35 miles per hour. Threats in the warned area include up to tennis-ball-size hail and wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.

Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch will remain in effect until 9 p.m. for Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Throckmorton, Wichita, and Wilbarger Counties in Texas as well as Cotton, Comanche, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephens, and Tillman Counties in Oklahoma.

TEXOMA (KFDX/KJTL) — Many counties in Texoma are again expecting much-needed rain over the next few days, but with those rain chances also comes a chance for severe weather across the area in the afternoon hours of Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

***Image courtesy National Weather Service***

The National Weather Service out of Norman, Oklahoma issued a hazardous weather outlook just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, that included Comanche, Cotton, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephen, and Tillman Counties in Oklahoma and Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Knox, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young Counties in Texas.

In the hazardous weather outlook statement, severe storms increase in likelihood on Wednesday afternoon and into the evening hours, with the greatest threat to the area including large hail and damaging wind gusts.

The statement also said heavy rain is possible with this line of storms and instances of flash flooding may occur.

The severe thunderstorms are expected to move into the western portions of Texoma as early as 1 p.m., but will most likely begin sometime between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., moving out of the area by 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.

The storms are expected to move into the eastern portions of Texoma by as early as 3 p.m., with a window between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. being the most likely time the storms will move east. Severe weather is expected to be out of the area by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.

KFDX Chief Meteorologist Michael Bohling said the threat of severe weather for Wednesday is unlike the conditional severe weather threat that existed on Tuesday, October 3. Whereas on Tuesday, Bohling said storms would be less likely but would become severe if they did arise, Bohling said on Wednesday, storms are much more likely, but how severe they actually become remains to be seen.

Bohling said rain chances continue to be at 100% through the afternoon and evening hours in Texoma. As the weather situation becomes more severe, Bohling said significant damaging wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour and hail the size of baseballs or larger are the main threats to the area.

Bohling also said the tornado threat does remain low, but with the number of storms covering the area on Wednesday, it would not be shocking to have one at some point.

TEXOMA’S WEATHER AUTHORITY

Michael Bohling | Chief Meteorologist

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Noah Trombley | Meteorologist

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Severe Weather Definitions

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issued when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a thunderstorm is producing, or about to produce, wind gusts of 58 mph or greater, structural wind damage, and/or hail 1 inch in diameter or greater.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Is issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms over a larger-scale region. Tornadoes are not expected in such situations, but isolated tornado development cannot be ruled out.

PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch
PDS stands for "Particularly Dangerous Situation" and is issued by the SPC when conditions are favorable for the development of high-end severe thunderstorms over a larger region. In this situation the SPC believes multiple events of extreme severe weather with significant wind damage are likely to occur. Citizens should alter their daily routine and listen for further updates when this watch is issued. Tornadoes are not expected in such situations, but isolated tornado development cannot be ruled out and widespread straight-line wind damage is likely.

Tornado Warning - Observed or Radar Indicated
Issued when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a tornado is imminent or occurring.

Tornado Warning - Considerable
Issued when a reliable spotter reports the existence of a tornado (therefore, it is confirmed, not radar indicated) and it is doing considerable damage.

Tornado Warning - Catastrophic
Issued when a reliable spotter reports the existence of a tornado (therefore, it is confirmed, not radar indicated) and it is doing extreme damage that is considered catastrophic; complete destruction is possible.

Tornado Watch
Is issued by the Storm Prediction Center when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over a larger-scale region.

PDS Tornado Watch
PDS stands for "Particularly Dangerous Situation" and is issued when the SPC believes that a large outbreak of long-lived, large and violent tornadoes is likely. This is a high-end tornado watch. People in a PDS Tornado Watch should change their daily routines to ensure they are weather aware and prepared to take action with little notice.

Significant Weather Advisory
Issued for strong thunderstorms that are below severe levels, but still may have some adverse impacts. Usually issued for the threat of wind gusts of 40-58 mph or hail up to 1 inch in diameter.

Flash Flood Watch
Issued generally when there is the possibility of flash flooding or urban flooding over an area within the next 36 hours.

Flash Flood Warning
Issued when flash flooding is imminent, generally within the next 1 to 3 hours. Usually issued based on observed heavy rainfall (measured or radar estimated), but may also be issued for significant dam breaks that have occurred or are imminent.

Flood Watch
Issued when there is the possibility of widespread general flooding over an area within the next 36 hours.

Flood Warning for River Forecast Point
Issued when a river gauge has exceeded, or is forecast to exceed, a predetermined flood stage.

Flood Advisory
Issued when flooding is imminent or occurring, generally within the next 1 to 3 hours, but is not expected to substantially threaten life and property.

Wind Advisory
Issued when sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph are expected for 1 hour or longer.

High Wind Warning
Issued when sustained winds of 40 mph or more are expected for 1 hour or longer, or for wind gusts of 58 mph or more with no time limit. A High Wind Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.

Dense Fog Advisory
Issued when fog is expected to reduce visibilities to 1/4 mile or less.

Heat Advisory
Issued when maximum daytime heat index values are expected to reach or exceed 105°F on at least 2 consecutive days, with intermediate low temperatures of 75°F or higher.

Excessive Heat Warning
Issued when maximum daytime heat index values are expected to reach or exceed 110°F on at least two consecutive days, with intermediate low temperatures of 75°F or higher. An Excessive Heat Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.

Frost Advisory
Issued when nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to range from 33°F to 36°F in the growing season.

Freeze Warning
Issued when nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to reach 32°F or lower in the growing season. They are usually issued to highlight the first few freezes of the fall, or unusually late freezes in the spring. A Freeze Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.

Air Stagnation Advisory
Issued only at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whenever atmospheric conditions are stable enough to cause air pollutants to accumulate in a given area.

Blowing Dust Advisory
Issued when blowing dust is expected to reduce visibility to between 1/4 and 1 mile, generally with winds of 25 mph or greater.

Dust Storm Warning
Issued when blowing dust is expected to reduce visibility frequently to 1/4 mile or less, generally with winds of 25 mph or more.

Dense Smoke Advisory
Issued when smoke is expected to reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less.

Fire Weather Watch
Issued when dry vegetation and conditions favoring extreme fire danger are expected 12 to 72 hours in the future.

Red Flag Warning
Issued when dry vegetation and conditions favoring extreme fire danger are expected, generally within 24 hours.

Snow Advisory
Issued when accumulating snow of 2 to 4 inches is expected. An advisory may still be warranted if lesser accumulations will produce travel difficulties, especially early in the winter season.

Blowing Snow Advisory
Issued when blowing snow is expected to occasionally reduce visibilities to 1/4 mile or less with winds generally 25 to 34 mph. The event should last at least 3 hours.

Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory
Issued when winds of 25 to 34 mph are expected to be accompanied by falling snow and blowing snow, occasionally reducing the visibility to 1/4 mile or less. The event should last at least 3 hours.

Freezing Rain/Drizzle Advisory
Issued for freezing rain when ice accumulations are expected to cause travel problems, but not exceed 1/4".

Sleet Advisory
Issued for accumulating sleet of 1/4" to 1". Because sleet usually occurs with other precipitation types, a winter weather advisory will almost always be used in such cases.

Winter Weather Advisory
Issued for a winter weather event in which there is more than one hazard present, but all precipitation is expected to remain below warning criteria. For example, it would be issued if 2 inches of snow were expected with a small amount of sleet mixing in at times.

Wind Chill Advisory
Issued when wind chill values will reach -5°F to -19°F, with wind speeds around 10 mph or more.

Wind Chill Warning
Issued when wind chill values will reach -20°F or colder, with wind speeds around 10 mph or more. A Wind Chill Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.

Ice Storm Warning
Issued when a period of freezing rain is expected to produce ice accumulations of 1/4" or greater, or cause significant disruptions to travel or utilities.

Heavy Sleet Warning
Issued when a period of sleet is expected to produce ice accumulations of 1" or greater, or cause significant disruptions to travel or utilities.

Heavy Snow Warning
Issued when snow is expected to accumulate 4 inches or more in 12 hours, or 6 inches or more in 24 hours.

Winter Storm Warning
Issued for a winter weather event in which there is more than one hazard present, and one of the warning criteria listed above is expected to be met. For example, it would be issued if 5 inches of snow were expected in 12 hours, with some sleet mixing in at times. It is commonly issued for heavy snow with strong winds of 25-34 mph that will cause blowing and drifting of the snow. A Winter Storm Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.

Blizzard Warning
Issued for sustained wind or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more. A Blizzard Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.