Oklahoma's Heavy PWAT Loads Storms for 80 MPH Downbursts — SevereWX

Oklahoma Storms Primed for Damaging Winds Amid Rich Moisture

Northern and central Oklahoma residents, take note: clusters of thunderstorms are set to fire up after 4 PM CDT, packing locally damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph and brief quarter-size hail.

The Storm Prediction Center's Mesoscale Discussion 1588 highlights an MCV sliding across northwest Oklahoma, paired with a stalled boundary near the Oklahoma-Kansas line stretching into northwest Arkansas. Intense afternoon heating is building cumulus towers in a plume of steep low-level lapse rates, while surface convergence along the boundary adds fuel.

This setup sits within a juicy, unstable environment—MLCAPE nearing 2000 J/kg and dewpoints in the mid-60s°F from upstream mixing. Though deep-layer shear is modest, winds veering with height will steer slow-moving storms southward, amplifying downburst potential. Substantial precipitable water ensures heavy rain cores that could collapse into 70+ mph gusts during peak heating.

The MD covers a broad swath from near the KS border south into central OK, valid until around 5:30 PM CDT, with a 60% odds of a watch. Peak threats: 65-80 mph winds, hail to 1.25 inches.

Stay Prepared: Anchor loose outdoor objects, keep phones charged for alerts, and have a severe weather plan ready. Monitor local NWS offices (OUN, ICT, TSA) and radar via SevereWX.net for updates. Safety first as these pulses develop.