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Oklahoma may see 2 waves of severe storms with tornado risk
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POTENTIAL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 321 TORNADO WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR WESTERN OKLAHOMA. AND THEN PREPARE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS THAT WILL BE MOVING IN WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. SO ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THAT IS A THREE OUT OF FIVE IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA OKC WEST. THAT IS A SLIGHT RISK, TWO OUT OF FIVE. AND THEN THE THREAT DECREASES SOUTH AND EAST. BUT WE’RE STILL GOING TO GET THE STORMS IN HERE THAT WE HAVE TO WATCH. AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THESE STORMS ARE COMING IN, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON FOR A BRIEF TORNADO THREAT RIGHT NOW, HAIL SIZES WILL BE PRETTY LARGE IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND THEN DECREASE PRETTY QUICKLY TOWARD THE METRO. ALSO HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR SOME REALLY STRONG WINDS LATE TONIGHT. SO HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. WE ARE WATCHING STORMS DEVELOPING BETWEEN NOW AND 9:00 IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA OVERNIGHT. THERE’S A GREATER CHANCE FOR STORMS WITH A TORNADO RISK. IT WILL BE A BRIEF TORNADO THREAT, BUT THE MORNING COMMUTE COULD BE PRETTY MESSY. SO STORMS OUT THERE THIS EVENING, WE’RE WATCHING IT. WHATEVER DEVELOPS OUT ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL LIKELY BEGIN TO FALL APART SOMETIME RIGHT AROUND SUNSET AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THEN WE’LL GET A LINE OF STORMS COMING IN FROM A COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE IN EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, LIKE VERY EARLY, FOUR AND 5 A.M., WEATHERFORD EL RENO OKC CUSHING CHANDLER TO TULSA. IT WILL KEEP MOVING SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AS WE GO TOWARDS PAULS VALLEY. SULFUR DAVIS BY EIGHT AND 9 A.M., MOVING INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA. SO CLOSER INSPECTION HERE. PIEDMONT. OKARCHE. EL RENO AT ABOUT 5 A.M. COMING INTO NEWCASTLE MOORE NORMAN BETWEEN 6 AND 7 A.M. AND THEN IT WILL KEEP MOVING DOWN TO THE SOUTH. AN ACTIVE NIGHT A
UPDATES: Tornado watch issued ahead of waves of severe storms Monday in Oklahoma
Updated: 6:08 PM CDT May 18, 2026
It’s another alert day in Oklahoma, as two rounds of storms bring a severe weather and a tornado threat on Monday and into early Tuesday. >> Go to the KOCO weather page | Get KOCO on the Go | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter6:05 p.m. Monday UpdateKOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane says storms have developed in western Oklahoma but have struggled to become severe. However, overnight storms more likely in a second wave of storms. Oklahoma Tornado Watch A tornado watch has been issued for much of western Oklahoma, including Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Major, Roger Mills, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodard counties, until midnight. >> Video Below: Tornado watch issued in western OklahomaOklahoma Storm RiskA level 3 enhanced risk has been issued in northern Oklahoma near Alva and Ponca City. There’s also a level 2 slight risk for most of Oklahoma, including the OKC metro. A level 1 marginal risk also was issued for southern and southeastern Oklahoma. Storms could produce tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. Tornado Risk The tornado risk is highest in northern Oklahoma, where the index is 6 out of 10 near Alva, Woodward, and Ponca City. The tornado index decreases to 4 out of 10 in western Oklahoma near Altus, Hobart, Clinton, and south of Woodward. Southern, central, and northeastern Oklahoma have a decreased tornado risk that sits at 2 out of 10. The OKC metro is included in this risk zone. Damaging Wind Risk These storms could produce 70-80 mph winds in northwestern and northern Oklahoma. Wind gusts of 60-70 mph are possible for most of the rest of Oklahoma. Hail Risk Golf ball-sized hail is possible in western Oklahoma, and the largest hail could fall in northwestern Oklahoma. Hail the size of tennis balls is possible near Alva, Woodward, and Ponca City. The OKC metro is in the zone that could see golf ball-sized hail on Monday. Severe Storm Timeline The first chance of storms is very conditional and could start around 3 p.m. Monday in western Oklahoma. The storms off the dry line may not even form, but if they do, they may be isolated at first and have a hail and tornado risk. A line of storms could develop around 6 p.m. from Altus to Hobart, Clinton, Hinton, Kingfisher, north of OKC, and Stillwater. Those storms, if they develop, would move east across Oklahoma and the OKC metro during the evening hours before going into eastern Oklahoma by 11 p.m. A cold front comes in from the north after midnight, bringing another line of storms Tuesday morning. Those storms could hit the OKC metro around 4-6 a.m., and they could have a low tornado risk. KOCO 5 First Alert Weather Team, led by Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane, has been certified by WeatheRate as providing the Most Accurate Forecast in Oklahoma City for 14 consecutive years. This outstanding achievement underscores KOCO 5’s unwavering dedication to delivering reliable weather forecasts to viewers.
It’s another alert day in Oklahoma, as two rounds of storms bring a severe weather and a tornado threat on Monday and into early Tuesday.
>> Go to the KOCO weather page | Get KOCO on the Go | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
6:05 p.m. Monday Update
KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane says storms have developed in western Oklahoma but have struggled to become severe. However, overnight storms more likely in a second wave of storms.
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Oklahoma Tornado Watch
A tornado watch has been issued for much of western Oklahoma, including Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Major, Roger Mills, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodard counties, until midnight.
>> Video Below: Tornado watch issued in western Oklahoma
Oklahoma Storm Risk
A level 3 enhanced risk has been issued in northern Oklahoma near Alva and Ponca City.
There’s also a level 2 slight risk for most of Oklahoma, including the OKC metro. A level 1 marginal risk also was issued for southern and southeastern Oklahoma.
Storms could produce tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail.
Tornado Risk
The tornado risk is highest in northern Oklahoma, where the index is 6 out of 10 near Alva, Woodward, and Ponca City.
The tornado index decreases to 4 out of 10 in western Oklahoma near Altus, Hobart, Clinton, and south of Woodward.
Southern, central, and northeastern Oklahoma have a decreased tornado risk that sits at 2 out of 10. The OKC metro is included in this risk zone.
Damaging Wind Risk
These storms could produce 70-80 mph winds in northwestern and northern Oklahoma. Wind gusts of 60-70 mph are possible for most of the rest of Oklahoma.
Hail Risk
Golf ball-sized hail is possible in western Oklahoma, and the largest hail could fall in northwestern Oklahoma. Hail the size of tennis balls is possible near Alva, Woodward, and Ponca City.
The OKC metro is in the zone that could see golf ball-sized hail on Monday.
Severe Storm Timeline
The first chance of storms is very conditional and could start around 3 p.m. Monday in western Oklahoma. The storms off the dry line may not even form, but if they do, they may be isolated at first and have a hail and tornado risk.
A line of storms could develop around 6 p.m. from Altus to Hobart, Clinton, Hinton, Kingfisher, north of OKC, and Stillwater. Those storms, if they develop, would move east across Oklahoma and the OKC metro during the evening hours before going into eastern Oklahoma by 11 p.m.
A cold front comes in from the north after midnight, bringing another line of storms Tuesday morning. Those storms could hit the OKC metro around 4-6 a.m., and they could have a low tornado risk.
KOCO 5 First Alert Weather Team, led by Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane, has been certified by WeatheRate as providing the Most Accurate Forecast in Oklahoma City for 14 consecutive years. This outstanding achievement underscores KOCO 5’s unwavering dedication to delivering reliable weather forecasts to viewers.
