
Mixed Reactions As Oklahoma Avoids Predicted Severe Weather
On Sunday, June 8, southwest and central Oklahoma were set to be smack dab in the middle of a Particularly Dangerous Situation. But as the storms began to take form they ended up shifting and impacted portions of Texas instead. Oklahoma wasn't without storms Sunday but the state was sparred from gigantic hail and winds over 80 miles per hour.
Weather is nearly impossible to accurately predict, especially in Oklahoma. But local meteorologists do their best to make sure Oklahoma residents are prepared for severe weather no matter what. Leading up to Sunday, every meteorologist, including the National Weather Service, were predicting that parts of southwest and central Oklahoma could be impacted by a Particularly Dangerous Situation that would bring destructive storms with giant hail and destructive winds.
Oklahomans began to make preparations for Sunday's impending severe weather event by tying down anything that could blow away, cleaning out shelters, etc. Late Sunday afternoon is when most of southwest and central Oklahoma were put in a severe thunderstorm watch that included the Potentially Dangerous Situation.
Oklahoma City Thunder game nearly impacted by severe weather.
Before the Particularly Dangerous Situation entered Oklahoma, parts of northern and central Oklahoma were impacted by severe weather and tornado-warned storms ahead of the main event. One tornado-warned storm was on track to impact downtown Oklahoma City right before the second round of the NBA Finals featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Luckily, the storm ended up turning south and the game still began at 7 p.m. and lead to a Thunder win.
As Oklahoma residents watched the Thunder tie up the NBA Finals series, those in the Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the Particularly Dangerous Situation were waiting for the storms but they never came. Most of the areas in the watch may have a had a few rumbles of thunder and rain, but that's it. By 8 p.m. Sunday, most meteorologists assured Oklahomans that the Particular Dangerous Situation was not going to impact Oklahoma at all.
Oklahoma residents divided by meteorologists predictions.
When the storms didn't hit, people took to the internet to ask local meteorologists what was up, why didn't the storms happen? Some were understanding, but others, instead of being thankful for no impact, they were upset at local meteorologists for "hyping people up for nothing."
KOCO Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan responded to one viewer on Facebook who asked why what local meteorologists were predicting didn't happen to Oklahoma. He said it was due to two reasons:
- Meteorologists rely on imperfect computer models and they do their best to interpret the models' predictions.
- Oklahoma weather forecasts are based on "future potential," and he reminded residents of May 3, 1999, when the state had a slight risk for tornadoes in the morning and by the afternoon was at a high risk.
Particularly Dangerous Situation impacted more of Texas instead of Oklahoma.
Even though the Particularly Dangerous Situation did not happen in Oklahoma, it still impacted parts of Texas. Areas of north Texas were expected to see the Particularly Dangerous Situation, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But as the situation unfolded Sunday, parts of western and central Texas experienced the Particularly Dangerous Situation instead of Oklahoma.
According to Texas Storm Chasers, some of the most significant damage from Sunday's Particularly Dangerous Situation occurred in Big Spring, Bonham and Benbrook - only Big Spring was out of the initial severe thunderstorm watch for the Potentially Dangerous Situation.
It's better to be prepared instead of surprised by dangerous severe weather.
So even though Oklahoma was warned about the potential for dangerous severe weather Sunday but didn't receive anything, it's better to be prepared than surprised like Big Spring was. Locals from Big Spring posted to social media Monday about the storm stating that "the storm came out of nowhere," many people weren't prepared and the storm "claimed many homes."
Oklahoma's Top 10 Deadliest Tornadoes
Gallery Credit: Kaley Patterson
TWISTERS: Counties With the Most Tornadoes in Oklahoma
Gallery Credit: Stacker