Severe Weather Alert: Tornado Risk in Oklahoma Today

Severe weather poses a significant tornado risk in Oklahoma today, especially after sunset.

### Severe Weather Alert: Tornado Risk in Oklahoma Today
* 🌪 A significant tornado risk is expected after midnight, particularly **east of Oklahoma City (OKC)**, with warnings possible as early as **4 p.m.**
* 🕘 Join the live newscast at 9 a.m. for updates, and check in with Damon at 4:06 p.m. for **severe weather tracking**.
* ⚠ The storm threats include numerous supercells and a potential for **softball-sized hail**, especially in west-central Oklahoma, including areas near **Altus and Hobart**.
* 🌧 The tornado risk will persist into the evening, with **heightened low-level shear from 7 to 10 p.m.**, making conditions **more favorable for tornado formation**.
* 🚨 A rare **high risk for severe weather** has been issued for central Oklahoma, marking the **first such warning in five years**, indicating a **significant tornado threat statewide**.
* 🏫 Families should plan for school pickups around **3 p.m.**, but remain vigilant as the tornado risk may **increase from 5 to 7 p.m.**
* 🏠 It is advisable to be at home or in a safe shelter after 7 p.m., as these storms are **extremely dangerous and should not be taken lightly**.
* 📞 Communicate with family members about safety plans and stay informed throughout the day to **ensure everyone's safety** during this severe weather event.

TWO AND ONE FROM THE FIRST ALERT WEATHER CENTER. METEOROLOGIST JONATHAN CONDER HERE. VERY SIGNIFICANT. SEVERE WEATHER DAY AHEAD. A VERY RARE HIGH RISK HAS BEEN ISSUED TO INCLUDE OKC IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE OKLAHOMA HAS HAD A HIGH RISK. AND THIS HIGH RISK HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TORNADO THREAT. NOW DON'T BE FOCUSED ON THAT HIGH RISK. MOST OF THE STATE HAS A TORNADO RISK, AND THAT INCLUDES TORNADO OUTBREAK. SO FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN LIKE HOBART AND CLINTON, YOU'RE OUTSIDE THE HIGH. YOU HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT TORNADO RISK FOR TODAY. LET'S GET SPECIFIC ABOUT THE OKC TIMELINE. SO FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE KIDS AT SCHOOL, I REALLY THINK

PICK UP LINES 3:00 SHOULD BE FINE. THAT COULD CHANGE. WATCHING IT CLOSELY, I THINK THE CHANCE OF TORNADOES AT THAT TIME IS PRETTY LOW FROM 5 TO 7. WE NEED TO REALLY START PAYING ATTENTION. WE'LL LIKELY HAVE TORNADO WARNINGS TO OUR WEST BY THAT TIME. OKC AT THAT TIME, IF YOU CAN. WE'RE GRAVITATING TOWARDS GETTING HOME AFTER 7 P.M. WE ARE HOME OR AT OUR PLACE OF SHELTER. ALL RIGHT, I DON’T WANT YOU TO ABOUT RUNNING AROUND WHILE THE WARNINGS ARE GOING ON. THESE ARE NOT STORMS YOU WANT TO MESS WITH BECAUSE THE HAIL SIZES AND HOW INTENSE, HENCE HOW DANGEROUS THEY'RE GOING TO BE. SO AGAIN, VERY, VERY DANGEROUS DAY AHEAD. I WANT YOU TO TALK TO YOUR

FAMILY MEMBERS NOW ABOUT YOUR PLAN. WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION AND THERE IS A TORNADO RISK EVEN AFTER SUNSET. NOW, THIS IS JUST ONE SIMULATION, OKAY? JUST ONE RUN OF PREDICTOR. BUT THE TAKEAWAY HERE, TORNADO WARNINGS AS EARLY AS 4 P.M., BUT FIVE, 6 P.M. WEST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA DEPENDS WHERE THOSE LINE UP. THEY COULD LINE UP DOWN NEAR ALTUS AND HOBART AND COME RIGHT INTO OKC. BUT THOSE ARE NUMEROUS SUPERCELLS. BIG HAIL RISKS LIKE SOFTBALL SIZE AND A TORNADO RISK. AND THAT TORNADO RISK WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING FROM 7 TO 10 P.M. THE LOW LEVEL SHEAR REALLY RAMPS UP. SO EVEN THOUGH STORMS MAY TRY TO LINE OUT, THEY WILL STILL HAVE A

TORNADO RISK WITH IT AFTER MIDNIGHT. THAT STORM THREAT WILL BE EAST OF OKC. SO WHAT DO I NEED YOU TO DO? NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN COME JOIN ME 9 A.M. HOUR LONG NEWSCAST. WE STREAM. IT ALSO LIVE ON OUR APP. ALSO. SO J JUST COME PAY US A VISIT LATER THIS AFTERNOON. I WOULD SAY CHECK IN WITH DAMON AT FOUR 5:06 P.M. PRETTY HIGH PROBABILITY HE WILL BE ALREADY TRACKING SEVERE WEATHER AT THAT.

Monday May 6, 2024 Forecast: High Risk, tornado threat

KOCO 5 News

A rare high risk for severe weather has been issued for central Oklahoma, including OKC, marking the first in five years.

The high risk is primarily due to the tornado threat, with most of the state also facing a significant tornado risk.

Families with kids at school are urged to pay attention to the weather timeline for the day.

The chance of tornadoes is low from 5 to 7 PM, but warnings are expected to the west.

It's crucial to be home or in a shelter by 7 PM to avoid being out during the warnings.

The storms are predicted to be intense and dangerous, with large hail sizes, so it's important to take them seriously.

There is a tornado risk after midnight, with the storm threat moving east of OKC.

Tornado warnings are possible as early as 4 PM, with supercells and big hail risks, including softball-sized hail, in west central Oklahoma.

The tornado risk will continue into the evening, from 7 to 10 PM, as low-level shear increases.