15 rescued as storms bring flooding and lightning fire to Cherokee County, Oklahoma
15 campers were rescued in Oklahoma after getting stranded by floodwaters near Littlefields in Cherokee County on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Exceptional drought returns to Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for first time since July 2023
Exceptional drought (D4) has returned to parts of the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma for the first time since July 2023, according to the National Weather Service Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center (ABRFC). Drought conditions continue worsening across large parts of the Southern Plains following one of the driest and warmest starts to spring on record. Extreme Drought (D3) conditions are already affecting 36% of the Arkansas-Red Basin, while forecasters warned that very dry conditions are expected to persist across western portions of the region.
Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms issued for northern Texas into lower Mississippi Valley
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast across parts of northern Texas into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on April 28, 2026, with an Enhanced Risk issued for parts of the region. Very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are to be expected, while repeated storm activity may increase the risk of flash flooding.
Moderate Risk issued for central and southeast Oklahoma as strong tornadoes and very large hail threaten southern Plains
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center placed parts of central and southeast Oklahoma under a Moderate Risk for severe thunderstorms on April 25, 2026, with large to very large hail, tornadoes, and damaging winds forecast across parts of the southern Plains and Ark-La-Tex. Hailstones over 7.6 cm (3 inches) and strong tornadoes are possible during the afternoon and evening, where discrete supercells develop.
Violent EF4 tornado injures 10 in Enid, Oklahoma, emergency declared in Garfield and Kay counties
A preliminary EF4 tornado injured 10 people in Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026, according to NWS Norman. The tornado reached estimated peak winds of 274 km/h (170 mph), tracked 15.3 km (9.5 miles), and damaged parts of Vance Air Force Base and the Gray Ridge neighborhood. This was the first EF4 tornado to impact Garfield County since April 1991.
Large tornado hits Enid, Oklahoma, damaging homes and Vance AFB, at least 10 injuries reported
A large tornado struck Enid, Oklahoma, during the evening hours of April 23, 2026, causing significant structural damage, downing power infrastructure, and prompting search-and-rescue operations across affected neighborhoods. At least 10 people were injured.
Severe thunderstorms forecast from northern Oklahoma to southern Minnesota on April 23
Severe storms are expected to develop from northern Oklahoma into southern Minnesota on April 23, 2026, bringing a risk of large to very large hail and damaging winds. A few tornadoes are possible, primarily during the early stages of storm development, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC).
Cedar Canyon Fire burns 251 ha (620 acres) near Hitchcock, Oklahoma, injures 5
A wind-driven wildfire ignited near Hitchcock in Blaine County, Oklahoma, at approximately 14:30-15:30 LT on March 26, 2026, burning 251 ha (620 acres) and reaching 70% containment by March 29. The fire, caused by a rekindled permitted burn, injured multiple firefighters and prompted localized evacuations that were later lifted.
Early-season wildfires surge across the United States with over 611 000 ha (1.51 million acres) burned year-to-date
Wildfire activity intensified across the United States in March 2026, with 44 large fires burning approximately 399 800 ha (987 989 acres) as of March 27. Since January 1, more than 611 000 ha (1.51 million acres) have burned from 15 436 fires, well above the 10-year average, while evacuations, burn bans, and localized impacts were reported as containment improved in several key incidents by March 29.
Red Flag Warnings issued from the Plains to the Southeast under critical fire weather conditions
Red Flag Warnings are in effect across the Central Plains and Southeast United States on March 28, 2026, as the National Weather Service (NWS) warns of critical fire weather conditions driven by strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) and humidity levels as low as 10–20% are expected to promote rapid fire ignition and spread. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged across all warned regions.
