Oklahoma Faces Active Severe Weather Friday; Eastern Oklahoma at Greatest Risk

Oklahoma Faces Active Severe Weather Friday; Eastern Oklahoma at Greatest Risk

Published 6:30 AM CDT, Friday, April 24, 2026 — ONWN Weather Team

An active and multi-hazard weather day is underway across Oklahoma on Friday, with a cold front pressing through eastern portions of the state and fueling multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service has outlined a Slight to Enhanced Risk of severe weather for much of eastern Oklahoma, while flash flooding concerns are elevated across the southeastern corner of the state.

The Big Picture

A broad upper-level trough remains anchored over the western United States, continuously feeding energy into the Plains. A cold front associated with a storm system that tracked through Kansas Thursday is now pushing into eastern Oklahoma, interacting with warm, moist air sitting across the eastern third of the state. Boundary-layer dewpoints are climbing into the mid-to-upper 60s ahead of the front, and that combination of heat and moisture will support strong convection throughout the day.

Severe Weather Threat

The highest risk area centers on northeast Oklahoma, including the Tulsa metro area, where the SPC has placed a Slight to Enhanced Risk. The main threats include very large hail, damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes — especially with any discrete supercell storms early in the period. As storms organize into a more linear structure through the afternoon, the wind and hail threats become the primary focus.

East-central and southeast Oklahoma, including McAlester and the areas toward Idabel, face a Slight Risk along with a significant flash flooding concern. Two or more inches of rainfall will be possible with slow-moving cells, and residents in low-lying areas near creeks and streams should be prepared to act quickly if a Flash Flood Warning is issued.

Central Oklahoma

For the Oklahoma City metro and central Oklahoma, the cold front has passed or is passing now. Expect a significantly cooler and breezier Friday, with highs only reaching the mid-to-upper 60s. Northerly winds will gust to 25 miles per hour at times. A brief shower is possible early morning, but conditions will improve through the afternoon.

Fire Weather

Western Oklahoma residents should remain on high alert for fire danger. Thursday brought a Red Flag Warning across portions of western Oklahoma, with relative humidity dropping as low as 5 percent. Friday’s fire weather threat is more localized and elevated rather than critical, but fuels remain dangerously dry. Any outdoor burning across far western Oklahoma is strongly discouraged.

Looking Ahead

The unsettled pattern continues into the weekend. Additional severe weather chances are expected Saturday across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as the frontal boundary lifts northward. Temperatures will rebound slightly over the weekend before a tamer pattern returns early next week.

Stay Safe: Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, the Oklahoma Emergency Alert system, and ONWN for real-time updates throughout the day. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your county, seek shelter immediately in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.