Oklahoma Returns: A Meteorological Breakdown of the April 19 & May 11, 2023, Tornado Outbreaks

Oklahoma has been in a bit of a lull in significant tornado activity for the past few years, but that changed in 2023. In this video, we'll take a deep dive into the tornado outbreaks that occurred near the Oklahoma City metro area on April 19 and May 11, 2023. We'll compare and contrast the background meteorology between the two events, discuss some of the unique supercell/tornado behaviors in each, and more.

Thanks to Peter Corman and Micah Hart for providing the radar imagery used in this video.

Cameron Nixon's article on deviant tornado motion: https://cameronnixonphotography.wordp...

Nixon and Allen (2021) article on deviant tornado motion:
https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/jou...

Cameron Nixon's article on hodographs:
https://cameronnixonphotography.wordp...

NWS Norman event page on the April 19 outbreak:
https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20...

NWS Norman event page on the May 11 outbreak:
https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20...

Contents
0:00 Introduction
3:37 Background on the April 19 outbreak
8:42 Meteorological overview - April 19
16:28 Discussion of mid-level winds and dryline orientation - April 19
31:03 RAP proximity sounding analysis - April 19
39:43 Deviant tornado motion - April 19
44:48 Background on the May 11 outbreak
47:07 Meteorological overview - May 11
1:03:30 Radar overview - May 11
1:08:43 RAP proximity sounding analysis - May 11
1:12:23 Detailed hodograph analysis - May 11
1:19:41 Deviant tornado motion - May 11
1:21:54 Wrap-up