Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1130 AM CDT Sat May 09 2026
Valid 091630Z - 101200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
WESTERN/CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS...
...SUMMARY...
Widely scattered severe thunderstorms capable of producing mainly
large to very large hail and locally damaging winds appear possible
for parts of western/central Oklahoma this afternoon through
tonight. Isolated hail and damaging winds may also occur across
portions of the Gulf Coast states, central High Plains, Great Lakes,
and Mid-Atlantic.
...Southern/Central Plains...
High-based convection is forecast to develop this afternoon across
southeast WY and vicinity as a mid-level shortwave trough progresses
southeastward across the northern/central High Plains. While
low-level moisture is expected to remain quite limited, cool
temperatures aloft and a well-mixed boundary layer will support a
risk for isolated severe wind gusts and perhaps some hail with the
more robust convection. This activity should spread southeastward
across parts of the central High Plains through the afternoon and
evening, while continuing to pose an isolated severe threat.
Low-level moisture is somewhat greater across the southern High
Plains, but still quite shallow per 12Z observed soundings from
OUN/FWD. While large-scale ascent will remain weaker with southward
extent through the day across this region, a surface dryline will
extend across the eastern TX Panhandle vicinity by peak afternoon
heating. Most guidance continues to suggest an uncapped and
moderately unstable airmass will exist along/east of this dryline
across western OK. Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms may
initiate by late afternoon/early evening. If this occurs, then a few
supercells capable of producing mainly large to very large hail
appear possible. The well-mixed boundary layer and shallow low-level
moisture suggest a low risk for a tornado or two through early
evening, before low-level shear gradually increases through late
evening. There is also a signal for convection to form/spread
southeastward from KS/northern OK into central OK late tonight/early
Sunday morning. If this scenario occurs, then a severe wind threat
may exist with any sustained clusters given a favorable
thermodynamic and kinematic environment.
...Coastal Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley/Southeast...
A weak mid-level trough over central/east TX late this morning will
continue to move eastward into the western Gulf through this
evening. Stronger convection across deep south TX has recently moved
offshore, but additional thunderstorms may develop this afternoon
across parts of coastal/southeast TX into LA in close proximity to
the mid-level trough. Cool temperatures aloft atop a moist low-level
airmass will support moderate to locally strong instability. This
coupled with sufficient deep-layer shear may foster modest updraft
organization and an isolated risk for large hail and damaging winds
with the stronger cores that form. Across the central Gulf Coast
states, widespread precipitation and ongoing convection has
reinforced the surface front near the coast. Any appreciable risk
for occasional damaging winds should remain along/south of this
convectively reinforced boundary through the afternoon. Therefore,
the Marginal Risk has been adjusted southward with this update.
...Great Lakes...
Beneath upper troughing centered over Ontario, a surface cold front
will advance east-southeastward across the Great Lakes through the
period. Only modest low-level moisture (generally low to mid 50s
surface dewpoints) will be in place ahead of this front from
southeast Lower MI into the lower Great Lakes. Still, strong
mid-level flow may be mixed towards the surface as low-level lapse
rates continue to steepen this afternoon. Accordingly, thunderstorms
that develop along/ahead of the cold front should pose a threat for
at least isolated damaging winds, and perhaps some hail with any
marginal supercell structures. The overall thermodynamic environment
appears too limited to justify greater severe wind probabilities at
this time.
...Mid-Atlantic...
Given ongoing cloud cover and precipitation, confidence remains
fairly low that sufficient instability to support sustained
surface-based convection will exist this afternoon across the
eastern Mid-Atlantic. Still, a low chance for a stronger
thunderstorm or two may focus across parts of NJ and vicinity, where
weak instability should overlap with modest deep-layer shear.
..Gleason/Chalmers.. 05/09/2026
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