Particularly Dangerous Situation advisory issued for western Oklahoma

Ponca City Emergency Management Director Paula Cain said at 2:30 p.m. that a PDS (Particular Dangerous Situation) has been issued by NWS for most of western Oklahoma until 10 p.m.  Kay County is not included in the watch area at this time.

“Storm timing has not changed yet, being 4 to 10 p.m. for our location.  Caps are very high in our region at 3500 feet, but dew point temps are not too scary yet, still under 70°,” she said.

The National Weather Service in Norman sent up a weather balloon about 10:30 with mixed results, Cain said.

“At that time a cap was still in place, but showing signs of eroding,” she said.

Storms have begun as severe in far southwest Oklahoma, which is earlier than expected.  These are moving fairly quickly to the northeast at 40 mph.

The first Tornado Warning has been issued in Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Kiowa Counties.  This will be a fluid situation.  Expect changes to occur rapidly.