• Oklahoma Memo
  • Posts
  • Tornado risk rises Monday — Here’s what you need to know

Tornado risk rises Monday — Here’s what you need to know

This is your 5-minute round-up of Oklahoma news for May 19, 2025

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is May 19, and here are a handful of headlines before we get started:

• Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Doctors say that cancer has metastasized to his bones. (CNN)

• Pope Leo XIV held his inaugural mass on Sunday, calling for unity and talking about the harms caused by unchecked capitalism. (Yahoo! News)

• Authorities have identified a 25-year-old as the person behind a deadly explosion at an IVF clinic in southern California. (NBC Palm Springs)

• Stock futures slide after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating late last week. (CNBC)

Don’t forget to support local journalism wherever you can, if you’re able. For journalism to thrive, it’s important that journalists be supported.

Subscribe to get this FREE newsletter in your inbox every morning. Your free subscription supports Oklahoma Memo.

Our email is [email protected]. Message us anytime.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok.

Weather Update ⛈️

Severe weather is likely again Monday. Stay weather aware, and have a plan. All forms of severe weather are possible, including tornadoes.

🌡️ Monday's high in OKC 87°
🌡️ Monday’s high in Tulsa 81°

Severe weather is likely on Monday across Oklahoma. Here’s what you should know.

Hey folks, we need to talk about some more rough weather coming our way. The National Weather Service is warning about serious thunderstorms hitting parts of the central and southern Plains and the Ozarks on Monday.

And that includes Oklahoma.

Here's what's happening: A weather system is moving out of the southern Rockies, bringing strong winds up high and picking up speed closer to the ground as the day goes on. At ground level, we've got a mix of conditions - low pressure, a boundary between dry and moist air, and a warm front - all colliding with plenty of moisture and unstable air. This combo is basically the perfect recipe for thunderstorms.

Be ready for the whole menu of severe weather:

  • Damaging winds that could knock down trees and power lines

  • Hail that might damage cars and roofs

  • Tornadoes that could pose serious threats

This is a severe storm outlook from Sunday night. From everything we’ve seen, the meteorologists are looking most closely at I-35 and points eastward for Monday.

National Weather Service

Here’s your homework assignment for Monday:

  1. Download a radar app. My favorite is Radarscope.

  2. Have a local source for weather information, somebody you like and trust.

  3. Make sure you can get to your safe spot quickly.

  4. Pay attention.

That’s really it. Don’t be scared; be prepared.

Thunder Up! 💙🧡 Oklahoma City advances in NBA Playoffs with 125-93 win over Denver

Oklahoma City Thunder home game from 2022. (PHOTO by Ryan Welton)

With 5:31 left in the first quarter, the Denver Nuggets were leading the Oklahoma City Thunder 21-10 — and the thought crept into my brain.

Are the Thunder ever going to win an NBA title?

Championships aren’t easy. But led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams with 59 points between them, the Thunder sure made this Game 7 look smooth. From that point in the opening period onward, OKC outscored Denver 115-72 en route to a 125-93 win.

SGA had 35 points. Jalen added 24, and Chet Holmgren got himself a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. Alex Caruso continues to endear himself to a hard-working Oklahoma crowd with his continuous hustle, too.

It’s not going to be easy in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder open at home Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.

Minnesota will be looking for its first trip to the NBA Finals, while Oklahoma City will be fighting for trip No. 2. Their first came in 2012, a 4-1 loss to the Miami Heat.

Game Schedule:

Tue., May 20 in Oklahoma City. 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN.
Thur., May 22 in Oklahoma City. 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN.
Sat., May 24 in Minneapolis. 7:30 p.m. CT, ABC.
Mon., May 26 in Minneapolis. 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN.
Wed., May 28 in Oklahoma City. 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN.
Fri., May 30 in Minneapolis. 7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN.
Sun., June 1 in Oklahoma City. 7 p.m. CT, ESPN.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state:

• Lawsuit claims teachers engaged in sexual acts near sleeping student at Okmulgee school (KTUL)

• ‘This is our time’: Fans react to OKC Thunder's Game 7 win over Denver Nuggets (The Oklahoman)

• Channen Smith moves closer to exoneration for wrongful conviction (Black Wall Street Times)

• Major homeless encampment cleared out near Riverside (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma education leader urges Legislature not to increase school funding, cut more taxes instead (Oklahoma Voice)

• Controversial new Oklahoma utility law likely headed to court, regulator says (KOSU)

• Cole and Fellow Republicans Are Uneasy About Trump’s Slash-and-Burn at FEMA (Oklahoma Watch)

• Flames cause extensive damage as crews rescue 2 dogs from Jones house fire (KOCO)

• Cleveland County Detention Center inmate dies after suffering medical emergency (KOCO)

• Sooners slug their way to softball Super Regionals with 12-1 win over Cal (SoonerSports)

• Oklahoma State softball season ends with run-rule loss to Arkansas in NCAA regional final (The Oklahoman)

• Local fireworks retailer advises customers to shop around amid 30% tariff on imports (KTUL)

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

My inbox is always open. If you have a link I should add to the newsletter, a story that isn’t getting enough attention, a press release, a press event you’d like to invite me to—or you just want to offer some good old-fashioned feedback, I’m available to you.

Maybe you’re interested in sponsoring Oklahoma Memo?

The mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

Best way to reach me is via email at [email protected].

Reply

or to participate.