April 22/23, 2011: Tulsa hail and mammatus clouds

(ABOVE: My wife Shyla didn't have to storm chase to gather these. Yes, she ran out into our front yard during the storm to get them! The largest measures 2.2" wide.)

Tulsa county was battered by hail on consecutive days.

On Friday, April 22, 2011, golfball to tennis ball-sized hail beat up cars in south Tulsa county. The southern suburbs including Glenpool, Jenks, Bixby and Broken Arrow received the largest hail. Here's a bit more about the hail.

Soon afterward, mammatus clouds developed over Tulsa, a somewhat rare sight. Here is small article I wrote for KJRH regarding those clouds.

The following night on April 23, 2011, another hail storm developed in the Tulsa area. While the hail wasn't quite as large, quarter to golfball-size hail pelted cars and roofs through the middle of town. The storm formed near Kellyville, then tracked across west Tulsa, the Brookside area, Utica Square, the University of Tulsa and Tulsa International Airport. (I guess folks who unknowingly left their exposed cars in the airport parking lot may return to find hail divets in their hoods.)

Enjoy these pictures sent in by KJRH viewers! George

(ABOVE: A few baseball-sized hailstones fell in Bixby. BOTTOM: The Hall family found the largest hailstones in Bixby. These 3" hailstones are slightly larger than baseballs!)

(ABOVE: Richard Waters took this beautiful picture of the mammatus clouds over South Tulsa. You can see the City Plex Towers in the bottom right. BELOW: Janie Molloy Ledbetter had an amazing view of the mammatus clouds near Bristow. She wanted to me call them "mammary clouds" on TV... and I did.)

(BELOW: Most of the hail near Channel 2 was the size of quarters. But a few dense, golfball-sized hailstones like these damaged cars. Clay Holder photo.)

(BELOW: Storm chaser Paul Haines was chasing this Tornado Warned storm near Henryetta near sunset. If you see a cloud such as this one, which looks like a rotating space ship, then stay away! The last picture is what can happen if you don't stay away.... Tornado Warned storms can throw out huge hail away from the main precipitation core. The storm ejected baseball-size hail on to cars along Interstate 40, cracking his windshield.)

NSU-BA: Awesome, quick bicycle ride

(ABOVE: The Creek Turnpike trail around Broken Arrow is a pleasant getaway. The cows agree!)


If you travel the length of the Riverside Trail; taking it south from downtown Tulsa along Riverside, then to the Creek Turnpike through South Tulsa, you will find yourself 26 miles later at NSU-Broken Arrow. This is where the trail ends... or begins.

The usually quiet, small NSU-BA bike parking lot fills with mostly cyclists near dinner time. Many folks enjoy parking here then riding the trail back toward Broken Arrow and Tulsa.

(BELOW: Here is the trail terminus at this parking lot just south of NSU-Broken Arrow. I like to start my ride here and pedal south then west around BA. A ride from NSU-BA to Olive and back is 12.6 miles according to my iPhone Cyclemeter app. )




The trail is a dream for cyclists: longish stretches of straight-aways and curves, rolling hills and a few abrupt 100 foot climbs. While cars and trucks zoom along the nearby Creek Turnpike, you are isolated with trees, open farmland and country creeks.

(ABOVE: Near the Creek Turnpike and Aspen. You can accelerate to 30mph going downhill. Wheeee!)

Compared to the Tulsa sections of trail, higher speeds are possible as bicycles outnumber joggers and walkers-- you don't worry about running over folks! The few intersections aren't a problem either.

If you are looking for a great place to ride that isn't crowded, is somewhat isolated, yet not far from town, then this route is for you. Try parking at NSU-BA, then ride to Olive and back. It's a 12 mile ride, and could make you fall in love with our Tulsa Parks trail system! George

(BELOW: To stay healthy, Ruben Castro says he got back on the bike after 25 years of not riding. Says he loves it and wishes he did it sooner!)