Tornado Watch Covers Oklahoma and Northern Texas
The National Weather Service has issued Tornado Watch 701 for 39 Oklahoma counties and 8 Texas counties through 10 p.m. Central time.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Forecasts
The National Weather Service issued Tornado Watch 701, covering 39 Oklahoma counties and 8 counties in northern Texas, beginning at 1:27 p.m. Central time. The watch remains in effect until 10 p.m. Central time on November 2, 2026, and no tornado has been reported in the sources reviewed.
Why it matters
A tornado watch signals that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop across the listed counties, prompting residents in Oklahoma and northern Texas to stay alert. Watches can be expanded, canceled, or upgraded to a warning as conditions change.
The National Weather Service issued the watch covering 39 Oklahoma counties and 8 Texas counties, starting at 1:27 p.m. Central time. Whether any tornado will form within the watch area has not yet been determined.
The players
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service is the federal agency responsible for issuing weather watches, warnings, and forecasts across the United States.
The details
Tornado Watch 701 includes Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Guthrie, Stillwater, Enid, Lawton, and Ardmore in Oklahoma, along with Wichita Falls, Vernon, and Quanah in Texas. The watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Central time.
Timeline
November 2, 2026, 1:27 p.m. Central time: Tornado Watch 701 begins.
November 2, 2026, 10 p.m. Central time: Tornado Watch 701 expires.
Seasonal Patterns
Tornado watches issued by the National Weather Service follow its established watch-and-warning system, in which a watch flags favorable conditions before a warning confirms a tornado. Early-November watches in Oklahoma and northern Texas are less common than spring watches, which is why this alert stands out relative to the typical seasonal pattern.
Residents in the listed Oklahoma and Texas counties should monitor local forecasts and be ready to move to shelter if a tornado warning is issued. Keep a weather radio or phone alerts enabled until the watch expires at 10 p.m. Central time.
The takeaway
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes, so staying alert until the watch expires is the practical step. Monitoring official National Weather Service alerts will show whether the watch is upgraded to a warning.
Further reading
For more on how these alerts are issued, see the Forecasts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rolling Out.
