Early on May 24, a strong upper-level trough (an elongated region of low atmospheric pressure aloft) advanced towards the Great Plains out of the southwestern United States and took on a negative tilt, becoming oriented northwest to southeast.

[1][2]: 504 At the same time, southerly flow brought moisture north over Texas and the southern Great Plains, allowing dew points in Central Oklahoma to reach 18–21 °C (64–70 °F).

[2]: 504–505  This moisture, with temperatures in the mid 80 °F (27 °C) range, allowed for ample convective available potential energy (or CAPE, a measure of atmospheric instability); values reached 2500–4000 J/kg.

[3]: 2 [2]: 504–505 In the late morning, a shortwave embedded within the main longwave trough advanced more rapidly, pushing the dryline into western Oklahoma, where it met the already-present moisture.

[3]: 2  This risk was anticipated by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and its local forecast office in Norman, Oklahoma.

"[5] At 5:06 p.m., an uncondensed tornado touched down on Fieldcrest Dr in a neighborhood south of Chickasha at EF0 strength, taking tree limbs off and blowing down fences; some homes sustained minor roof damage.

The tornado rapidly intensified to high-end EF2 strength with wind speeds of 135 mph (217 km/h), a manufactured home along Parkway Dr was demolished, and debris was blown away.

The tornado weakened to EF3 intensity, a stone home had its roof torn off, the ground was scoured away, vehicles were thrown 300 yards away and mangled and trees were debarked.

The tornado maintained EF3 intensity as it crossed County Street 2920; numerous trees around East Bitter Creek were debarked, the ground was completely scoured away down to the dirt, and an outbuilding was leveled near the edge of the path.

The tornado crossed County Street 2980, slightly intensifying to mid-range EF3 strength as a double-wide mobile home was obliterated, and ground scouring was noted to happen again, a farmstead along the road suffered major damage as it was almost leveled, leaving a few interior walls standing, a pickup truck was thrown 200 yards (183 m) away and was destroyed as it was stripped down to its chassis, other vehicles were thrown and mangled.

The tornado rapidly strengthened to high-end EF4 intensity; the tornado crossed Maple Ridge Road, where a thin shell concrete dome was damaged, and since the home was reinforced with steel fibers rather than the common horizontal and vertical rebar, the dome was severely cracked by flying debris, all the windows were blown out, and the doors caved in, two vehicles were destroyed, and trees nearby were debarked, 10"x30" of Asphalt was ripped away.

[13] 10'x100' of asphalt was stripped off by the tornado, numerous trees were blown down and severely debarked and the ground was scoured and went as deep as 2-4", some part of the pavement were gouged out by flying debris.

The tornado passed west of downtown Newcastle, re-intensifying to mid-range EF2 strength as the Senior Living Apartments on W Fox Ln sustained significant roof damage, and more trees were snapped on this road.