Tornadoes in Oklahoma
Clockwise from top:
| |
| Tornadoes statewide | >4,100[1] |
|---|---|
| Location of max. windspeeds | 321 mph (517 km/h)
|
| Fatalities | >1,707 |
| Injuries | >14,000 |
| Deadliest single tornado | 116 deaths[2]
|
| Most active year | 2024 (152 tornadoes)[3] |
Several destructive tornadoes have hit the U.S. state of Oklahoma since 1882, the year with the first recorded tornado within state boundaries. Oklahoma, located in Tornado Alley, experiences around 68 tornadoes annually, with each EF3+ tornado killing an average of 2.9 people. 497 tornadoes have been classified as "intense" in Oklahoma, being rated F3+ on the Fujita Scale[note 1] or EF3+ on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Oklahoma has seen thirteen F5 or EF5 tornadoes since 1905, the most recent hitting Moore in May 2013. The deadliest sliced through the Oklahoma panhandle in April 1947, hitting Woodward and killing at least 182 people.
Oklahoma was struck by several significant tornadoes prior to 1950, including an F5 tornado that hit Snyder and a large tornado that passed over Woodward and surrounding communities. The first tornado warning ever issued in the United States was sent out for the Tinker Air Force Base area on March 25, 1948, shortly before an F3 tornado hit the base. The 1950s were particularly devastating for Oklahoma, with 546 tornadoes killing a total of 154 people.[6] A large F5-rated tornado hit Blackwell in the early hours of May 26, 1955, and an F4 tornado killed seven people west of Stonewall in May 1959. Tornadoes in the 1960s were less damaging, with a total of 581 tornadoes touching down within state boundaries, killing 57 people. An F5 tornado moved through Prague and Sapulpa in May 1960, killing five people along a 71.8 mi (115.6 km) track. An F3 tornado hit downtown Oklahoma City five days earlier, inflicting $2.5 million (1960 USD)[7] in damages to the city and injuring 57 people.[6]
The 1970s, like the 1950s, was a particularly deadly decade for tornadoes in Oklahoma, with 433 tornadoes killing a combined total of 110 people.[6] The deadliest, rated F4, hit Wichita Falls, Texas before moving into Jefferson County on April 10, 1979. 42 people were killed by the tornado and a further 1,740 were injured. The majority of casualties took place along the tornado's track through Texas. Only 25 people were killed by tornadoes through the 1980s, eight of which were the result of an F3 tornado that moved through Morris on April 26, 1984. The strongest tornado was an F5 that moved through rural Choctaw and McCurtain counties, injuring 29.[6]
The 1990s were a significant decade for severe weather in Oklahoma, with over 55 people being killed by a total of 688 tornadoes.[6] The deadliest and most powerful devastated Bridge Creek, Moore and surrounding suburbs of Oklahoma City on May 3, 1999, where 41 people were killed. The tornado, which received an F5 rating, had the highest measured windspeeds ever recorded on Earth, at 321 miles per hour (517 km/h). The tornado inflicted a total of $1 billion (1999 USD)[8] in damage to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, making it the second-costliest in Oklahoma history.[9] A large F4 tornado killed two people in Cimarron City and Mulhall on the same day; it was the largest tornado ever measured quantitatively.[10]
The 2000s were less significant, with 483 tornadoes killing a total of 32 people.[6] A large F4 tornado moved through southwestern Oklahoma City in May 2003, injuring 134 people. The first violent tornado to be rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale in Oklahoma hit the town of Picher on May 10, 2008, killing 21 people and inflicting an estimated $15,000,000 (2008 USD)[11] in damages to structures and farms along a 75.5 mi (121.5 km) spanning from Craig County in Oklahoma to Barry County in Missouri. The 2010s would mark a broad increase in the number of tornadoes that touched down annually, jumping from 103 in 2010 to 149 in 2019; the latter was the second-worst year for tornadoes in Oklahoma history, only behind 2024, which saw 152 tornadoes. The deadliest tornado of the decade would again hit Moore on May 20, 2013, killing 24 people and receiving a rating of EF5, making it the most recent tornado worldwide to top the Enhanced Fujita Scale as of July 2025. The tornado was the costliest in Oklahoma history and the third costliest in US history, leaving an estimated $2 billion (2013 USD) worth of damages in its wake.[12]
Tornadoes in Oklahoma have broken numerous national and worldwide records. Both the widest and most powerful tornadoes ever recorded occurred in Oklahoma. Two of the top ten costliest tornadoes in history have happened in Oklahoma and the state also has the most violent tornadoes out of any other state.[13] Tornadoes in Oklahoma have also been extensively featured in media; both 1996's Twister and 2024's Twisters take place primarily in Oklahoma.[14][15] Into the Storm and 13 Minutes, released in 2014 and 2021 respectively, are both set in fictional Oklahoman towns that were hit by tornadoes.[16]
Climatology
[edit]Oklahoma is located in Tornado Alley, an expanse of land stretching from South Dakota to Texas. Tornadoes are more frequent in Tornado Alley than anywhere else in the world, and Oklahoma sees the second-highest number of tornadoes out of any state.[17] In the alley, warm and humid air from the equator meets cold, dry air from Canada and produced by the Rocky Mountains. This creates an ideal environment for tornadoes to form within supercellular thunderstorms.[18]
| Year | Max F/EF# | Tornadoes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | EF4 | 152 | 8[19] |
| 2019 | EF3 | 149 | 4[20] |
| 1999 | F5 | 145 | 42[21] |
| 2011 | EF5 | 119 | 14[22] |
| 2015 | EF3 | 111 | 2[23] |
| 1957 | F4 | 107 | 22[24] |
Deadliest tornadoes
[edit]| Date | F/EF# | Deaths | Injuries | Hardest-hit community |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 9, 1947 | F5 | 116 | 782 | Woodward |
| The deadliest tornado to strike within the borders of the state of Oklahoma occurred on April 9, 1947 in the city of Woodward. The Woodward tornadic supercell thunderstorm began in the Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of April 9, 1947, and produced at least six tornadoes along a 220 mi (350 km) path that stretched from White Deer, Texas to St. Leo, Kansas. At least 116 lives were lost in Oklahoma and another 68 deaths were recorded in Texas as a direct result of the tornado.[25] | ||||
| May 10, 1905 | F5 | 97 | 58 | Snyder |
| This tornado developed about 2 mi (3.2 km) southeast of the Frances school house in Greer County (now Jackson County). Homes were swept away about 14 mi (23 km) southeast of Altus. From its inception, this tornado moved east-northeast crossing the North Fork of the Red River near the mouth of Otter Creek. The tornado followed very close to Otter Creek curving to the northeast through what is now northern Tillman County (but was still part of Kiowa County at the time). Three people were killed about 6 mi (9.7 km) southwest of Snyder. As the tornado continued northeast it struck the city of Snyder at around 8:45 pm CST.[25]
The tornado struck Snyder beginning in the southwest corner of town and destroyed or damaged homes and other buildings west of Main Street and from 6th Street northward through the city. No buildings north of the railroad were left standing. After moving through Snyder, the tornado continued to the northeast, destroying a couple of small residences within two miles of the town site, then lifted about 3 mi (4.8 km) northeast of Snyder.[25] | ||||
| May 2, 1920 | F4 | 71 | 100 | Peggs |
| This violent tornado began 2 miles southwest of Peggs, moved northeast, and cut a 3 mi (4.8 km)-long, 0.5 mi (0.80 km)-wide swath of devastation that included the entire town of 250 people. Around 8:30 pm CST, a loud roar was heard by residents just before the tornado hit Peggs at 8:35 pm CST. The town was almost completely destroyed with only 7 buildings remaining partially intact. Only a small, wood house, used as the city jail and located next to a smashed concrete store, was still standing. A cement block schoolhouse that was located west of Peggs had only partly standing walls after the tornado hit it. The tornado traveled at least as far as the Illinois River to the east of Peggs where a house was demolished. Wheat fields were scoured and trees were carried away by the storm, and scores of livestock were killed or injured. Eleven members of one family were killed by the tornado, and in one smashed house a total of 20 mud-covered bodies were recovered. A total of 71 persons were killed and another 100 were injured by the storm. Nearly 30% of the town's population was killed and another 40% were injured.[25] | ||||
| April 12, 1945 | F5 | 69 | 353 | Antlers |
| This violent tornado was part of an outbreak of devastating severe weather and flooding that occurred in Oklahoma on April 12–15, 1945, and was one of the 5 violent twisters that hit the state on April 12. The tornado touched down at 5:30 pm CST in about 5 miles southwest of Antlers near the Hall Community in Pushmataha County. The tornado moved to the northeast and struck Antlers, passing from the southwest corner of the town through the northeast portion. It produced a damage swath a half mile wide through both business and residential areas, and devastated about a third of the town. Some areas were swept completely clean of all debris. The tornado then continued for another 20 mi (32 km)+, striking the One Creek area before dissipating near Nashoba, Oklahoma.[25]
The tornado killed 69 persons and injured 353 more people. A total of 379 homes and 254 buildings were destroyed, and 200 more homes and buildings were damaged. Approximately 1500 people were made homeless by the tornado. Damage estimates were at $1.5 million (1945 USD).[25] | ||||
| April 27, 1942 | F4 | 52 | 350 | Pryor Creek |
| This tornado touched down 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Claremore at about 3:15 pm CST, and moved storm east-northeast through rural parts of Rogers and Mayes Counties before taking aim on the town of Pryor Creek. At 3:45 pm CST, the tornado entered Pryor Creek and traveled directly through the main portion of the town, including the principal business section. Its violent winds demolished dozens of frame buildings and several brick buildings, including the First Baptist Church. After leaving Pryor Creek, the tornado caused damage to the northeast of the town, completely wrecking everything in its path before it lifted about 3 mi (4.8 km) northeast of Pryor Creek. The damage swath was a quarter of a mile in width, and about a third of Pryor Creek was destroyed by the tornado.[25]
A total of 49 people were killed in Pryor, with another 3 persons killed to the west-southwest of the town. A total of 350 people were injured with 192 of those being hospitalized. Damages totaled $2.3 million (1942 USD) and 500 buildings were damaged or destroyed.[25] | ||||
| May 3, 1999 | F5 | 36 | 583 | Bridge Creek, Newcastle, Moore, Del City, Midwest City |
| This violent, long-lived tornado was the most infamous of nearly 60 tornadoes that struck central Oklahoma during an unprecedented outbreak on the afternoon and evening of May 3, 1999. The tornado was the ninth of fourteen tornadoes produced by a supercell thunderstorm during the tornado outbreak. It formed around 5:26 pm CST about 2 mi (3.2 km) south-southwest of Amber, and grew rapidly as it headed northeast, paralleling Interstate 44. It moved across Bridge Creek and rural parts of northwest Newcastle, causing continuous F4 and sporadic F5 damage. The tornado was estimated to be a mile in diameter in this area.[25]
Total losses from this tornado include 36 direct fatalities (12 in Bridge Creek, 1 in Newcastle, 9 in southern/southeastern Oklahoma City, 5 in Moore, 6 in Del City, and 3 in Midwest City), 5 indirect fatalities during or shortly after the tornado, 583 direct injuries, numerous indirect injuries, 1,800 homes destroyed, and 2,500 homes damaged. The tornado was also the 118th tornado to strike the Oklahoma City area since 1890. Total damage was estimated at $1 billion (1999 USD).[25] | ||||
| June 12, 1942 | F4 | 35 | 100 | Oklahoma City metropolitan area |
| This was the deadliest tornado to strike the Oklahoma City area until the May 3, 1999 F5 tornado. The funnel cut a twisting, erratic path through the southwest part of Oklahoma City. Movement was generally to the northeast, but it often "cut to the east or west". Thirty-five people were killed and 100 persons injured, with 29 people being hospitalized; an estimated total of 110 families were affected by the tornado. A total of 73 homes were destroyed and another 31 damaged, and many outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous automobiles and other vehicles were destroyed or damaged. Most of the damage occurred in the 27–29th Street areas between Portland and Goff Avenues. Damage estimates for this tornado were $500,000 (1942 USD).[25] | ||||
| April 25, 1893 | F4 | 31 | 100 | Moore |
| This massive tornado, reportedly over 1.25 mi (2.01 km) miles in width at one point, moved northeast along a 15 mi (24 km) path from northwest of Newcastle through rural areas between Norman and Moore (through what is now extreme northern Norman and extreme southern Moore), and swept away at least 30 homes. Thirty-three people were killed with 11 people dying in one home, 6 in a second home and 4 in a third home. This tornado was one of at least 5 strong to violent tornadoes in central Oklahoma on this day. This was the second tornado to affect areas near Norman this day with the first one passing just south and east of Norman.[25] | ||||
| May 20, 2013 | EF5 | 24 | 212 | Moore |
| This violent tornado was first observed developing at 1:56 pm CST in McClain County around 1.5 mi (2.4 km) south of State Highway 37 in northwest Newcastle to the east of Rockwell Avenue. EF4 damage was observed soon after the tornado crossed State Highway 37. The tornado continued to expand in size as it approached the Canadian River and moved into Cleveland County.[25]
The center of the large tornado path passed near SW 149th Street and Western Avenue. After crossing Western Avenue, numerous buildings were destroyed and horses killed at Orr Family Farm. Two storage tanks estimated to weigh approximately 10 tons were lifted from Orr Family Farm and landed about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) mile east. Moving east, the tornado destroyed much of Briarwood Elementary School, where the National Weather Service storm survey team rated damage as EF5. Despite the destruction of this elementary school during school hours, no fatalities occurred at the school. After crossing Santa Fe Avenue, the tornado moved through more suburban neighborhoods and toward Plaza Towers Elementary School. Damage to the school was extensive and seven children were killed when a wall collapsed at the school. Nine other people were killed in eight different neighborhood homes within one-quarter mile of Plaza Towers Elementary School, most occurring just south of the school.[25] Overall, over 300 homes experienced EF to EF5 damage along the tornado path. Damages with this storm were estimated at $2 billion (2013 USD), and the tornado killed a total of 24 people.[25] | ||||
| November 19, 1930 | F4 | 23 | 150 | Bethany |
| This rare tornado is one of only three violent tornadoes to have been documented to have occurred during the month of November in Oklahoma since 1900. Between 9:30 am and 9:58 am CST, it moved north-northeast from 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the Oklahoma City limits and hit the eastern part of Bethany. About 110 homes and 700 other buildings, or about a fourth of the town, were damaged or destroyed. Near the end of the damage path, 3.5 mi (5.6 km) northeast of Wiley Post Airfield, the tornado hit the Camel Creek school. Buildings blew apart just as the students were falling to the floor and looking for shelter, and 5 students and a teacher were killed. A total of 23 people were killed and another 150 injured, with 77 being seriously injured. Damage estimates were listed at $500,000 (1930 USD).[25] | ||||
Costliest tornadoes
[edit]| Date | F/EF# | Damages (in United States dollars) | Hardest-hit community |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2013 | EF5 | $2 billion (2013 USD) | Moore |
| May 3, 1999 | F5 | $1 billion (1999 USD) | Moore |
| May 8, 2003 | F4 | $370 million (2003 USD) | Moore |
| May 11, 1982 | F3 | $200 million (1982 USD) | Altus |
| May 7, 1995 | F3 | $100+ million (1995 USD) | Ardmore |
| October 9, 2001 | F3 | $100 million (2001 USD) | Cordell |
| April 19, 1981 | F3 | $75+ million (1981 USD) | Tulsa |
| May 3, 1999 | F3 | $60 million (1999 USD) | Stroud |
| April 24, 1993 | F4 | $50+ million (1993 USD) | Catoosa |
| March 15, 1982 | F2 | $30–40 million (1982 USD) | Bartlesville |
Intense tornadoes
[edit]Pre–1925
[edit]| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 66 | 40 | 1 | 239 | |
| Deaths: 583 | Injuries: >2,475 | |||||||
107 intense tornadoes hit Oklahoma prior to the year 1925. The majority of these tornadoes were deadly, with each tornado killing an average of 3.6 people. Tornadoes in this time-frame hit several populated places including Moore,[27] Stillwater and Sulphur.[28][29] The strongest tornado touched down on May 10, 1905, striking the community of Snyder and killing 97 people.[30] The tornado was the first to receive a rating of F5 on the Fujita Scale in Oklahoma's history.[30]
† Deadliest in Oklahoma history at time of event
‡ Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Oklahoma
| F# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | May 8, 1882 | 3 | 13 | Near Cherokee | Alfalfa | Unknown | |
| F3 | 21† | 42 | McAlester | Pittsburg | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | December 16, 1887 | 6 | 50 | N of Durant | Johnston, Bryan | 25.7 mi (41.4 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | June 8, 1889 | 0 | 3 | E of Elgin | Osage | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | May 12, 1892 | 5 | 25 | NE of Olustee | Jackson | 15.4 mi (24.8 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 3 | NE of Kingfisher | Kingfisher | 12.3 mi (19.8 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F4 | April 25, 1893 | 4 | 25 | S of Stillwater | Logan, Payne | 23.2 mi (37.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 31† | 100 | Moore | Cleveland | 14.7 mi (23.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F4 | 1 | 11 | SW of Marietta | Love | 15 mi (24 km)‡ | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F4 | April 28, 1893 | 6 | 20 | S of Ponca City | Kay | 15.4 mi (24.8 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | April 26, 1894 | 3 | 37 | E of Oilton | Creek, Pawnee | 22 mi (35 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F3 | 8 | 95 | Morris | Okmulgee | 22 mi (35 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) | |
| F4 | April 29, 1894 | 1 | 60 | N of Westport | Creek, Pawnee | 27 mi (43 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | October 31, 1894 | 0 | 0 | Rural Woodward County | Woodward | 20 mi (32 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | April 8, 1896 | 0 | 3 | E of Norman | Cleveland | Unknown | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | May 12, 1896 | 0 | 5 | S of Stillwater | Logan, Payne | 18.4 mi (29.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | May 20, 1896 | 0 | 0 | E of Newkirk | Kay | 15.6 mi (25.1 km)‡ | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | May 27, 1896 | 0 | 1 | Marshall | Kingfisher, Logan, Garfield | 10.5 mi (16.9 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | October 28, 1896 | 3 | 0 | W of Carney | Lincoln | 8.3 mi (13.4 km) | 70 yd (64 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 2 | E of McAlester | Pittsburg | 9.7 mi (15.6 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F4 | March 30, 1897 | 14 | 40 | Chandler | Lincoln | 17.7 mi (28.5 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | June 2, 1897 | 2 | 8 | S of Chelsea | Rogers | 10 mi (16 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | May 15, 1903 | 0 | 10 | Carnegie | Kiowa, Caddo | 10.6 mi (17.1 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | May 18, 1903 | 0 | 10 | W of Oklahoma City | Canadian, Oklahoma, Logan | 47.2 mi (76.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | May 23, 1903 | 3 | 10 | NW of Burns Flat | Washita | 15.5 mi (24.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 2 | 40 | Camargo | Roger Mills, Dewey, Woodward, Major | 65.3 mi (105.1 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F3 | 2 | 20 | Carmen | Woods, Alfalfa | 10 mi (16 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | April 24, 1904 | 3 | 20 | E of Tulsa to W of Grove | Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware | 67.4 mi (108.5 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 5 | 35 | Fairland | Delaware, Ottawa | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | March 17, 1905 | 0 | 16 | E of Carter | Beckham | Unknown | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F5 | May 10, 1905 | 97† | 150 | Snyder | Jackson, Tillman, Kiowa | 40 mi (64 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | November 4, 1905 | 8 | 16 | Mountain View | Kiowa | 3.1 mi (5.0 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | June 4, 1906 | 2 | 5 | N of Verden | Grady | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | W of Bridgeport | Caddo, Blaine | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | June 22, 1907 | 1 | 7 | NE of Owasso | Rogers | Unknown | |
| F4 | May 10, 1908 | 5 | 40 | SW of Arnett to W of Fairview | Ellis, Dewey, Woodward, Major | 79.9 mi (128.6 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F4 | May 26, 1908 | 7 | 8 | N of Mooreland to S of Burlington | Woodward, Woods, Alfalfa | 49.9 mi (80.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | May 28, 1908 | 0 | 3 | SW of Cimarron City | Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma | 10 mi (16 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | W of Lawton | Comanche, Stephens | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | May 29, 1909 | 1 | 20 | SE of Stroud | Lincoln, Creek | 13.6 mi (21.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 6 | 20 | N of Prague | Lincoln, Okfuskee, Creek | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 8 | E of Wetumka | Hughes | 17.1 mi (27.5 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | May 6, 1910 | 1 | 4 | SE of Coweta | Wagoner | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | May 20, 1910 | 3 | 20 | E of Elmore City | Garvin | 12.2 mi (19.6 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | April 10, 1911 | 1 | 4 | SE of Frederick | Tillman | Unknown | |
| F3 | April 12, 1911 | 0 | 2 | S of Chandler | Lincoln | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 1 | 3 | NW of Okmulgee | Okmulgee | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | Unknown | |
| F4 | 5 | 50 | Barnsdall | Osage | 12.2 mi (19.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | 2 | 25 | S of Checotah | McIntosh | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | April 20, 1912 | 0 | 0 | W of Addington | Jefferson | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | S of Anadarko | Caddo | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 3 | SW to E of Oklahoma City | Grady, Canadian, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Lincoln | 63.6 mi (102.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NE of Edmond | Oklahoma, Logan, Lincoln | 14.3 mi (23.0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 14 | Perry | Noble | 10.9 mi (17.5 km) | Unknown | |
| F4 | 1 | 1 | E of El Reno | Canadian, Oklahoma | 15.3 mi (24.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F4 | 2 | 6 | S of Hennessey | Kingfisher | 11.3 mi (18.2 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | 3 | 12 | N of Morrison | Noble, Osage | 30.4 mi (48.9 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | May 27, 1912 | 7 | 30 | SW of Skiatook | Pawnee, Tulsa | 7.4 mi (11.9 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | June 15, 1912 | 1 | 15 | Barnsdall | Osage | 19.5 mi (31.4 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | April 17, 1914 | 1 | 15 | Chickasha | Grady | 10.2 mi (16.4 km) | Unknown |
| F4 | 0 | 12 | W of Braman | Grant, Kay | 25.2 mi (40.6 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F4 | October 9, 1914 | 6 | 14 | S of Picher | Ottawa | 16.4 mi (26.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | March 24, 1916 | 2 | 28 | W of Ada | 17.7 mi (28.5 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | 8 | 5 | W of Sulphur | Murray | 16.6 mi (26.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | May 20, 1916 | 9 | 52 | Kemp | Bryan | 11.9 mi (19.2 km) | 1200 yd (1100 m) |
| F3 | January 4, 1917 | 16 | 20 | SE of Crowder | Pittsburg | 15.1 mi (24.3 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | April 18, 1917 | 0 | 15 | Snyder | Kiowa | 5.3 mi (8.5 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F4 | May 31, 1917 | 3 | 20 | NW of Marietta | Love | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | June 1, 1917 | 5 | 5 | E of Dougherty | Murray | 3.2 mi (5.1 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F4 | 14 | 100 | Coalgate | Coal | 12.1 mi (19.5 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 12 | N of Seminole | Seminole | 7 mi (11 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | March 15, 1919 | 1 | 8 | N of Colony | Washita, Custer | 14.1 mi (22.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 25 | S of Porter | Wagoner | 7 mi (11 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | |
| F4 | 2 | 8 | W of Bridgeport | Washita, Caddo, Blaine | 18.2 mi (29.3 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) | |
| F4 | 4 | 18 | N of Kingfisher | Canadian, Kingfisher | 30.1 mi (48.4 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | April 8, 1919 | 9 | 35 | E of Durant | Bryan | 10.1 mi (16.3 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 1 | 4 | Stonewall | Coal, Pontotoc | 20 mi (32 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F4 | 8 | 50 | E of Kemp | Bryan | 25.2 mi (40.6 km)‡ | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | October 8, 1919 | 3 | 15 | W of Fort Towson | Choctaw | 23.5 mi (37.8 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | April 17, 1920 | 0 | 8 | SE of Bristow | Creek | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| F3 | May 2, 1920 | 4 | 8 | NE of Chelsea | Rogers | 5.2 mi (8.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | 71 | 100 | Peggs | Cherokee | 3.1 mi (5.0 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 4 | S of Pryor Creek | Mayes | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | April 14, 1921 | 0 | 0 | W of Carnegie | Caddo, Washita | 10.4 mi (16.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | March 13, 1922 | 3 | 40 | Sulphur | Murray | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | April 8, 1922 | 3 | 40 | W of Lawton | Comanche | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | May 7, 1922 | 1 | 10 | Gould | Harmon, Jackson, Greer | 26.3 mi (42.3 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | November 4, 1922 | 11 | 40 | W of Tulsa | Creek, Tulsa | 23.9 mi (38.5 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | May 21, 1923 | 0 | 8 | W of Eagle City | Blaine | 2.4 mi (3.9 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | May 22, 1923 | 2 | 9 | W of Freedom | Harper, Woods | 10.3 mi (16.6 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | N of Freedom | Woods | 28.7 mi (46.2 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | March 28, 1924 | 8 | 80 | SW of Norman to N of Prague | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Okfuskee | 52.6 mi (84.7 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | W of Davidson | Tillman | 10.6 mi (17.1 km)‡ | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F4 | May 28, 1924 | 7 | 30 | Wetumka | Hughes, Okfuskee | 25.5 mi (41.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | 3 | 50 | N of Keota | Haskell, LeFlore | 22 mi (35 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 5 | 25 | N of Tamaha | Muskogee, Haskell | 41.9 mi (67.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
1925–1949
[edit]| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 188 | 76 | 37 | 4 | 309 | |
| Deaths: 612 | Injuries: >4,543 | |||||||
1925 through 1949 was a particularly devastating period in Oklahoma's tornado history, with 309 confirmed tornadoes killing over 600 people. The deadliest, a long-track F5 tornado, killed 181 people through Northwestern Oklahoma, where it directly impacted Woodward. 117 intense tornadoes hit Oklahoma in this time-frame, hitting several cities, including Moore, Norman, Leedey, Antlers and Pryor Creek. Caney would be hit by two F4 tornadoes in 1926 and 1948, respectively.[33] The first tornado warning in United States history was issued for Tinker Air Force Base on March 25, 1948, shortly before an F3 tornado hit the base.[34]
† Deadliest in Oklahoma history at time of event
‡ Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Oklahoma
| F# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | February 21, 1925 | 1 | 5 | Loco | Stephens | Unknown | |
| F3 | April 26, 1925 | 2 | 4 | S of Madill | Marshall | 1.1 mi (1.8 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | April 23, 1926 | 4 | 15 | S of Caney | Johnston, Atoka | 19.9 mi (32.0 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F3 | May 7, 1926 | 4 | 25 | N of Panama | LeFlore | 9.7 mi (15.6 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F4 | 2 | 23 | NW of Okmulgee | Okfuskee, Okmulgee | 30 mi (48 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F3 | March 8, 1927 | 0 | 3 | S of Tonkawa | Garfield, Grant, Kay | 37.2 mi (59.9 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | April 11, 1927 | 1 | 6 | NE of Carnegie to SW of Oklahoma City | Washita, Caddo, Grady, Canadian | 55.3 mi (89.0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 5 | NE of Carnegie to S of Duncan | Washita, Comanche, Stephens | 68.7 mi (110.6 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | April 12, 1927 | 2 | 18 | W of Bokoshe | Haskell, LeFlore | 10.5 mi (16.9 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 13 | Fort Smith | LeFlore | 3.9 mi (6.3 km)‡ | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F4 | April 17, 1927 | 4 | 4 | Bokoshe | LeFlore | 6.6 mi (10.6 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F4 | April 18, 1927 | 11 | 72 | Fort Towson | Choctaw | 19.9 mi (32.0 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | May 16, 1928 | 0 | 1 | W of Mangum | Greer | Unknown | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F4 | June 8, 1928 | 2 | 6 | NE of Boise City | Cimarron, Texas | 45.2 mi (72.7 km)‡ | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F4 | June 16, 1928 | 7 | 52 | Blair to NW of Snyder | Greer, Jackson, Kiowa | 29.8 mi (48.0 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| F3 | November 15, 1928 | 2 | 7 | Orlando | Logan, Payne | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | April 18, 1929 | 0 | 2 | N of Gate | Beaver, Harper | 8.3 mi (13.4 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F4 | April 19, 1929 | 3 | 35 | S of Carnegie | Kiowa, Caddo | 30.1 mi (48.4 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F4 | April 23, 1929 | 0 | 1 | N of Buffalo | Harper | 12.4 mi (20.0 km)‡ | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F4 | May 5, 1930 | 1 | 16 | SE of Hulen | Cotton | 7.2 mi (11.6 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 7 | Empire City | Stephens | 10.3 mi (16.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F4 | 2 | 9 | SW of Alex | Grady | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | 3 | 18 | E of Greenfield | Blaine | 10.1 mi (16.3 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F3 | November 19, 1930 | 0 | 4 | S of Carrier | Garfield | 5.2 mi (8.4 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F4 | 23 | 125 | Western Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 7.1 mi (11.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | March 19, 1931 | 2 | 20 | Clinton | Custer | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | April 19, 1933 | 0 | 4 | W of Faxon | Tillman | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F4 | 3 | 25 | W of Alex | Grady | 15.4 mi (24.8 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) | |
| F3 | May 11, 1933 | 1 | 1 | S of Snyder | Tillman, Comanche | 14.6 mi (23.5 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F3 | May 12, 1933 | 5 | 11 | Skiatook to Collinsville | Washington, Tulsa, Rogers | 19.8 mi (31.9 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | May 22, 1933 | 4 | 150 | E of Tyrone | Texas | 9.4 mi (15.1 km)‡ | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F3 | October 14, 1933 | 3 | 1 | SE of Sayre | Beckham | 0.9 mi (1.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | May 3, 1934 | 0 | 20 | Wynnewood | Murray, Garvin | 7.1 mi (11.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | May 4, 1934 | 3 | 11 | Jenks to Catoosa | Tulsa, Wagoner | 14.4 mi (23.2 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 5 | E of Bartlesville | Washington | 3.4 mi (5.5 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | 1 | 17 | S to NE of South Coffeyville | Nowata | 15 mi (24 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | April 24, 1935 | 0 | 0 | E of Blackwell | Kay | 12.3 mi (19.8 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | May 8, 1935 | 0 | 4 | SW of Medford | Grant | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | June 2, 1935 | 0 | 0 | W of Fairfax | Osage | Unknown | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 12 | Dilworth | Kay | 35 mi (56 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | June 20, 1935 | 0 | 0 | W of Shidler | Osage | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | February 25, 1936 | 0 | 18 | N of Tulsa | Washington, Tulsa | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | May 1, 1936 | 3 | 13 | Albert | Caddo | 2.1 mi (3.4 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | May 8, 1936 | 2 | 38 | Webbers Falls to Gore | Muskogee, Sequoyah | 14.1 mi (22.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 1 | 30 | Hanna | McIntosh | 0.9 mi (1.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | June 5, 1936 | 1 | 5 | W of Snyder | Tillman, Kiowa | 5.5 mi (8.9 km) | 75 yd (69 m) |
| F3 | June 9, 1937 | 4 | 7 | W of Moore | Canadian, Cleveland | 19.1 mi (30.7 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | Maud | Pottawatomie, Seminole | 9.6 mi (15.4 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | March 30, 1938 | 0 | 7 | S to W of Bartlesville | Osage, Washington, Nowata | 29.9 mi (48.1 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F4 | 10 | 200 | NW of Welch | Craig | 44.9 mi (72.3 km)‡ | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | May 1, 1938 | 0 | 1 | NE of Buffalo | Harper | 22.3 mi (35.9 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F5 | April 13, 1939 | 7 | 33 | S of Vici to NE of Alva | Dewey, Woodward, Major, Woods, Alfalfa | 81.2 mi (130.7 km)‡ | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F3 | May 21, 1940 | 0 | 7 | SW of Pocasset | Grady | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | May 4, 1941 | 1 | 3 | W of Brooksville | Pottawatomie | 9.7 mi (15.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | March 15, 1942 | 0 | 0 | Okarche | Canadian, Kingfisher | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F4 | April 27, 1942 | 4 | 12 | Talala | Rogers | 15.2 mi (24.5 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | 52 | 350 | Tiawah to Pryor Creek | Rogers, Mayes | 19.8 mi (31.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | May 2, 1942 | 3 | 28 | Pawhuska | Noble, Pawnee, Osage, Washington, Nowata | 80.4 mi (129.4 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F4 | 7 | 20 | Cushing to N of Tulsa | Payne, Creek, Tulsa, Osage | 55.5 mi (89.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | 16 | 80 | W of Shawnee to Prague to W of Okmulgee | Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Creek, Okmulgee | 57.4 mi (92.4 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F3 | May 31, 1942 | 0 | 0 | Guymon | Texas | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | June 12, 1942 | 35 | 100 | W of Moore | Oklahoma | 2.4 mi (3.9 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | April 11, 1943 | 1 | 12 | NE of Poteau | LeFlore | 1.3 mi (2.1 km) | 80 yd (73 m) |
| F3 | June 3, 1943 | 2 | 5 | SW of Temple | Cotton | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F3 | January 26, 1944 | 0 | 2 | NE of Fairmont | Garfield | Unknown | |
| F3 | March 3, 1944 | 0 | 35 | Hugo | Choctaw | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | April 9, 1944 | 1 | 10 | SE of Corn | Washita | 14.5 mi (23.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | November 25, 1944 | 0 | 5 | Collinsville | Tulsa | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) | 70 yd (64 m) |
| F3 | March 16, 1945 | 1 | 6 | W of Kemp | Bryan | 7.6 mi (12.2 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | April 12, 1945 | 3 | 15 | Red Oak | Latimer | 12.7 mi (20.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | 13 | 200 | E of Muskogee | Muskogee | 3.1 mi (5.0 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F5 | 69 | 353 | Antlers to S of Clayton | Pushmataha | 27.9 mi (44.9 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F4 | 8 | 200 | Moore to Nicoma Park | Oklahoma | 20 mi (32 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | April 13, 1945 | 0 | 10 | Farris | Atoka | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | April 14, 1945 | 1 | 1 | E of Newport | Carter | Unknown | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | June 5, 1945 | 0 | 3 | SW of Alva | Woods | 13.1 mi (21.1 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | February 12, 1946 | 1 | 15 | Ardmore | Carter | 4.3 mi (6.9 km) | Unknown |
| F4 | March 22, 1946 | 0 | 0 | SE of Wynona | Osage | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | May 10, 1946 | 1 | 5 | NW to E of Eufaula | McIntosh, Pittsburg | 10 mi (16 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | October 17, 1946 | 0 | 0 | SE of Hugo | Choctaw | 7.5 mi (12.1 km)‡ | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F5 | April 9, 1947 | 181†[note 2] | 970 | S of Shattuck to Woodward to NW of Capron | Ellis, Woodward, Woods | 207.8 mi (334.4 km)‡ | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| F3 | May 11, 1947 | 0 | 5 | Hitchcock | Blaine | 15.9 mi (25.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F5 | May 31, 1947 | 7 | 15 | Leedey | Roger Mills, Dewey | 18.1 mi (29.1 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | March 8, 1948 | 0 | 3 | S of Sayre | Beckham | 16 mi (26 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Purcell | McClain | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | Unknown | |
| F3 | May 1, 1948 | 4 | 175 | NW of Grove | Rogers, Craig, Delaware | 35.8 mi (57.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 15 | Grove | Craig, Delaware | 15.2 mi (24.5 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F4 | May 3, 1948 | 0 | 3 | NW of Dougherty to Caney | Murray, Johnston, Atoka | 55.5 mi (89.3 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F3 | March 25, 1949 | 2 | 25 | NW of McAlester | Pittsburg | 35.3 mi (56.8 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F4 | March 29, 1949 | 4 | 31 | Canton | Dewey, Blaine | 19.6 mi (31.5 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 0 | 7 | N of Enid to Blackwell | Garfield, Grant, Kay | 42.4 mi (68.2 km) | Unknown | |
| F3 | April 30, 1949 | 0 | 0 | NE of Frederick | Tillman | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | Unknown |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | S of Frederick | Tillman | Unknown | ||
| F3 | 0 | 4 | E of Lawton | Comanche, Grady | 34.8 mi (56.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | W of Paoli | Garvin, McClain | 17.1 mi (27.5 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 7 | Bennington | Bryan | 35.2 mi (56.6 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F3 | 1 | 8 | W of Soper | Bryan, Choctaw, Pushmataha | 29.6 mi (47.6 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 48 | Norman | McClain, Cleveland | 22.3 mi (35.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | 3 | 8 | SE of McLoud | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln | 23.8 mi (38.3 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| F4 | May 15, 1949 | 1 | 3 | Texhoma to Goodwell | Texas | 59.9 mi (96.4 km)‡ | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | May 17, 1949 | 0 | 0 | E of Binger | Caddo | 9 mi (14 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F4 | May 20, 1949 | 1 | 7 | S of Watonga | Blaine | 15.3 mi (24.6 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Waynoka | Woodward, Woods | 30.4 mi (48.9 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 1 | 1 | N of Shattuck | Ellis | Unknown | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | Cleveland | Pawnee, Osage | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | Unknown | |
| F3 | October 9, 1949 | 0 | 3 | SW to N of Laverne | Beaver, Harper | 34.7 mi (55.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
1950–1974
[edit]| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 381 | 495 | 365 | 96 | 29 | 3 | 1369 | |
| Deaths: 251 | Injuries: 2,315 | |||||||
1950 through 1974 saw 128 intense tornadoes in Oklahoma, resulting in the deaths of 240 people. The deadliest touched down in Kay County before crossing state lines into Kansas, striking the town of Udall, Kansas and killing eighty. The tornado was one of two to receive an F5 rating on May 25, 1955; the other killed twenty people in Blackwell. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area was hit particularly hard, with intense tornadoes moving through the area in 1951, 1960, 1973 and 1974. The largest tornado outbreak took place on June 8, 1974, with 22 tornadoes killing a combined total of 22 people. Two F3-rated tornadoes moved through metropolitan Tulsa on June 8, crossing paths over Jenks.
‡ Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Oklahoma
| F# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | April 30, 1951 | 0 | 0 | Downtown Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 7.4 mi (11.9 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | June 8, 1951 | 0 | 0 | Corn to Colony | Washita, Caddo | 10.9 mi (17.5 km) | 173 yd (158 m) |
| F3 | March 13, 1953 | 2 | 11 | NW of Marietta | Love, Carter, Marshall, Johnston | 45.3 mi (72.9 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | 1 | 8 | E of Bradley | Grady | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | June 5, 1953 | 0 | 0 | SW of Sulphur | Garvin, Murray | 16.9 mi (27.2 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | April 30, 1954 | 0 | 12 | Hugo | Choctaw | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | May 1, 1954 | 3 | 3 | E of Grandfield | Tillman, Cotton | 12.3 mi (19.8 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | W of Waurika | Cotton, Jefferson | 8 mi (13 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Marlow | Stephens | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 2 | W of Frederick | Tillman, Kiowa | 68.6 mi (110.4 km)‡ | 440 yd (400 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 65 | NE of Moore | Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Creek | 59.2 mi (95.3 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | April 18, 1955 | 0 | 0 | SW of Cheyenne | Roger Mills | 8.9 mi (14.3 km)‡ | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | May 25, 1955 | 0 | 1 | Deer Creek | Grant | 13.3 mi (21.4 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F4 | 2 | 18 | SW of Cheyenne | Roger Mills | 45.1 mi (72.6 km)‡ | 1100 yd (1000 m) | |
| F5 | 20 | 280 | Blackwell | Kay | 28.4 mi (45.7 km)‡ | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F5 | 80[note 3] | 273 | NW of Newkirk | Kay | 56.4 mi (90.8 km)‡ | 1320 yd (1210 m) | |
| F3 | April 2, 1956 | 5 | 68 | Stroud | Lincoln, Creek | 42.6 mi (68.6 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 2 | SW of Alva | Woods, Alfalfa | 20 mi (32 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 3 | SE of Sobol | Choctaw | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F4 | 2 | 29 | NW of Kaw City | Kay | 108.3 mi (174.3 km)‡ | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 59 | Miami | Ottawa | 41.8 mi (67.3 km)‡ | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | April 8, 1956 | 0 | 4 | SE of Enid | Garfield | 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | S of Covington | Garfield | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | January 22, 1957 | 10 | 20 | NW of Gans | Sequoyah | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F4 | April 2, 1957 | 2 | 6 | E of Kingston | Marshall, Bryan | 5.2 mi (8.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | 3 | 3 | Durant | Bryan | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | April 22, 1957 | 0 | 1 | Carnegie | Caddo | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | May 20, 1957 | 0 | 1 | Sallisaw | Haskell, Sequoyah | 20.4 mi (32.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | May 24, 1957 | 4 | 5 | S of Lawton | Cotton, Comanche | 21.6 mi (34.8 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F4 | September 14, 1957 | 2 | 6 | Asher to Wetumka | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes | 67.5 mi (108.6 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | June 20, 1958 | 0 | 0 | S of Gage | Ellis | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 67 yd (61 m) |
| F3 | November 17, 1958 | 0 | 4 | S of Frederick | Tillman, Cotton | 65.8 mi (105.9 km)‡ | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 15 | S to NE of Seminole | Seminole, Okfuskee | 18.3 mi (29.5 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Fairmont to Blackwell | Garfield, Noble, Kay | 39.2 mi (63.1 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | March 31, 1959 | 0 | 3 | NE of Oilton | Creek, Pawnee | 3.8 mi (6.1 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 10 | S of Kingston | Marshall | 13.2 mi (21.2 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F4 | May 9, 1959 | 7 | 12 | W of Stonewall | Pontotoc | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) | 900 yd (820 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | SW to NE of Talala | Washington, Rogers, Nowata | 23.4 mi (37.7 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 3 | Ketchum | Mayes, Craig, Delaware | 23.2 mi (37.3 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F3 | May 26, 1959 | 0 | 8 | Graham | Carter | 3.3 mi (5.3 km) | 60 yd (55 m) |
| F3 | August 30, 1959 | 0 | 1 | Devol | Cotton | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | September 27, 1959 | 1 | 1 | NW of Welch | Craig | 8.2 mi (13.2 km)‡ | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | April 28, 1960 | 0 | 0 | S of Binger | Caddo | 3.3 mi (5.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 2 | NW of Amber | Grady | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | NW of Tuttle | Grady | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 57 | Downtown Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 11.7 mi (18.8 km) | 333 yd (304 m) | |
| F4 | May 4, 1960 | 0 | 3 | E of Antlers | Pushmataha | 30.8 mi (49.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NE of Marlow | Stephens | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 6 | NW of Ada | Pontotoc, Seminole | 18.3 mi (29.5 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | Bethany to The Village | Oklahoma | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 0 | E of Asher | Pottawatomie, Seminole | 8 mi (13 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | May 5, 1960 | 0 | 0 | NE of Wayne to W of Sand Springs | Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Creek, Tulsa | 101.9 mi (164.0 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 16 | 106 | Wilburton to Keota | Pushmataha, Haskell, Sequoyah | 62.4 mi (100.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F5 | 5 | 81 | Tecumseh to Sapulpa | Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Creek, Tulsa | 71.8 mi (115.6 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | 5 | 13 | Roland | Sequoyah | 5.4 mi (8.7 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 1 | 0 | W of Gans | LeFlore, Sequoyah | 23.7 mi (38.1 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 1 | 0 | E of Roland | Sequoyah | 4.5 mi (7.2 km)‡ | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Maysville | Garvin | 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 2 | 15 | SW of Hoffman | Okmulgee | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | June 7, 1960 | 0 | 0 | S of Olustee | Jackson | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | August 7, 1960 | 0 | 0 | Quapaw | Ottawa | 4.7 mi (7.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | February 17, 1961 | 0 | 7 | Spencer to Luther | Oklahoma | 16.8 mi (27.0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 11 | Stratford to Henryetta | Garvin, Pontotoc, Seminole, Hughes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee | 73 mi (117 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | March 26, 1961 | 0 | 0 | E of Kaw City | Kay, Osage | 8 mi (13 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | W to NE of Eufaula | McIntosh | 21.4 mi (34.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | April 30, 1961 | 0 | 2 | N of Minco | Grady | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 77 yd (70 m) |
| F3 | May 4, 1961 | 1 | 0 | NW of Calumet | Blaine, Canadian | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F4 | May 5, 1961 | 16 | 58 | E of Talihina | LeFlore | 26.4 mi (42.5 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NE of Hugo | Choctaw | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | May 7, 1961 | 0 | 1 | Bluejacket | Craig, Ottawa | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | May 21, 1961 | 0 | 0 | S of Cushing | Payne | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | SE of Cushing | Payne | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | April 26, 1962 | 0 | 0 | N of Sayre | Beckham | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | May 25, 1962 | 0 | 4 | Weatherford | Custer | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 9 | Dill City | Washita | 7.2 mi (11.6 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| F4 | May 26, 1962 | 0 | 1 | E of Randlett | Cotton | 10.1 mi (16.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | May 26, 1963 | 0 | 5 | SE of Midwest City | Oklahoma | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | 1 | 4 | Arcadia to N of Meeker | Oklahoma, Lincoln | 34.3 mi (55.2 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 2 | Bowlegs | Seminole | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | July 15, 1963 | 0 | 0 | SW of Beaver | Beaver | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | April 3, 1964 | 0 | 1 | E of Kingston | Marshall, Bryan | 16.7 mi (26.9 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | May 10, 1964 | 0 | 0 | S of Tahlequah | Cherokee | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F4 | March 16, 1965 | 0 | 7 | S of Nash to N of Braman | Grant, Kay | 82.7 mi (133.1 km)‡ | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F3 | April 11, 1966 | 0 | 6 | W of Coweta | Wagoner, Tulsa | 7.3 mi (11.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | April 27, 1966 | 0 | 0 | N of Haywood | Pittsburg | 8 mi (13 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 2 | S of Wapanucka | Johnston, Atoka | 10.2 mi (16.4 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | |
| F3 | April 20, 1967 | 0 | 0 | S of Anadarko | Caddo | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F4 | June 10, 1967 | 4 | 1 | W of Butler | Roger Mills, Custer | 8.7 mi (14.0 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 0 | E of Watonga | Blaine | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | W of Kingfisher | Kingfisher | 16.7 mi (26.9 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | April 19, 1968 | 0 | 0 | SW of Little | Seminole | 6.6 mi (10.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | May 13, 1968 | 0 | 0 | W to N of Konawa | Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole | 11.6 mi (18.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | April 26, 1970 | 0 | 0 | E of Ames | Major | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | June 11, 1970 | 0 | 1 | Northwestern Oklahoma City | Canadian, Oklahoma | 13.2 mi (21.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 1 | 45 | Stilwell | Adair | 51.8 mi (83.4 km)‡ | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| F4 | October 5, 1970 | 4 | 84 | Shawnee to Prague | Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Okfuskee | 25 mi (40 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | October 8, 1970 | 0 | 4 | E of Colcord | Delaware | 6.9 mi (11.1 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | March 12, 1971 | 0 | 4 | Colbert | Marshall, Bryan | 41.6 mi (66.9 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | May 5, 1971 | 0 | 0 | Haskell to SE of Hulbert | Muskogee, Wagoner, Cherokee | 37 mi (60 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F3 | June 7, 1971 | 0 | 0 | SW of Thomas | Custer | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F4 | April 19, 1972 | 5 | 6 | SE of Ratliff City | Carter, Murray, Garvin | 28.2 mi (45.4 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| F3 | May 22, 1972 | 0 | 0 | SW of Willow | Greer | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | October 21, 1972 | 0 | 1 | Idabel | McCurtain | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 33 yd (30 m) |
| F3 | April 19, 1973 | 0 | 21 | Ada | Pontotoc | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | May 24, 1973 | 2 | 4 | Union City | Canadian, Grady | 13.3 mi (21.4 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| F4 | May 26, 1973 | 5 | 25 | N of Warner | Muskogee | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 6 | NE of Webbers Falls | Sequoyah | 18.7 mi (30.1 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 3 | N of Copan | Washington | 0.3 mi (0.48 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | June 18, 1973 | 0 | 29 | Frederick | Tillman | 3.3 mi (5.3 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Carnegie | Caddo, Washita | 16.8 mi (27.0 km) | 133 yd (122 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Hominy | Osage | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | |
| F3 | September 24, 1973 | 0 | 14 | N of Afton | Craig, Ottawa | 20.8 mi (33.5 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | November 19, 1973 | 5 | 36 | Moore | McClain, Cleveland, Oklahoma | 24.2 mi (38.9 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | April 20, 1974 | 0 | 3 | N of Moore | Grady, Canadian, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Lincoln | 63.6 mi (102.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Waurika | Jefferson | 6.1 mi (9.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | June 8, 1974 | 0 | 14 | Downtown Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Choctaw | Oklahoma | 9 mi (14 km) | 127 yd (116 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Jones | Oklahoma | 10.2 mi (16.4 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 8 | Davenport | Lincoln | 6.8 mi (10.9 km) | 1300 yd (1200 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Sparks | Lincoln | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Prague | Seminole, Pottawatomie, Okfuskee, Creek | 29.9 mi (48.1 km) | 1300 yd (1200 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 42 | Jenks to Chouteau | Creek, Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Mayes | 48.9 mi (78.7 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 2 | 80 | Jenks to Vinita | Tulsa, Rogers, Mayes, Craig | 63.6 mi (102.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | SW of Jay | Delaware | 2.7 mi (4.3 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F4 | 14 | 150 | Drumright to Westport | Payne, Creek, Pawnee, Osage | 29 mi (47 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
1975–1999
[edit]| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 650 | 396 | 234 | 73 | 19 | 3 | 239 | |
| Deaths: 150 | Injuries: >3,821 | |||||||
1975 through 1999 saw 293 tornadoes, which collectively resulted in the deaths of over 150 people. The deadliest in Oklahoma moved through Bridge Creek, Newcastle, Moore and Del City on May 3, 1999; the tornado, which received an F5 rating, had the highest measured windspeeds ever recorded on Earth, at 321 miles per hour (517 km/h). The tornado inflicted an estimated total of $1 billion (1999 USD)[8] in damage to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, making it the second-costliest in Oklahoma history.[9] Another F4 tornado that had killed 42 people in Wichita Falls, Texas moved into Jefferson County, but caused no deaths along the Oklahoma portion of its path.[35] Three F5 tornadoes hit Oklahoma during this time period, striking in 1976, 1982 and 1999. One of these tornadoes moved south of Spiro, killing two people. Another, which crossed Choctaw and McCurtain counties, injured 29 people near Broken Bow.
‡ Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Oklahoma
| F# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | May 2, 1975 | 0 | 0 | E of Dill City | Washita | 4.7 mi (7.6 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | June 13, 1975 | 0 | 8 | Stillwater | Payne | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | December 5, 1975 | 0 | 38 | Downtown Tulsa | Tulsa | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 700 yd (640 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | W of Haskell | Okmulgee, Muskogee, Wagoner | 27 mi (43 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | |
| F4 | March 26, 1976 | 1 | 4 | N of Talihina | Latimer, LeFlore | 10.7 mi (17.2 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F5 | 2 | 64 | S of Spiro | LeFlore | 11.9 mi (19.2 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | |
| F4 | April 16, 1976 | 0 | 6 | E of Fort Cobb | Caddo | 32.9 mi (52.9 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | April 19, 1976 | 0 | 2 | W of Leon | Jefferson | 10.4 mi (16.7 km) | 373 yd (341 m) |
| F3 | March 2, 1977 | 0 | 1 | E of Duncan | Stephens | 4.3 mi (6.9 km)‡ | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | May 15, 1977 | 1 | 2 | E of Duncan | Stephens | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 180 yd (160 m) |
| F3 | May 16, 1977 | 0 | 0 | NW of Sayre | Beckham, Roger Mills | 18.2 mi (29.3 km) | 1320 yd (1210 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Erick | Beckham | 6.5 mi (10.5 km) | 800 yd (730 m) | |
| F4 | May 18, 1977 | 0 | 0 | Keyes | Cimarron | 38.6 mi (62.1 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | May 20, 1977 | 0 | 3 | E of Altus | Jackson, Kiowa | 10.4 mi (16.7 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | SE of Tipton | Tillman | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NE of Arcadia | Oklahoma, Logan | 9.9 mi (15.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | |
| F3 | April 30, 1978 | 0 | 0 | SE of Slapout | Beaver | 14.4 mi (23.2 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 0 | S to W of Piedmont | Canadian, Oklahoma | 9.3 mi (15.0 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) | |
| F3 | March 18, 1979 | 0 | 0 | Copan to Wann | Washington, Nowata | 7.9 mi (12.7 km) | 30 yd (27 m) |
| F3 | April 10, 1979 | 3 | 100 | Lawton | Comanche | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) | 170 yd (160 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | SE of Ratliff City | Jefferson, Stephens, Carter, Garvin | 12.8 mi (20.6 km) | 170 yd (160 m) | |
| F4 | 11 | 68 | S of Davidson | Tillman | 39.7 mi (63.9 km)‡ | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F4 | 42[note 4] | 1,740 | Waurika | Jefferson | 47.3 mi (76.1 km)‡ | 1320 yd (1210 m) | |
| F3 | May 2, 1979 | 0 | 0 | SW of Covington | Garfield | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) | 120 yd (110 m) |
| F4 | 1 | 25 | N of Ringwood | Major, Garfield | 20.6 mi (33.2 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F3 | October 30, 1979 | 3 | 2 | NW of Ardmore | Carter | 8.4 mi (13.5 km) | 530 yd (480 m) |
| F3 | April 7, 1980 | 0 | 4 | S of Afton | Mayes, Craig, Delaware | 24.8 mi (39.9 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 9 | W of Cameron | Le Flore | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 127 yd (116 m) | |
| F3 | April 19, 1981 | 0 | 0 | W of Tahlequah | Cherokee | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 7 | Tulsa metropolitan area | Tulsa | 4.9 mi (7.9 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | Tulsa metropolitan area | Tulsa | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | |
| F3 | 5 | 49 | S of Bixby | Tulsa | 9.9 mi (15.9 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F3 | May 17, 1981 | 0 | 6 | Tecumseh | Pottawatomie | 10.2 mi (16.4 km) | 587 yd (537 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Cromwell to Okemah | Seminole, Okfuskee | 15.4 mi (24.8 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 2 | W of Cromwell to SW of Okmulgee | Seminole, Okfuskee, Okmulgee | 33.6 mi (54.1 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | |
| F3 | May 22, 1981 | 0 | 12 | Clinton | Custer | 10.3 mi (16.6 km) | 267 yd (244 m) |
| F4 | 0 | 0 | N of Binger | Caddo, Canadian | 16.7 mi (26.9 km) | 1333 yd (1219 m) | |
| F3 | May 23, 1981 | 0 | 0 | Durant | Bryan | 9.7 mi (15.6 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | March 15, 1982 | 1 | 36 | Ada | Pontotoc | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 60 yd (55 m) |
| F4 | March 18, 1982 | 0 | 12 | E of Hardesty to Beaver | Texas, Beaver | 88 mi (142 km)‡ | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F5 | April 2, 1982 | 0 | 29 | Broken Bow | Choctaw, McCurtain | 53 mi (85 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of Marietta | Love | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 30 yd (27 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NE of Boswell | Choctaw | 8 mi (13 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | 1 | 4 | S of Tom | McCurtain | 52 mi (84 km)‡ | 233 yd (213 m) | |
| F3 | May 11, 1982 | 0 | 41 | Altus | Jackson | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 350 yd (320 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 18 | NE of Blair | Jackson, Greer | 10 mi (16 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Lone Wolf | Kiowa | 7 mi (11 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | May 13, 1983 | 0 | 0 | Kingfisher | Kingfisher | 8.8 mi (14.2 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | November 22, 1983 | 0 | 3 | Albion | Pushmataha | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NW of Westville | Adair | 19 mi (31 km)‡ | 100 yd (91 m) | |
| F3 | April 26, 1984 | 8 | 95 | SE of Okmulgee to Morris | Okmulgee | 22 mi (35 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) |
| F4 | 3 | 37 | E of Jennings | Creek, Pawnee | 22 mi (35 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F4 | April 29, 1984 | 1 | 60 | E of Jennings | Creek, Pawnee, Osage | 27 mi (43 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | October 31, 1984 | 0 | 0 | N of Seiling | Woodward, Major | 20 mi (32 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | May 8, 1986 | 0 | 15 | Downtown Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | March 22, 1987 | 0 | 0 | NW of Shattuck | Ellis | 30 mi (48 km)‡ | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | March 13, 1990 | 0 | 1 | SE of Duncan | Stephens | 22 mi (35 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Wakita | Grant | 19 mi (31 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Wakita | Grant | 22 mi (35 km)‡ | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| F3 | May 15, 1990 | 1 | 12 | NW of Stillwater | Payne | 7 mi (11 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | May 26, 1990 | 0 | 0 | SE of Hinton | Caddo | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 200 yd (180 m) |
| F3 | March 21, 1991 | 0 | 2 | Ada | Pontotoc | 11 mi (18 km) | 350 yd (320 m) |
| F3 | March 26, 1991 | 0 | 0 | SE of Wakita | Grant, Kay | 67 mi (108 km)‡ | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | April 12, 1991 | 0 | 0 | SW of Pond Creek | Garfield, Grant | 9 mi (14 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | Pond Creek | Grant | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F4 | April 26, 1991 | 0 | 6 | NW of Fairfax | Garfield, Noble, Osage | 66 mi (106 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| F4 | 1 | 24 | SE of Westport | Pawnee, Osage, Tulsa | 32 mi (51 km) | 1700 yd (1600 m) | |
| F4 | 0 | 22 | Oologah | Rogers | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 1300 yd (1200 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | E of Enid | Garfield | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | |
| F3 | May 15, 1991 | 0 | 3 | Laverne | Harper | 11.5 mi (18.5 km) | 900 yd (820 m) |
| F3 | May 26, 1991 | 0 | 0 | Mooreland | Woodward | 12.5 mi (20.1 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) |
| F4 | May 11, 1992 | 0 | 3 | N of Kiowa | Pittsburg | 10 mi (16 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | NE of Tupelo | Coal | 12 mi (19 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | |
| F3 | July 2, 1992 | 0 | 1 | W of Oologah | Tulsa, Rogers | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F4 | April 24, 1983 | 7 | 100 | W of Catoosa | Tulsa, Rogers | 5.5 mi (8.9 km) | 250 yd (230 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 30 | S of Catoosa | Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers | 8 mi (13 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| F3 | May 5, 1993 | 0 | 0 | SE of Guymon | Texas | 12 mi (19 km) | 500 yd (460 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | NW of Hooker | Texas | 18.5 mi (29.8 km)‡ | 1200 yd (1100 m) | |
| F3 | June 8, 1993 | 0 | 0 | N of Kildare | Kay | 11.5 mi (18.5 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| F3 | May 7, 1995 | 3 | 6 | NW of Marietta | Love, Carter | 34.1 mi (54.9 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F3 | May 26, 1997 | 0 | 1 | W of Indianola | McIntosh, Pittsburg | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| F3 | May 24, 1998 | 0 | 0 | W of Lamont | Grant | 5.3 mi (8.5 km) | 1300 yd (1200 m) |
| F3 | October 4, 1998 | 0 | 1 | Prague | Seminole, Pottawatomie, Lincoln | 10 mi (16 km) | 880 yd (800 m) |
| F3 | May 3, 1999 | 0 | 3 | NE of Apache | Caddo | 6.4 mi (10.3 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | W of Chickasha | Caddo, Grady | 9.3 mi (15.0 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | N of El Reno | Canadian, Kingfisher | 22 mi (35 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 4 | W of Kingfisher | Kingfisher | 21 mi (34 km) | Unknown | |
| F3 | 0 | 13 | E of Crescent | Logan | 13 mi (21 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F4 | 1 | 11 | Dover | Kingfisher | 15 mi (24 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F5 | 36 | 583 | S of Amber to Bridge Creek to Moore to Midwest City | Grady, Cleveland, Oklahoma | 37.3 mi (60.0 km) | 1430 yd (1310 m) | |
| F4 | 2 | 26 | Cimarron City to Mulhall | Logan, Payne, Noble | 40 mi (64 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 13 | Davenport to Stroud | Lincoln, Creek | 16 mi (26 km) | 450 yd (410 m) | |
| F3 | May 4, 1999 | 0 | 0 | SE of Stilwell | Sequoyah, Adair | 38.2 mi (61.5 km)‡ | Unknown |
| F3 | June 1, 1999 | 0 | 0 | S of Checotah | McIntosh | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) | 350 yd (320 m) |
| F3 | 2 | 5 | W of Hulbert | Cherokee | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 350 yd (320 m) |
2000–2006
[edit]| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 200 | 92 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 322 | |
| Deaths: 1 | Injuries: 203 | |||||||
The years 2000 through 2006 only saw nine intense tornadoes, none of which were fatal. These tornadoes caused a combined total of 154 injuries, the majority of which were sustained when an F4 tornado hit southwest Oklahoma City on May 8, 2003.[37] One fatality was recorded when an F2 tornado moved rural Coal and Atoka counties west of Coalgate on April 10, 2001.[38] The Fujita Scale, which had been used by the National Weather Service during tornado damage surveys to rate tornado damage, was discontinued in February 2007, being replaced by the Enhanced Fujita scale.[39]
| F# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F3 | October 9, 2001 | 0 | 0 | NW of Elk City | Beckham, Washita, Custer | 11.5 mi (18.5 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 9 | Cordell | Washita | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| F3 | 0 | 1 | N of Mountain View | Kiowa | 13 mi (21 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | |
| F3 | April 17, 2002 | 0 | 0 | W of Seiling | Dewey, Woodward | 8 mi (13 km) | 600 yd (550 m) |
| F4 | May 8, 2003 | 0 | 134 | Moore | Cleveland, Oklahoma | 17.3 mi (27.8 km) | 700 yd (640 m) |
| F3 | 0 | 0 | W of Bartlesville | Osage | 45 mi (72 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| F3 | May 9, 2003 | 0 | 2 | NE of Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 17.8 mi (28.6 km) | 1320 yd (1210 m) |
| F3 | May 29, 2004 | 0 | 0 | N of Depew | Creek | 7.5 mi (12.1 km) | 700 yd (640 m) |
| F3 | March 12, 2006 | 0 | 8 | SW to NE of Kansas | Cherokee, Delaware | 29 mi (47 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
2007–present
[edit]| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 507 | 440 | 106 | 30 | 13 | 2 | 1,220 | |
| Deaths: 110 | Injuries: 1,515 | |||||||
As of July 2025, a total of 1,220 tornadoes, 41 being intense, have killed over 99 people in Oklahoma since the implementation of the Enhanced Fujita Scale in 2007. The deadliest struck Moore on May 20, 2013, killing 24 people and injuring 212 others.[40] Two EF5 tornadoes have been recorded within state boundaries since 2007, both of which hit areas around Oklahoma City.[41][42] The widest tornado ever recorded, which reached a peak width of 4576 yd (4184 m) (2.6 miles), moved through rural farmland south of El Reno on May 31, 2013, killing eight people.[43]
‡ Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Oklahoma
| EF# | Date | Deaths | Injuries | Location | County | Path length | Max width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF3 | May 5, 2007 | 0 | 1 | NE of Sweetwater | Beckham, Roger Mills | 7.7 mi (12.4 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| EF4 | May 10, 2008 | 21 | 350 | S of Picher | Craig, Ottawa | 75.5 mi (121.5 km)‡ | 1760 yd (1610 m) |
| EF3 | May 23, 2008 | 0 | 0 | S of Selman | Harper | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 1100 yd (1000 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 0 | N of Freedom | Woods | 11 mi (18 km)‡ | 980 yd (900 m) | |
| EF4 | February 10, 2009 | 8 | 46 | W of Ardmore | Jefferson, Love, Carter | 37 mi (60 km)‡ | 880 yd (800 m) |
| EF3 | April 9, 2009 | 0 | 7 | E of Eagletown | McCurtain | 37.2 mi (59.9 km)‡ | 850 yd (780 m) |
| EF3 | May 10, 2010 | 0 | 0 | NW of Ardmore | Carter | 4.9 mi (7.9 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 28 | Tecumseh | Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee | 37.2 mi (59.9 km) | 2200 yd (2000 m) | |
| EF3 | 0 | 3 | NW of Shawnee | Pottawatomie | 6.5 mi (10.5 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| EF4 | 1 | 32 | E of Norman | Cleveland, Pottawatomie | 22.2 mi (35.7 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| EF4 | 2 | 49 | SE of Moore | Cleveland, Oklahoma | 24 mi (39 km) | 2000 yd (1800 m) | |
| EF3 | 0 | 3 | N of Medford | Grant, Kay | 47.7 mi (76.8 km)‡ | 1500 yd (1400 m) | |
| EF3 | April 14, 2011 | 2 | 40 | SW to NE of Atoka | Atoka | 17 mi (27 km) | 1320 yd (1210 m) |
| EF3 | May 22, 2011 | 0 | 4 | S of Grove | Delaware | 17.9 mi (28.8 km) | 1550 yd (1420 m) |
| EF3 | May 24, 2011 | 0 | 0 | N of Lookeba | Caddo | 8.6 mi (13.8 km) | 800 yd (730 m) |
| EF4 | 1 | 48 | S of Chickasha to Newcastle | Grady, Cleveland | 33.3 mi (53.6 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| EF5 | 9 | 181 | N of El Reno | Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan | 64.9 mi (104.4 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) | |
| EF4 | 0 | 61 | W of Washington | Grady, Cleveland | 23.1 mi (37.2 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| EF3 | 1 | 2 | E of Seiling | Dewey, Blaine, Major | 13.2 mi (21.2 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | |
| EF4 | November 7, 2011 | 0 | 0 | Tipton | Jackson, Tillman | 17.4 mi (28.0 km)‡ | 500 yd (460 m) |
| EF3 | April 14, 2012 | 6 | 29 | Arnett to Woodward | Ellis, Woodward | 34 mi (55 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| EF3 | May 19, 2013 | 0 | 4 | S of Carney | Oklahoma, Lincoln | 20.8 mi (33.5 km) | 1200 yd (1100 m) |
| EF4 | 2 | 10 | E of Norman | Cleveland, Pottawatomie | 23 mi (37 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) | |
| EF5 | May 20, 2013 | 24 | 212 | Moore | Grady, Cleveland | 13.8 mi (22.2 km) | 1900 yd (1700 m) |
| EF3 | May 31, 2013 | 8 | 26 | S of El Reno | Canadian | 16.2 mi (26.1 km) | 4576 yd (4184 m) |
| EF3 | May 6, 2015 | 0 | 0 | Bridge Creek | Grady | 10.3 mi (16.6 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 12 | Valley Brook | Oklahoma | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | |
| EF3 | May 16, 2015 | 0 | 0 | S of Snyder | Jackson, Tillman, Kiowa | 40.4 mi (65.0 km)‡ | 1600 yd (1500 m) |
| EF3 | May 25, 2015 | 1 | 1 | NW of Bokchito | Bryan, Atoka | 18.8 mi (30.3 km) | 700 yd (640 m) |
| EF4 | May 9, 2016 | 1 | 0 | Katie | Garvin | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) | 400 yd (370 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 0 | N of Sulphur | Murray, Pontotoc | 16.6 mi (26.7 km) | 1500 yd (1400 m) | |
| EF3 | 1 | 0 | NW of Wapanucka | Johnston, Coal | 9.1 mi (14.6 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | |
| EF3 | 0 | 2 | S of Boswell | Bryan, Choctaw | 13.8 mi (22.2 km) | 3100 yd (2800 m) | |
| EF3 | April 30, 2019 | 2 | 16 | SW to N of Bokchito | Bryan, Atoka | 27.6 mi (44.4 km) | 1400 yd (1300 m) |
| EF3 | May 23, 2019 | 0 | 0 | SW of Laverne | Beaver, Ellis, Harper | 15.7 mi (25.3 km)‡ | 1500 yd (1400 m) |
| EF3 | May 25, 2019 | 2 | 29 | S of El Reno | Canadian | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | 75 yd (69 m) |
| EF4 | November 4, 2022 | 0 | 1 | Sawyer | Choctaw | 44.7 mi (71.9 km)‡ | 1700 yd (1600 m) |
| EF4 | 1 | 13 | Idabel | McCurtain | 60.9 mi (98.0 km)‡ | 1056 yd (966 m) | |
| EF3 | April 29, 2023 | 2 | 0 | Cole | Cleveland | 10.9 mi (17.5 km) | 1200 yd (1100 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 0 | S of Pink | Pottawatomie | 0.6 mi (0.97 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | |
| EF3 | April 27, 2024 | 1 | 30 | Sulphur | Murray, Pontotoc | 9.9 mi (15.9 km) | 440 yd (400 m) |
| EF3 | 2 | 4 | W of Holdenville | Hughes, Okfuskee | 27.9 mi (44.9 km) | 1760 yd (1610 m) | |
| EF4 | 1 | 6 | Marietta to Baum | Love, Carter | 26.8 mi (43.1 km) | 900 yd (820 m) | |
| EF4 | May 6, 2024 | 2 | 33 | Barnsdall | Osage, Washington | 40.8 mi (65.7 km) | 1700 yd (1600 m) |
| EF3 | November 3, 2024 | 0 | 6 | E of Oklahoma City | Cleveland, Oklahoma | 2.4 mi (3.9 km) | 300 yd (270 m) |
| EF3 | 0 | 0 | S of Comanche | Stephens | 22 mi (35 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | |
| EF3 | 0 | 5 | Harrah | Oklahoma, Lincoln | 25.1 mi (40.4 km) | 1000 yd (910 m) | |
| EF3 | May 18, 2025 | 0 | 0 | SE of Arnett | Ellis | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| EF3 | May 19, 2025 | 0 | 1 | E of Pittsburg | Pittsburg | 16.01 mi (25.77 km) | 2972 yd (2718 m) |
Tornadoes by county
[edit]* Includes unofficially-rated tornado or tornadoes
| County | F0/EF0 | F1/EF1 | F2/EF2 | F3/EF3 | F4/EF4 | F5/EF5 | Total[44][note 5] | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair | 5 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | [45] |
| Alfalfa | 19 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 49 | [46] |
| Atoka | 12 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 50 | [47] |
| Beaver | 43 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 74 | [48] |
| Beckham | 37 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 74 | [49] |
| Blaine | 19 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 52 | [50] |
| Bryan | 7 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 38 | [51] |
| Caddo | 59 | 33 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 131 | [52] |
| Canadian | 44 | 39 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 112 | [53] |
| Carter | 21 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 64 | [54] |
| Cherokee | 9 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 41 | [55] |
| Choctaw | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 27 | [56] |
| Cimarron | 29 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | [57] |
| Cleveland | 31 | 39 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 110 | [58] |
| Coal | 10 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | [59] |
| Comanche | 29 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 68 | [60] |
| Cotton | 19 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 42 | [61] |
| Craig | 12 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 54 | [62] |
| Creek | 24 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 76 | [63] |
| Custer | 30 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 73 | [64] |
| Delaware | 11 | 28 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 66 | [65] |
| Dewey | 22 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1* | 54 | [66] |
| Ellis | 38 | 23 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1* | 78 | [67] |
| Garfield | 33 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 77 | [68] |
| Garvin | 18 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 63 | [69] |
| Grady | 22 | 37 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 96 | [70] |
| Grant | 35 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 71 | [71] |
| Greer | 22 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 46 | [72] |
| Harmon | 12 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | [73] |
| Harper | 10 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 32 | [74] |
| Haskell | 17 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | [75] |
| Hughes | 13 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 38 | [76] |
| Jackson | 37 | 16 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1* | 79 | [77] |
| Jefferson | 18 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 43 | [78] |
| Johnston | 11 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 42 | [79] |
| Kay | 46 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 102 | [80] |
| Kingfisher | 37 | 21 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 83 | [81] |
| Kiowa | 46 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1* | 95 | [82] |
| Latimer | 10 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | [83] |
| LeFlore | 17 | 35 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 79 | [84] |
| Lincoln | 29 | 36 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 95 | [85] |
| Logan | 25 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 64 | [86] |
| Love | 11 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 33 | [87] |
| Major | 18 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1* | 52 | [88] |
| Marshall | 14 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 | [89] |
| Mayes | 24 | 42 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 89 | [90] |
| McClain | 28 | 31 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 81 | [91] |
| McCurtain | 17 | 25 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 68 | [92] |
| McIntosh | 22 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 58 | [93] |
| Murray | 13 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 45 | [94] |
| Muskogee | 23 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 65 | [95] |
| Noble | 16 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 48 | [96] |
| Nowata | 15 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 46 | [97] |
| Okfuskee | 21 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 63 | [98] |
| Oklahoma | 42 | 47 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 137 | [99] |
| Okmulgee | 19 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 54 | [100] |
| Osage | 49 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 115 | [101] |
| Ottawa | 7 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 49 | [102] |
| Pawnee | 16 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | [103] |
| Payne | 18 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 61 | [104] |
| Pittsburg | 32 | 36 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 85 | [105] |
| Pontotoc | 21 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 67 | [106] |
| Pottawatomie | 26 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 93 | [107] |
| Pushmataha | 11 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 49 | [108] |
| Roger Mills | 19 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 55 | [109] |
| Rogers | 14 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 80 | [110] |
| Seminole | 16 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 68 | [111] |
| Sequoyah | 17 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 55 | [112] |
| Stephens | 21 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 75 | [113] |
| Texas | 47 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 75 | [114] |
| Tillman | 34 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 90 | [115] |
| Tulsa | 33 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 98 | [116] |
| Wagoner | 23 | 21 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 64 | [117] |
| Washington | 10 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 39 | [118] |
| Washita | 15 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 58 | [119] |
| Woods | 19 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2* | 56 | [120] |
| Woodward | 40 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2* | 43 | [121] |
| Total | 1,766 | 1,637 | 889 | 309 | 113 | 28 | 4,937 | [note 6] |
Tornadoes by month
[edit]| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of tornadoes | 30 | 64 | 287 | 926 | 1,830 | 539 | 122 | 97 | 125 | 197 | 155 | 38 |
| Highest year | 2023 | 2023 | 1991 | 2024 | 2019 | 1995 | 1956 | 1979 | 1992 | 2021 | 2024 | 2022 |
| Max F/EF# | F4 | EF4 | F5 | F5[note 7] | EF5[note 8] | F4[note 9] | EF4 | EF4 | F4[note 10] | F4[note 11] | EF4[note 12] | EF3 |
Longest span without a tornado
[edit]The longest timespan without a single tornado reported in Oklahoma was from May 17, 2003 to March 3, 2004, or 291 days.[122] The run was ended on March 4, 2004, when an F0 tornado touched down near Muldrow.[123]
| No. of days | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 292 | May 17, 2003 | March 3, 2004 |
| 248 | August 8, 2013 | April 12, 2014 |
| 248 | July 16, 1990 | March 20, 1991 |
| 245 | July 4, 2016 | March 5, 2017 |
| 234 | July 4, 1976 | February 22, 1977 |
| 220 | August 24, 1977 | March 31, 1978 |
| 200 | August 8, 1955 | February 23, 1956 |
| 193 | September 6, 1978 | March 17, 1979 |
| 192 | October 22, 2017 | May 1, 2018 |
| 189 | October 11, 1969 | April 17, 1970 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Official ratings were assigned after 1950.[4] Prior to that, ratings are assigned by tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.[5]
- ^ As of July 2025, this tornado is the deadliest in Oklahoma history.
- ^ The majority of deaths occurred when the tornado struck Udall, Kansas.
- ^ The majority of deaths occurred when the tornado impacted Wichita Falls, Texas.
- ^ Due to the existence of unrated (F?/EF?) and unknown (FU/EFU) tornadoes, the total numbers are inconsistent with the count of rated tornadoes.
- ^ Due to some tornadoes crossing county lines, some tornadoes are counted more than once.
- ^ F5 tornadoes touched down in April of 1939, 1945, 1947 and 1982.
- ^ F5 tornadoes touched down in May of 1905, 1947, twice in 1955, 1960 and 1999. EF5 tornadoes touched down in May of 2011 and 2013.
- ^ F4 tornadoes touched down in June of 1917, twice in 1928, 1935 and 1942.
- ^ F4 tornadoes touched down in September of 1957 and 1959.
- ^ F4 tornadoes touched down in October of 1914 and 1970.
- ^ EF4 tornadoes touched down in November 2011 and twice in 2022.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ "Monthly/Annual statistics for Tornadoes in Oklahoma (1950–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "2024 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Daniel. "NWS Tornado Surveys and the Impact on the National Tornado" (PDF). www.spc.noaa.gov.
- ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 978-1-879362-03-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Monthly/Annual statistics for Tornadoes in Oklahoma (1950–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Oklahoma Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of May 3–4, 1999: Storm A Information". National Weather Service Forecast Office, Norman, Oklahoma. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. May 22, 2013. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ^ a b "Top Ten Costliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1950–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Wurman, Joshua; C. Alexander; P. Robinson; Y. Richardson (January 2007). "Low-Level Winds in Tornadoes and Potential Catastrophic Tornado Impacts in Urban Areas". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 88 (1). American Meteorological Society: 31–46. Bibcode:2007BAMS...88...31W. doi:10.1175/BAMS-88-1-31.
- ^ "EF4 tornado on May. 10, 2008 16:25 PM CDT". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "10 Costliest U.S. Tornadoes". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "These States Have Had the Most Violent Tornadoes Since 1950". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ McDonnell, Brandy. "Where was 'Twisters' filmed? Summer blockbuster puts Oklahoma locations in spotlight". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Sharma, Dhruv (August 3, 2022). "Twister (1996): Where Was the Movie Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ McDonnell, Brandy (October 29, 2021). "Twister's path: Oklahoma-made tornado movie '13 Minutes' stars Anne Heche, Amy Smart and more". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ Rose, Marni (August 20, 2024). "Map shows states with the most tornados". Newsweek. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Tornado Alley: The Most Tornado Prone Region In The World". www.worldatlas.com. September 16, 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "2024 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "2019 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "1999 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "2011 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "2015 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "1957 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Top Ten Deadliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1882–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "Top Ten Costliest Oklahoma Tornadoes (1950–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "25 Years Since One of Oklahoma's Most Infamous Tornadoes". KLAW 101. April 26, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Stillwater, Oklahoma Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Murray County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "The Snyder, Oklahoma Tornado of 10 May 1905". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Storm Events Database". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ^ "March 25, 1948 – The First Tornado Forecast". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ McDermott, Pat (July 28, 1951). "Flash-Tornado Warning!". The Saturday Evening Post. pp. 17–19, 53–57. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ "The Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 10 April 1979". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c Grazulis, Thomas P. (2023). Significant Tornadoes 1974–2022. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project. p. 637. ISBN 978-1-879362-01-7.
- ^ "May 8, 2003 Oklahoma City Area Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Tuesday April 10, 2001". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Enhanced Fujita Scale". Environment Canada. May 10, 2013.
- ^ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma (2013). Oklahoma Event Report: EF5 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- ^ Henson, Bob (May 25, 2021). "It's been a record-long time since the last EF5 tornado. What does that mean? » Yale Climate Connections". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Fernandez, Manny; Fenwick, Ben (May 26, 2019). "'There I Was, Flying Across the Room': Tornado Leaves an Oklahoma Town Shaken". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Nolan Clay (June 3, 2013). "Oklahoma storms: Amateur storm chaser took photo of tornado that killed him". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma Publishing Company. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ "Oklahoma Tornadoes by County and Month (1950–2024)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Adair County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Alfalfa County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Atoka County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Beaver County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Beckham County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Blaine County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Bryan County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Caddo County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Canadian County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Carter County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Cherokee County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Choctaw County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Cimarron County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Cleveland County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Coal County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Comanche County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Cotton County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Craig County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Creek County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Creek County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Delaware County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Dewey County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Ellis County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Garfield County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Garvin County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Grady County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Grant County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Greer County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Harmon County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Harper County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Haskell County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Hughes County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Jackson County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Jefferson County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Johnston County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Kay County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Kingfisher County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Kingfisher County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Latimer County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "LeFlore County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Lincoln County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Logan County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Love County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Major County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Marshall County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Mayes County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "McClain County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "McCurtain County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "McIntosh County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Murray County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Muskogee County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Noble County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Nowata County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Okfuskee County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Oklahoma County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Okmulgee County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Osage County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Ottawa County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Pawnee County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Payne County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Pittsburg County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Pontotoc County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Pottawatomie County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Pushmataha County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Roger Mills County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Rogers County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Seminole County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Sequoyah County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Stephens County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Texas County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Tillman County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Tulsa County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Wagoner County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Washington County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Washita County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Woods County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "Woodward County, OK Tornadoes (1875–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "Most Consecutive Days Without a Tornado in Oklahoma (1950–Present)". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "2004 Oklahoma Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 29, 2025.