Spring 2019: An above average year for Oklahoma tornadoes

Photo Courtesy: Jon LaFevers/Sapulpa (TULSA, Okla.) With Friday kicking off the first day of summer, here’s a look back at what made this year’s “tornado season” so unusual. This year’s overall tornado count for Oklahoma was more than twice the typical average. Oklahoma normally sees an average of 23 tornadoes in May, and 40 for the year. This year, Oklahoma’s official tornado total stands at 61 in May, with 83 for the year. There was a tornado somewhere in Oklahoma for six consecutive days, May 20-25. NWS meteorologists issued 84 tornado warnings in May 2019. The average (2008-2018) for May is typically 45. The most was in 2015 when we issued 125. Only five of our 56 counties had zero tornado warnings. Sadly there have been four tornado fatalities in OK in 2019: two on April 30 near Blue, and two in El Reno on May 25. All four people were in mobile homes. 2019 saw six main tornado events. Two teams of NWS Tulsa meteorologists surveyed damage and reports of tornadoes that occurred across eastern Oklahoma on April 30, 2019. A squall line moved through eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas during the morning and early afternoon hours of May 18th. Very strong low level wind shear and moderately strong instability ahead of the squall line resulted in the development of several tornadoes as well as damaging wind. Supercells produced several tornadoes across eastern Oklahoma during the evening of May 20th. A squall line moved into eastern Oklahoma during the morning and May 21st. Several tornadoes occurred with this line across northeastern Oklahoma. Supercells developed and moved across northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 22nd. Multiple tornadoes occurred with these storms, and storm surveys have occurred over the past several days for these tornadoes. A squall line moved into northeastern Oklahoma from the west during the late evening hours of Saturday, May 25th. Several tornadoes developed along the leading edge of the line. A long lived circulation occurred along the convective line where it intersected an outflow boundary from storms that weakened to the north. That circulation resulted in several tornadoes from Bristow to likely near the Arkansas state line. In addition to the tornadoes, there was a lot of straight-line wind damage across the region. The latest details of Oklahoma’s last tornado event through Creek, Tulsa and Mayes counties (on May 26) are as follows: Bristow, OK Tornado (Creek County) EF-Scale: EF-1 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 95 mph Path Length: 2.6 miles Maximum Path Width: 200 yards 12:04-12:07 am May 26, 2019 This tornado damaged the roofs of several homes, damaged outbuildings, and uprooted trees. Kellyville, OK Tornado (Creek County) EF-Scale: EF-1 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph Path Length: 10.7 miles Maximum Path Width: 1000 yards 12:14 am May 26, 2019 This tornado developed southwest of Kellyville near the intersection of I-44 and Highway 66 and moved east passing south of Kellyville before turning toward the northeast and dissipating east of town. It snapped and uprooted many trees and destroyed outbuildings. Sapulpa, OK Tornado #1 (Creek/Tulsa Counties) EF-Scale: EF-1 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 100 to 110 mph Path Length: 12.5 miles Maximum Path Width: 1400 yards 12:21-12:38 am May 26, 2019 This large tornado developed west of Sapulpa, west of the intersection of I-44 and Highway 33. It moved east along Highway 66 then across the northern portion of Sapulpa. It crossed Hickory Hill Road near the Creek Turnpike and moved into Tulsa County near ‪West 91st Street‬ S, and dissipated near Highway 75. The tornado damaged homes and businesses, snapped and uprooted numerous trees, and blew down numerous power poles.  Sapulpa, OK Tornado #2 (Creek/Tulsa Counties) EF-Scale: EF-1 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 100 to 110 mph Path Length: 12.3 miles Maximum Path Width: 2200 yards 12:27-12:39 am May 26, 2019 This large tornado developed near the Sapulpa Golf Course and moved east rough between E. Taft Ave and E. Dewey Ave. It crossed Hickory Hill Road and S. 49th West Ave South of the Creek Turnpike east of S. 49th West Ave. It moved across Jenks, crossed the Arkansas River, and dissipated east of S. Yale Ave north of ‪E 111th Street‬ S. The tornado damaged roofs of many homes, snapped and uprooted numerous trees, and blew down numerous power poles. Broken Arrow, OK Tornado (Tulsa County) EF-Scale: EF-1 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed               75 to 80 mph Path Length: 1.4 miles Maximum Path Width: 350 yards 12:52-12:54 am May 26, 2019 This tornado developed on the south side of the Broken Arrow High School and moved east across two neighborhoods along County Line Road. It dissipated west of S 209th East Ave. The tornado damaged the baseball field, damaged the roofs of homes, and snapped large tree limbs. Salina , OK Tornado (Mayes County) EF-Scale: EF-0 Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80 to 85 mph Path Length: 3.2 miles Maximum Path Width: 300 yards 1:44-1:47 am May 26, 2019 This tornado uprooted trees and snapped large tree limbs. You can find more information about 2019’s other tornado events here: https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=70c4cd62b7f840089b7422730bb822c1 The National Weather Service is part of a team, together with city, county, tribal, state and federal emergency management and public safety agencies, and fellow meteorologists in the broadcast media. We appreciate all of them.