October tornadoes set new Oklahoma record

Updated: 10/30/19 (TULSA, Okla.) NWS damage survey teams have now confirmed 5 tornadoes in eastern Oklahoma from October 20-21. The information from the additional tornado path surveyed is as follows: Boynton, OK Tornado (Muskogee County) rated EF-0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 to 85 mph Path Length: 8.3 miles Maximum Path Width: 400 yards Start Location: 1.7 miles southeast of Boynton, OK Start Time: 11:12 pm CDT October 20, 2019 End Location: 3.4 miles south southeast of Taft, OK End Time: 11:22 pm CDT October 20, 2019 Survey Summary: A tornado developed southeast of Boynton to the south of W. 83rd St. S. and moved northeast to a point north of W. 33rd St. S. It uprooted a couple of medium sized trees, blew down a power pole, and snapped large tree limbs. Much of the path was across farmland, so the damage noted above generally occurred as the tornado crossed section line roads. Fox23 TV in Tulsa supplemented our ground survey by flying their drone along sections of the path, helping us evaluate damage that was inaccessible by road. This now puts the total number of Oklahoma tornadoes at 146 for 2019, which exceeds the previous record of 145 set in 1999. ORIGINAL STORY 10/24/19: At least four tornadoes developed on the leading edge of a line of thunderstorms that moved through eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas during the late evening hours of Sunday, October 20th, and the early morning hours of Monday, October 21st. NWS Tulsa meteorologists surveyed storm damage in northern Adair County, across much of Benton County, in Wagoner County, and in northern Cherokee County over the past few days. Details concerning the four tornadoes that have thus far been confirmed by NWS Tulsa from this event, as well as an area of damaging straight line wind, are noted in the summaries below. Additional damage surveys for a small area of Muskogee County will likely be conducted later this week. Coweta Oklahoma Tornado: Rated EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 to 90 mph Path Length /Statute/: 7.2 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 1100 yards Start Date: October 20 2019 Start Time: 1108 pm CDT Start Location: 5 E Coweta / Wagoner County / OK End Date: October 20 2019 End Time: 1115 pm CDT End Location: 4.5 NW Wagoner / Wagoner County / OK Survey Summary: A tornado developed just south of Highway 51 east of Coweta and moved east-northeast damaging a home, and blowing down trees and power poles. Scraper Oklahoma Tornado: Rated EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 to 95 mph Path Length /Statute/: 2.9 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 600 yards Start Date: October 20 2019 Start Time: 1139 pm CDT Start Location: 6.7 WNW Scraper / Cherokee County / OK End Date: October 20 2019 End Time: 1143 pm CDT End Location: 4.1 NW Scraper / Cherokee County / OK Survey Summary: A tornado uprooted trees and snapped numerous large tree limbs. Siloam Springs Arkansas Tornado #1: Rated EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 to 100 mph Path Length /Statute/: 9.1 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 900 yards Start Date: October 21 2019 Start Time: 1200 am CDT Start Location: 5.7 NW Watts / Adair County / OK End Date: October 21 2019 End Time: 1209 am CDT End Location: 2.5 SE Siloam Springs / Benton County / AR Survey Summary: A tornado developed over northeastern Adair County, Oklahoma, and moved east across the southern portion of the City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. This tornado uprooted numerous trees, damaged homes, destroyed outbuildings, and snapped power poles. Siloam Springs Arkansas Tornado #2: Rated EF-2 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 to 120 mph Path Length /Statute/: 31.4 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 2640 yards Start Date: October 21 2019 Start Time: 1208 am CDT Start Location: 0.8 SE Siloam Springs / Benton County / AR End Date: October 21 2019 End Time: 1238 am CDT End Location: 3.7 SE Avoca / Benton County / AR Survey Summary: A second tornado appears to have formed on the north side of Siloam Springs, as the first tornado was in the process of dissipating on the south side of town. This tornado moved along Highway 412 in Siloam Springs, and then across the southern portion of the Siloam Springs Airport, as well as a housing subdivision east of the airport. The roof was blown off a business, many homes and businesses sustained roof damage, several hangars at the airport were damaged, numerous trees were uprooted, and power poles were snapped. The tornado became very large and moved east-northeast from the east side of Siloam Springs. The roof of a wood-framed permanent home was entirely removed, and a large, well-built, wood-framed outbuilding was destroyed on Andria Circle, which are the primary damage indicators that resulted in the EF-2 rating. These structures were on a hill, and nearby hardwood trees were snapped, homes were damaged with windows blown out and roof structures lifted off the frame of the house and set back down. The tornado continued to move east-northeast across Highfill and Cave Springs, and into Rogers. Numerous homes were damaged, outbuildings were destroyed, many power poles were blown down, and numerous trees were uprooted. A metal building structure that was open-aired on the south side sustained severe damage. Businesses in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers were damaged. From Rogers the tornado moved northeast, crossing inlets of Beaver Lake before dissipating. EF Scale: The enhanced Fujita scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories. EF0...weak......65 To 85 mph EF1...weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...violent...>200 mph Benton County Arkansas Thunderstorm Wind: Peak Wind /E/ or /M/: 80 to 90 mph Path Length /Statute/: unknown Path Width /Maximum/: unknown Fatalities: 1 Start Date: October 21 2019 Start Time: 1205 am CDT Start Location: Siloam Springs / Benton County / AR End Date: October 21 2019 End Time: 1240 am CDT End Location: Beaver Lake / Benton County / AR Survey Summary: In addition to the two large tornado tracks that occurred across northeastern Adair and Benton Counties, damaging straight-line wind was extensive generally to the south of the tornado tracks. The damage was similar to the damage that occurred in the nearby tornadoes, and was consistent with wind gusts of 80 to 90 mph: trees were uprooted, homes were damaged, power poles were blown down, and outbuildings were destroyed. Straight-line wind uprooted a tree onto a home near Beaver Lake, and killed the occupant. Note: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data: Oklahoma now stands at 145 tornadoes for the year. RELATED STORIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZA8F5DXmIo