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Major County, OK Tornadoes Prior to 1950 | |||||||||
# | Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
05/23/1903 | 70 | 70 | 2 | 30 | Ellis/ Dewey/ Woodward/ Major/ Alfalfa | Near Camargo - near Cestos - near "Richmond" (7 NW Seiling) - near "Augusta" (1 W Carmen) - near Carmen | |||
05/10/1908 | 1630 | 50 | 880 | 3 | 40 | Ellis/ Dewey/ Woodward/ Major | Arnett - Mutual - near Vici - "Richmond" (7 NW Seiling) - "Cooley" (8 NE Harmon) - near Seiling - "Estelle" (10 NW Phroso) | ||
04/03/1934 | 1800 | 5 | 200 | 0 | 3 | Major | 12 SW Fairview | ||
04/14/1939 | 2300 | 65 | n | 7 | 19 | Dewey/ Woodward/ Major/ Woods | Near Vici - near Waynoka - near Hopeton - near Alva - Capron - just inside KS | ||
06/06/1947 | 1915 | 1.5 | 200 | 0 | 0 | Major | 6 E Chester | ||
03/30/1949 | 0038 | 97 | 300 | 4 | 45 | Dewey/ Blaine/ Major/ Garfield/ Grant/ Kay | 9 SW Canton - Canton - Longdale - 3 NNE Enid - near Hunter - near Blackwell - KS (family?) | ||
Major County, OK Tornadoes (1950-Present*) | |||||||||
# | Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path |
1 | 04/27/1951 | 1420 | 0.8 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 2 | Major | 3 SE Ringwood |
2 | 06/20/1951 | 2320 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | Isabella - Ames |
3 | 06/21/1952 | 1550 | 0.3 | 440 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | east of Fairview |
4 | 06/03/1955 | 2115 | 6 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 30 S Waynoka |
5 | 06/04/1955 | 2200 | 6 | 300 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | near Fairview |
6 | 06/17/1955 | 1748 | 1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | NE of Ringwood |
7 | 06/17/1955 | 2030 | 1 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | 11 SE Aline |
8 | 04/08/1956 | 2235 | 14 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | near Fairview - near Isabella |
9 | 05/07/1961 | 2215 | 5 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 NE Cleo Springs |
10 | 05/13/1965 | 2030 | 0.1 | 33 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | Fairview |
11 | 05/25/1965 | 1950 | 0.1 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | Near Cleo Springs |
12 | 04/26/1970 | 1830 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 W Fairview |
13 | 04/26/1970 | 2030 | 1 | 10 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Major | 2 E Ames |
14 | 05/20/1977 | 1535 | 5 | 100 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | Near Orion |
15 | 05/28/1977 | 2005 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 9 S Ringwood |
16 | 05/02/1979 | 1615 | 21 | 880 | F4 | 1 | 25 | Major/ Garfield | 4 NE Cleo Springs- 1 NE Meno- Lahoma- Far SW Enid |
17 | 05/02/1979 | 1617 | 20 | 1760 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | 11 W Orienta - 10 E Fairview |
18 | 05/30/1982 | 1915 | 20 | 50 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 E Chester - 6 NE Fairview [not continuous] |
19 | 05/17/1983 | 1935 | 0.1 | 50 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 3 W Fairview |
20 | 05/17/1983 | 1935 | 0.1 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | Near Fairview |
21 | 10/31/1984 | 1756 | 20 | 250 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Woodward/ Major | 6 S Cedarville- 1 SW Cheyenne Valley |
22 | 10/31/1984 | 1910 | 8 | 200 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | 2 SSE- 7 ENE Chester |
23 | 04/12/1991 | 1422-1451 | 9 | 300 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Major | .5 S Ames- 4 SE Meno |
24 | 05/15/1991 | 2316 | 0.3 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 10 E Chester |
25 | 05/26/1991 | 2001 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 3 SE Cleo Springs |
26 | 06/18/1992 | 1522 | 0.5 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 2 SW Lahoma |
27 | 09/05/1992 | 1815 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 3 N Chester |
28 | 09/05/1992 | 1850 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 2 W Chester |
29 | 10/17/1994 | 1702 | 0.2 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 7 WNW Ringwood |
30 | 04/05/1999 | 0410 | 0.1 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 4 NNE Ames |
31 | 05/03/1999 | 2128-2130 | 1 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 6 S Ringwood |
32 | 09/10/1999 | 1755-1757 | 1 | 75 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Major | near Ames |
33 | 05/25/2000 | 2300-2314 | 11 | 220 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 10 WSW - 2 SSE Fairview |
34 | 09/18/2001 | 0020-0021 | 0.5 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Major | 0.5 W Ringwood - Ringwood |
35 | 04/17/2002 | 2327-18/0028 | 34 | 1500 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Major/ Woods/ Alfalfa | 15 WNW Orienta - 2 SW Ingersoll |
36 | 06/13/2007 | 1731-1733 | 0.2 | 25 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 W Orienta |
37 | 06/13/2007 | 1734-1736 | 0.2 | 75 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 W Orienta |
38 | 06/13/2007 | 1742-1744 | 0.2 | 50 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 W Orienta |
39 | 05/24/2011 | 1420-1444 | 13 | 880 | EF3 | 1 | 2 | Dewey/ Blaine/ Major | 3 W Canton - Canton Lake - 6 WSW Fairview |
40 | 05/24/2011 | 1447-1451 | 0.7 | 80 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 2 SW Fairview |
41 | 04/14/2012 | 1801 | 0.1 | 30 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 4 NW Bouse Junction |
42 | 04/14/2012 | 1806-1820 | 7 | 150 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Major/ Woods | 4 NNW Bouse Junction - 5 SE Waynoka |
43 | 05/06/2015 | 1537-1538 | 0.1 | 20 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 S Ringwood |
44 | 05/16/2015 | 1722-1742 | 16 | 400 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Major/ Alfalfa | 5.5 NW Fairview - Cleo Springs - 5 SE Aline |
45 | 04/16/2017 | 1743-1747 | 0.5 | 30 | EF? | 0 | 0 | Major | 5 SW Bouse Junction |
46 | 04/16/2017 | 1809 | 0.1 | 30 | EF? | 0 | 0 | Major | 7 N Chester |
47 | 04/16/2017 | 1842-1849 | 2 | 30 | EF? | 0 | 0 | Major | 3.5 NNW - 3.5 NNW Chester |
48 | 05/18/2017 | 1523 | 9 | 200 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Woodward/ Major | 3 W - 9 NNW Chester |
49 | 05/18/2017 | 1537 | 0.2 | 30 | EF? | 0 | 0 | Major | 10 N Chester |
50 | 05/18/2017 | 1549-1607 | 9 | 200 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Major/ Woods | 2 WNW Bouse Junction - 4 WSW Waynoka |
Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
04/14-15/1939 | 2300 | 65 (f73) | 1000 | 7 | 19 | Dewey/ Major/ Woodward/ Major/ Woods/ Barber, KS | Near Vici - near Waynoka - near Hopeton - near Alva - Capron - just inside KS | ||
A violent tornado formed at the town of Vici, OK at 11:00 pm CST on April 14, 1939 in northwestern Dewey County and moved northeastward through the southeastern part of Vici, where it damaged 50 buildings. The twister then continued through rural parts of extreme northwestern Major County and southeastern Woodward County before tracking into Woods County. In Woods County the tornado moved along a path that was south of Waynoka, northwest of Hopeton and southeast of Alva before it struck the town of Capron at 12:15 am CST during the early morning of April 15, 1939. After exiting Capron, the tornado continued northeastward through extreme northwestern Alfalfa County and then dissipated near Kiowa, KS in southeastern Barber County just north of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line. The storm produced damage along a track that was at least 65 miles long and possibly 73 miles long. It is also possible that this event was comprised of a family of tornadoes from a parent supercell thunderstorm instead of being a single, long-track tornado. Many farm homes and other buildings were destroyed in the rural areas near Waynoka, Hopeton and Alva, as well as the entire business section of Capron, OK. Damage reached F5 intensity in an area 5 miles south of Waynoka, OK where most of the fatalities occurred and farmhouses were completely swept away. At least one death in this area occurred when the tornado struck an automobile. In a case of unfortunate timing, the tornado and a train arrived simultaneously at Capron, and several railroad cars were derailed. The new brick school building in Capron was a total loss, and the southeast part of that town sustained heavy damage. A total of 7 persons were killed and another 19 were injured by the tornado, with 15 of the injuries occurring in Capron. The damage caused by this storm was estimated at $104,000. |
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04/27/1951 | 1420 | 0.8 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 2 | Major | 3 SE Ringwood | |
A tornado touched down about 3 miles southeast of Ringwood and damaged buildings at a farm, and injured 2 people. Total damages were estimated at $1,500. |
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05/02/1979 | 1615 | 21 | 880 | F4 | 1 | 25 | Major/ Garfield | 4 NE Cleo Springs - 1 NE Meno - Lahoma - Far SW Enid | |
The tornado formed at 4:15 pm CST 3 miles north and 8 miles east of Cleo Springs and moved along an east-southeast path causing only minor damage until it reached OK State Highway 58 about 2 miles north of Ringwood, OK where it destroyed 2 mobile homes. The tornado then grew wider and intensified, producing heavy damage to about a dozen farms in eastern Major County. It leveled all buildings at a farm northeast of Ringwood. About 1 mile east and 1 mile north of Meno, OK, the twister hit a farmhouse as the occupants were trying to flee in a pickup truck. Two people were injured and a girl was killed when she was thrown about 100 yards from the home. At 4:55 pm CST, the tornado moved through the southern and eastern parts of Lahoma, OK. Three mobile homes were destroyed and about 6 more were damaged. Two houses were heavily damaged with others receiving less damage. The high school, town hall and fire department building were also damaged, and minor damage occurred to other numerous structures. The tornado weakened and narrowed as it moved east-southeast, striking the Perry Acres housing development west of Enid, OK. A pickup truck was overturned and a van was heavily damaged. Several other vehicles also received damage. A barn was destroyed and several homes received significant damage. The chimneys for at least two homes collapsed within the houses. At one location, a travel trailer was thrown 50 feet in one direction while a stock tank was carried about 0.25 miles in the opposite direction. The tornado then moved through the Imo, OK area, about 4 miles southwest of Enid. One man suffered a heart; attack and died while seeking shelter at a grain elevator near lmo. His two sons were injured while trying to break glass in a window to get access to a telephone. The grain elevator was damaged, and two persons were injured when the structure later collapsed onto their pickup. The tornado then dissipated about 1 mile east of Imo at 5:15 pm CST. Large hail and heavy rains accompanied the storm. |
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04/17/2002 | 2327-18/0028 | 34 | 1500 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Major/ Woods/ Alfalfa | 15 WNW Orienta - 2 SW Ingersoll | |
Numerous severe thunderstorms were observed over western Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of April 17th and early morning of April 18th. Four tornadoes were confirmed, and there were several reports of very large hail, even one report of softball size hail (4.5 inches in diameter). The tornadoes were at night with the largest tornado, believed to be up to one mile wide, causing a maximum of F2 damage over a 34-mile path across northwest Oklahoma. Another tornado resulted in F3 damage. This tornado was captured on video by a storm chaser, approximately 2 miles south of Highway 412 in northern Major County. The tornado moved northward for 4 miles before crossing the Cimarron River into Woods County. No structures were affected in Major County. The tornado curved to the right as it crossed the Cimarron River and moved northeastward for 15 miles before entering Alfalfa County at 0005 CST on April 18th. In Woods County, about 2 miles southwest of the intersection of State Highway 45 and the Woods County line, the roof of a trailer house was completely removed, and an exterior wall on the northeast side of the house was badly damaged and partially removed from the structure. The owner of the house received minor abrasions to his arm. Across the road from the house, a barn was unroofed, and most of the walls were destroyed. Otherwise, only tree damage was observed across Woods County. The tornado tracked for another 15 miles in Alfalfa County before dissipating 2 miles southwest of Ingersoll. As the tornado entered Alfalfa County, damage was sustained to outbuildings, trees and power lines, along State Highway 45 to the west of Carmen. Large trees were uprooted or snapped, and a windmill was destroyed along EW 25 Road to the east of NS 253 Road, or about 4.5 miles southwest of Lambert. Along the west side of NS 255 Road, between EW 23 Road and EW 22 Road (about 2.5 miles west of Lambert), a barn roof was removed as was the west section of the barn. Numerous power poles were snapped along EW 22 Road in a ½ mile area to the east of NS 255 Road. Several high-tension power poles were damaged or destroyed west of NS 256 Road and south of EW 21 Road. Significant tree damage and a couple of destroyed outbuildings were observed at the northeast corner of EW 20 and NS 256 Roads, about 5.5 miles southwest of Cherokee. The tornado continued north-northeast with the last damage observed along EW 17 Road just east of NS 257 Road, 2 miles southwest of Ingersoll, or about 4 miles west-northwest of Cherokee. In total, the tornado persisted for 62 minutes and traveled 34 miles. |
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05/24/2011 | 1420-1444 | 13 | 880 | EF3 | 1 | 2 | Dewey/ Blaine/ Major | 3 W Canton - Canton Lake - 6 WSW Fairview | |
This large tornado began west of Canton, OK in Dewey County and moved north-northeast toward (and eventually over) Canton Lake. The damage was confined to trees and power poles/lines during the early stages of the tornado. However, more significant damage occurred as the tornado moved into Blaine County. The tornado moved northeast toward Canton Lake, which is where more significant damage occurred. Near the lake, on both sides where the tornado crossed, significant tree damage occurred. Numerous trailer homes were knocked over or destroyed. On the south side of the lake, two injuries occurred at the Canadian Campground. Several other campers took shelter in a concrete bathhouse. Although the bathhouse sustained damage, no injuries were reported. Other concrete structures (benches, pick-nick tables, etc.) were knocked over or shattered. On the other side of the lake, southwest of Longdale, OK, significant damage continued to more structures and trees. The large, violent tornado continued due north into Major County. The tornado hit homesteads and barns, severely damaging most structures, and splintering trees and power poles. One of the farmsteads received on the upper end of EF-3 damage, with the house completely collapsing and the trees on the property debarked and snapped. The tornado continued near Cedar Springs, OK, damaging the church roof, and severely damaging a mobile home and several buildings at a farmstead. The tornado finally lifted southwest of Fairview, OK. |
Records taken from the Storm Prediction Center archive data, "Storm Data", and data from the National Weather Service office in Norman. Data modified as described in NOAA Tech Memo NWS SR-209 (Speheger, D., 2001: "Corrections to the Historic Tornado Database").
Historic data, especially before 1950, are likely incomplete.