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67159 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in 67159 Zip Code is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 67159 Zip Code is lower than Kansas average and is much higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #300

67159 Zip Code
0.02
Kansas
0.05
U.S.
1.81

The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.

Volcano Index, #1

67159 Zip Code
0.0000
Kansas
0.0000
U.S.
0.0023

The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.

Tornado Index, #481

67159 Zip Code
216.08
Kansas
252.53
U.S.
136.45

The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.

Other Weather Extremes Events

A total of 4,877 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 67159 Zip Code were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:10Cold:6Dense Fog:1Drought:10
Dust Storm:0Flood:162Hail:2,914Heat:16Heavy Snow:39
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:19Landslide:0Strong Wind:34
Thunderstorm Winds:1,499Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:2Winter Storm:39Winter Weather:25
Other:101 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near 67159 Zip Code.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near 67159 Zip Code.

No historical earthquake events found in or near 67159 Zip Code.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 72 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 67159 Zip Code.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
10.41950-05-16237°33'N / 98°25'W0.20 Mile200 Yards003K0Kingman
10.51968-04-21237°24'N / 98°24'W37°42'N / 98°00'W30.10 Miles33 Yards00250K0Kingman
12.51967-06-11237°06'N / 98°35'W37°24'N / 98°08'W32.20 Miles33 Yards00250K0Barber
14.01964-05-05337°05'N / 98°35'W37°22'N / 98°06'W33.00 Miles660 Yards0025K0Barber
14.32004-05-12237°13'N / 98°13'W37°15'N / 98°13'W1.80 Miles200 Yards00140K0Harper
 Brief Description: Large dusty tornado moved north just on the outskirts of the city. The tornado had a direct hit on an ECO block home. The home lost it's roof, but all exterior walls remained in tact. Two metal barns were also lost in the tornado.
14.81964-11-14237°31'N / 98°40'W37°28'N / 98°28'W11.30 Miles300 Yards0025K0Pratt
16.71957-04-22237°30'N / 98°36'W000K0Pratt
16.72001-04-14237°34'N / 98°38'W37°34'N / 98°29'W7.50 Miles800 Yards0000Pratt
 Brief Description: Shed destroyed, combine moved, 2 pivot sprinklers destroyed, grain silo destroyed and power poles knocked down.
17.91976-04-17437°04'N / 98°32'W37°19'N / 98°22'W19.50 Miles100 Yards02250K0Barber
18.62008-05-23337°28'N / 98°37'W37°46'N / 98°29'W22.00 Miles1430 Yards220K0KPratt
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This 3/4 mile wide tornado produced EF3 damage and unfortunately claimed two lives. A husband and wife were parked on highway 54 approximately 2 1/4 miles east of Cairo. The tornado picked up their car and carried it approximately 1700 feet NNE into a wheat field (they were not discovered until the next morning at about 9 AM). The female occupant was ejected and was found 30 feet southwest of the wreckage. The male was still strapped in his seat. The car was nearly unrecognizable. A second vehicle (3/4 ton truck) was parked 20 yards behind the aforementioned car. It also went airborne briefly but got lodged on the north side ditch. The two male occupants received numerous cuts and bruises but were otherwise unhurt. They both claimed it was extremely cold immediately after crawling out of their vehicle with heavy vapor breath noticed. This tornado destroyed a home about a mile north and the collapsed east wall trapped a male in the bathtub where he had taken cover. Help was needed in lifting the wall off of him but he claimed he was not hurt. Other homes in the tornadoes path received minor to moderate damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
19.92004-05-12237°16'N / 98°01'W37°16'N / 98°00'W1.00 Mile100 Yards00100K0Harper
 Brief Description: Tornado moved NNE on the outskirts of Harper. The tornado sheared off the top portion of a two story home and sending debris for several hundred yards.
20.12010-05-10237°30'N / 97°59'W37°31'N / 97°56'W3.00 Miles700 Yards00125K0KKingman
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down and caused some damage to a barn and some trees limbs were partially torn off. As the tornado continued to move to the northeast more significant damage occurred. A house was damaged with the roof being torn off of a house with 2 exterior walls being blown out (EF2 damage). Two garages were also destroyed and a riding lawnmower was removed from the garage and moved 100 yards downstream. Three people took shelter from the tornado in the basement and were unharmed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening hours of May 10th, 2010, ahead of an approaching dry line and warm front. This dynamic environment coupled with an unstable airmass led to the development of thunderstorms to the west and south of Wichita, Kansas with tornado producing supercells moving across portions of South Central Kansas. Two supercells in particular produced significant damage across portions of Kingman, Sedgwick and Cowley counties with some of the damage classified as EF-2 damage by survey teams.
21.11964-05-05237°30'N / 98°41'W000K0Pratt
22.02004-05-12437°15'N / 97°59'W37°15'N / 97°58'W1.20 Miles500 Yards01275K75KHarper
 Brief Description: Large destructive tornado completely demolished a two story farm house and 5 other barns associated with the homestead. Five cars were also dismantled as the engines were spread across the shaven wheat fields. Very few automobile body parts could be located.
22.82002-05-07237°42'N / 98°48'W37°34'N / 98°28'W22.00 Miles1800 Yards0020.0M0Pratt
 Brief Description: This very large tornado moved southeast across much of Pratt. Damage was rated a STRONG F2. There were 14 homes destroyed, 15 with major damage and 230 with minor damage. Over 50 Pivot sprinklers were damaged or destroyed. Despite the very heavy damage, there were no injuries thanks in part to adequate warnings.
23.12004-05-12237°14'N / 97°59'W37°14'N / 97°57'W2.00 Miles300 Yards00140K0Harper
 Brief Description: Large tornado moved over open country before hitting a farmstead and shearing off the roof of a veterinarians clinic and the top floor of a two story home.
23.72008-05-23237°22'N / 98°45'W37°27'N / 98°44'W7.00 Miles250 Yards000K0KBarber
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado produced EF2 damage to trees and turned sharply northwest as it dissipated. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
25.12006-04-01237°41'N / 98°38'W37°44'N / 98°34'W4.90 Miles200 Yards0000Pratt
 Brief Description: A barn was destroyed, a house damaged, large trees uprooted, a bailing trailer thrown into trees and several pivot sprinklers were destroyed.
25.62004-05-29237°11'N / 98°00'W37°14'N / 97°52'W8.00 Miles500 Yards00175K200KHarper
 Brief Description: The tornado mainly moved over open country damaging wheat fields that were ready to be harvested, however, one home completely lost it's roof and most of the belongings inside.
26.81959-05-04237°44'N / 98°25'W37°53'N / 98°22'W10.60 Miles33 Yards000K0Reno
27.21951-04-30337°38'N / 98°45'W37°46'N / 98°35'W12.80 Miles440 Yards00250K0Pratt
27.71991-03-26337°48'N / 98°30'W37°48'N / 98°29'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Pratt
31.61965-05-25337°42'N / 98°47'W37°49'N / 98°38'W11.50 Miles250 Yards07250K0Pratt
32.31990-06-07237°47'N / 97°57'W37°52'N / 98°03'W7.00 Miles100 Yards002.5M0Reno
32.91974-06-10237°31'N / 98°54'W1.00 Mile50 Yards0025K0Pratt
34.71965-05-25337°49'N / 98°38'W37°58'N / 98°28'W13.80 Miles250 Yards01250K0Stafford
36.81991-03-26337°48'N / 98°29'W38°07'N / 98°12'W25.00 Miles220 Yards01250K0Reno
37.72004-05-29337°22'N / 97°38'W37°24'N / 97°37'W2.50 Miles600 Yards0117.8M100KSumner
 Brief Description: The following were destroyed: 15 farm dwellings and service buildings, 25 pieces of farm machinery and equipment, many miles of transmission line, with most of wheat a total loss. (This portion of narrative courtesy of USDA Flash Situation Report.) In addition, major damage to several homes along highway 49. One modular was completely removed from over a viewout basement. A teenage boy sought refuge under the staircase in the basement only to watch a car thrown overhead. He escaped unharmed. However, one woman wasn't so fortunate; the resident of a mobile home that was completely destroyed. The only recognizable parts were the steel girders that ran along the base of the home. She had sought refuge in the bathroom and was holding on to the commode. She was thrown several feet from the homestead and received several injuries. Fortunately, none were serious.
38.01990-03-13537°46'N / 98°01'W37°56'N / 97°43'W21.00 Miles1320 Yards0125.0M0Reno
38.81964-05-05337°54'N / 98°48'W37°58'N / 98°26'W20.40 Miles880 Yards0025K0Stafford
39.02002-05-07237°39'N / 99°00'W37°42'N / 98°54'W7.50 Miles500 Yards00500K0Pratt
 Brief Description: This tornado moved in from Kiowa county. No injuries due to adequate warning.
40.02004-05-29337°23'N / 97°36'W37°22'N / 97°34'W2.50 Miles500 Yards001.0M0Sumner
 Brief Description: Considerable damage to two homesteads; the first being a sturdy brick home. All exterior walls ripped from the home, only leaving only the interior. Home owner ran down the stairs as the tornado hit and avoided injury. Further southeast, a modular home was completely removed from above a viewout basement. It was here that an amazing survival occurred. The homeowner sought refuge in a safe room in the basement and was unharmed, despite the fact a propane tank landed in the basement and began to leak. Breathing became difficult as fumes permeated the saferoom. At the same time, the saferoom began to flood, however the rising water levels dissipated the fumes. In addition, a semi-truck was thrown approximately 100 feet.
40.81956-04-02336°48'N / 98°32'W36°54'N / 98°25'W9.20 Miles400 Yards00250K0Alfalfa
41.71990-03-13337°00'N / 97°43'W37°14'N / 97°36'W18.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Sumner
41.91965-06-04337°50'N / 97°50'W37°54'N / 97°44'W6.90 Miles880 Yards02250K0Reno
42.51969-06-23437°39'N / 97°39'W37°36'N / 97°30'W8.70 Miles700 Yards06250K0Sedgwick
42.81965-05-13236°54'N / 97°54'W000K0Grant
42.91990-03-13336°57'N / 97°50'W37°00'N / 97°43'W4.00 Miles150 Yards000K0Grant
43.31959-05-17236°53'N / 97°55'W2.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Grant
43.61962-05-24338°03'N / 98°11'W020K0Reno
43.61962-05-28236°48'N / 98°25'W000K0Alfalfa
43.81993-05-07237°48'N / 98°54'W38°04'N / 98°41'W3.00 Miles440 Yards005K0Pratt
 Brief Description: Tornado developed northwest of Byers and moved to the northeast into Stafford County. The tornado was 1/4 of a mile wide as it crossed the county line into Stafford County.
43.92007-05-04337°45'N / 99°00'W37°49'N / 98°57'W6.00 Miles2110 Yards110K0KPratt
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved across out of southeast Edwards county at 2148 CST and grew into a large tornado of a little more than a mile wide. A male was killed near Hopewell as a basement wall collapsed on him when his home was demolished. Very little of the home was left visible. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A destructive tornado, the first 5 rating on the new Enhanced-Fujita Scale and the first 5 classification since May 3, 1999 when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma occurred on this day. There were 12 tornadoes during about a 4 hour period, one a little over 2 miles wide! Two of the tornadoes existed for over 1 hour as they churned up the ground, leveling homes and causing fatalities along their path. Miraculously, on 13 people perished, 11 in Greensburg - a miracle because over 90 percent of the town of Greensburg was literately wiped off the face of the earth. Another round of tornadoes occurred the following day across generally the same area. Nearly 250 pivot irrigation sprinklers were damaged or destroyed during the 2 day outbreak. Due to the number of sprinklers involved and the lack of replacements, some farmers would be out of service for over 1 year.
44.31962-05-20237°26'N / 99°05'W37°48'N / 99°05'W25.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Kiowa
45.31973-04-30236°48'N / 98°06'W36°48'N / 98°02'W3.30 Miles100 Yards06250K0Alfalfa
45.42007-05-05237°46'N / 99°00'W37°49'N / 99°00'W4.00 Miles600 Yards000K0KPratt
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado did EF2 damage to farms, trees and pivot irrigation sprinklers. It occurred in very close proximately to a tornado less than 24 hours earlier (less than 1/2 of a mile). It into the county from Edwards county and then moved into Stafford county at 1842 CST. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Unbelievably, an outbreak of tornadoes, some very large in size, raked the earth in basically the same area as the day before when Greensburg was nearly completely leveled. Although some of the tornadoes were large and apparently very strong, there was no loss of life on this day. A National Weather Service assessment team was in an area about 30 minutes before a tornado moved through. They also saw one tornado during the storm survey of damage that was produced the day before.
45.71990-03-13336°44'N / 97°59'W36°58'N / 97°49'W19.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Grant
45.92008-05-23237°45'N / 99°02'W37°49'N / 99°00'W5.00 Miles1935 Yards000K0KEdwards
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This large tornado did EF2 damage to trees, pivot irrigation sprinklers, power poles and grain bins. EF1 damage was done to one home and EF2 damage was done to another. The center of the tornado moved to the intersection of Edwards, Pratt and Stafford counties. At that point, because of it's width, it was covering all those counties at once. Technically the tornado moved into Pratt county (see that entry). EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
45.91973-05-26337°43'N / 97°36'W37°45'N / 97°32'W4.30 Miles400 Yards01250K0Sedgwick
46.42008-05-23237°49'N / 99°00'W37°49'N / 99°00'W1.00 Mile1056 Yards000K0KPratt
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This large tornado moved out of Edwards county and did EF2 damage to a house, a pivot irrigation sprinkler and to trees. It then moved into Stafford county at 925 PM CDT. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
46.71962-05-20236°45'N / 98°21'W0.30 Mile100 Yards00250K0Alfalfa
46.81991-03-26437°58'N / 98°03'W38°09'N / 97°57'W13.00 Miles300 Yards0525.0M0Reno
47.01959-05-17238°04'N / 98°01'W2.00 Miles400 Yards000K0Harper
47.12007-05-04337°49'N / 98°57'W37°55'N / 98°59'W7.00 Miles2110 Yards010K0KStafford
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved out of northwest Pratt county and dissipated just south of Macksville. It did strong EF3 damage to farms, trees, machinery and vehicles. A Blazer was carried over 3/4 of a mile and was barely recognizable as a vehicle. Several dozen head of cattle were killed along with wildlife in the area. One well built home was completely swept off it's foundation. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A destructive tornado, the first 5 rating on the new Enhanced-Fujita Scale and the first 5 classification since May 3, 1999 when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma occurred on this day. There were 12 tornadoes during about a 4 hour period, one a little over 2 miles wide! Two of the tornadoes existed for over 1 hour as they churned up the ground, leveling homes and causing fatalities along their path. Miraculously, on 13 people perished, 11 in Greensburg - a miracle because over 90 percent of the town of Greensburg was literately wiped off the face of the earth. Another round of tornadoes occurred the following day across generally the same area. Nearly 250 pivot irrigation sprinklers were damaged or destroyed during the 2 day outbreak. Due to the number of sprinklers involved and the lack of replacements, some farmers would be out of service for over 1 year.
47.21973-04-30236°48'N / 98°02'W36°49'N / 97°51'W10.10 Miles100 Yards00250K0Grant
47.31956-07-01237°49'N / 97°36'W0025K0Sedgwick
47.31954-08-05238°03'N / 97°57'W000K0Reno
47.51960-04-28337°42'N / 97°35'W37°46'N / 97°29'W7.10 Miles440 Yards0625K0Sedgwick
47.62009-06-15237°54'N / 99°01'W37°54'N / 98°52'W9.00 Miles1400 Yards000K0KStafford
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This was a multiple vortex tornado that moved out of Edwards county at 609 PM CDT. It did high end EF2 damage to trees, crops, pivot irrigation sprinklers and a barn. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms broke out in the afternoon heat and became quite intense by evening producing large hail, high winds and tornadoes.
47.91985-09-22236°44'N / 98°23'W36°44'N / 98°20'W4.00 Miles500 Yards00250K0Alfalfa
48.32008-05-23337°00'N / 99°03'W37°06'N / 99°03'W7.00 Miles980 Yards000K0KComanche
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This 1/2 mile wide tornado moved out of Oklahoma. EF3+ damaged was based on trees that appeared to be sand blasted. Also, there were trees uprooted, several antique cars that have yet to be found as of late July, 2008 (probably dropped in ravines in the area). An oil tank was carried 2 miles. Several head of cattle were killed. The tornado turned west (left) as it began to dissipate. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
48.41954-05-01238°05'N / 98°00'W0.30 Mile300 Yards003K0Reno
48.62007-05-05237°49'N / 99°00'W38°00'N / 98°55'W13.00 Miles880 Yards000K0KStafford
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado did EF2 damage to farms, trees and pivot irrigation sprinklers. It was very large in size. It eventually moved into Pawnee county at 1905 CST. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Unbelievably, an outbreak of tornadoes, some very large in size, raked the earth in basically the same area as the day before when Greensburg was nearly completely leveled. Although some of the tornadoes were large and apparently very strong, there was no loss of life on this day. A National Weather Service assessment team was in an area about 30 minutes before a tornado moved through. They also saw one tornado during the storm survey of damage that was produced the day before.
48.91953-05-10236°59'N / 97°37'W37°00'N / 97°36'W1.30 Miles33 Yards000K0Grant
49.01974-05-13237°57'N / 98°04'W38°09'N / 97°42'W24.20 Miles100 Yards022.5M0Reno
49.41973-09-25337°08'N / 99°31'W37°49'N / 98°54'W58.00 Miles80 Yards00250K0Comanche
49.41964-05-06236°45'N / 98°01'W003K0Grant
49.52008-05-23337°49'N / 99°00'W37°57'N / 99°01'W9.00 Miles1900 Yards000K0KStafford
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This large tornado moved out of Pratt county and did EF3 damage before moving into Edwards county. EF3 damage was done to trees and a pivot sprinkler. Other pivot sprinklers received EF1-2 damage along with EF2 damage done to a house and grain bins. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
49.62010-05-10336°48'N / 98°01'W36°57'N / 97°27'W33.00 Miles1500 Yards010K0KGrant
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the Grant County portion of tornado #A2. This tornado developed as a multiple-vortex tornado along State Highway 11 southwest of Wakita. The tornado initially moved east and southeast continuing to affect State Highway 11 before beginning an east-northeast movement across Grant County. The tornado was a large and occasionally multiple-vortex tornado as it moved northwest and north of Medford and was embedded within a larger scale circulation that was strong enough to produce damage along a wide area around the tornado path. The tornado caused significant structural damage about 5 miles northwest of Medford and 5 miles east of Renfrow, and many areas of tree and power pole damage. This tornado moved into Kay County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes affected a large part of northern, central, and southern Oklahoma. Tornadoes were most numerous across central and southern Oklahoma, with significant damage occurring over many areas. Severe thunderstorms erupted by mid afternoon across northern and western Oklahoma. Given the potent combination of ingredients in place, storms began to produce tornadoes quickly after initiation. Storm motions of 50 to 60 mph were common. During the mid afternoon hours, severe weather was confined to northern Oklahoma. It was there a long track supercell storm produced tornadoes near the Kansas border - including one rated EF3 - from near Wakita to north of Braman. The capping inversion that had delayed thunderstorm development into central Oklahoma weakened, allowing for explosive supercell development along the dry line along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor. Rapid development and intensification was common with the late afternoon storms, with storms becoming tornadic within a very short time after initiation. This round of storms would directly impact a large part of the Oklahoma City metro area at rush hour, and posed a significant threat to the area. The first tornado in this area occurred in Canadian County. During the next several hours, tornadoes were clustered around the metro area, and at times there were multiple significant damaging tornadoes occurring simultaneously. Several of the tornadoes had long tracks. Damage from the tornadoes was substantial, with numerous structures, vehicles, trees and power poles/lines significantly damaged or destroyed. One of the more intense tornadoes moved across Lake Thunderbird east of Norman destroying numerous boats. More storms developed across southwest and south central Oklahoma, and also quickly became tornadic. By 9 pm, 35 tornadoes had been reported. While the loss of three lives was tragic, the casualties could have been much higher given the storm's fast motions, their intensity, the time of day and the areas impacted. While exact monetary damage figures were not available, it is estimated that losses were in excess of $595 million. At least 450 sustained injuries, most of them minor. Unfortunately three people lost their lives. Note: The large number of injuries and tornadoes made it difficult to associate injuries with specific tornadoes. Injury numbers were included when we had confidence in the numbers. Note: The complex nature of storm evolutions and interactions made the job of classifying tornadoes difficult. This represents our best scientific assessment based on ground and aerial surveys, data from multiple radars, photographic and video evidence and anecdotal information.
49.72007-05-04337°54'N / 98°57'W38°06'N / 98°46'W17.00 Miles1515 Yards100K0KStafford
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This killer tornado formed just east of another large but dissipating tornado that was approaching Macksville. Unfortunately a law officer watching the dissipating tornado was unaware that this one was rapidly forming and could not get out of harms way. His car was thrown at least 1/4 of a mile and was found in a field. He died several days later from catastrophic injuries received in the crushed vehicle. EF3 damage was done to over a dozen farms, trees, machinery, vehicles, pivot irrigation sprinklers and power poles. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A destructive tornado, the first 5 rating on the new Enhanced-Fujita Scale and the first 5 classification since May 3, 1999 when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma occurred on this day. There were 12 tornadoes during about a 4 hour period, one a little over 2 miles wide! Two of the tornadoes existed for over 1 hour as they churned up the ground, leveling homes and causing fatalities along their path. Miraculously, on 13 people perished, 11 in Greensburg - a miracle because over 90 percent of the town of Greensburg was literately wiped off the face of the earth. Another round of tornadoes occurred the following day across generally the same area. Nearly 250 pivot irrigation sprinklers were damaged or destroyed during the 2 day outbreak. Due to the number of sprinklers involved and the lack of replacements, some farmers would be out of service for over 1 year.
49.81955-06-17236°45'N / 98°42'W36°47'N / 98°39'W3.60 Miles500 Yards0025K0Woods
49.91956-04-02336°41'N / 98°40'W36°48'N / 98°32'W10.80 Miles400 Yards02250K0Woods


* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.


 
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