February Tornadoes Rare in Oklahoma

Still waiting on survey team reports from yesterday’s tornadoes in Oklahoma…but here is an interesting note from the NWS Norman. Last night’s deadly tornado in Carter County is only the third deadly February tornado since 1950.

It also will be at least tied for eighth deadliest tornado in the Sooner State since 1950. The death toll stood at 8 at last report, and could go higher.

It was also the first February tornado since 2000 in Oklahoma.

000
NOUS44 KOUN 111218
PNSOUN

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
618 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009

…FEBRUARY AND DEADLY TORNADOES…

TORNADOES STRUCK IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TUESDAY
EVENING AFFECTING THE CITIES OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND EDMOND IN CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA… AND LONE GROVE AND ARDMORE IN SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.
STORM SURVEY TEAMS WILL VISIT THE AFFECTED AREAS ON WEDNESDAY TO
DETERMINE THE DETAILS OF THESE TORNADOES.

…FEBRUARY TORNADOES…

THERE HAVE BEEN 44 DOCUMENTED FEBRUARY TORNADOES WITHIN THE STATE OF
OKLAHOMA BETWEEN 1950 AND 2008.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PREVIOUS DEADLY TORNADOES IN FEBRUARY IN
OKLAHOMA SINCE 1950… BOTH OCCURRING ON FEBRUARY 22 1975 IN
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA. ON THAT DAY… ONE TORNADO STRUCK ALTUS
KILLING TWO PEOPLE… AND ANOTHER TORNADO KILLED ONE PERSON NEAR
MOUNTAIN PARK. THESE WERE TWO OF SIX TORNADOES THAT STRUCK BETWEEN
MIDNIGHT AND 3 AM IN OKLAHOMA.

THE STRONGEST TORNADOES SINCE 1950 TO HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN OKLAHOMA
IN FEBRUARY ARE TWO F3 TORNADOES BOTH THAT STRUCK ON FEBRUARY 17
1961. ONE F3 OCCURRED IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA COUNTY FROM NEAR SPENCER
TO NORTHEAST OF LUTHER… AND THE OTHER F3 WAS PART OF A TORNADIC
STORM THAT MOVED FROM NEAR STRATFORD TO KONAWA… WEWOKA AND TO
SOUTH OF SHULTER.

BEFORE TUESDAY… THE LAST FEBRUARY TORNADO IN OKLAHOMA OCCURRED ON
FEBRUARY 25 2000 IN TULSA.

…DEADLY TORNADOES…

A LIST OF THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES IN OKLAHOMA SINCE 1950…

1. 36 FATALITIES 5/ 3/1999 F5 BRIDGE CREEK-OKLAHOMA CITY-MOORE
2. 20 5/25/1955 F5 BLACKWELL
3. 16 5/ 5/1960 F4 WILBURTON-KEOTA
16 5/ 5/1961 F4 TALIHINA-REICHERT-HOWE
5. 14 6/ 8/1974 F4 DRUMRIGHT-OLIVE-LAKE KEYSTONE
6. 10 1/22/1957 F4 GANS
7. 8 4/26/1984 F3 MORRIS
8. 7 5/ 9/1959 F4 NORTH OF HARDEN CITY AND STONEWALL
7 4/24/1993 F4 CATOOSA
10. 6 * 5/10/2008 F4 PICHER

* THE PICHER TORNADO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 6 FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA…
BUT 21 FATALITIES ALONG ITS ENTIRE PATH IN OKLAHOMA AND MISSOURI.

A LIST OF THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES IN OKLAHOMA SINCE 1882…

1. 116 FATALITIES 4/ 9/1947 WOODWARD
2. 97 5/10/1905 SNYDER
3. 71 5/ 2/1920 PEGGS
4. 69 4/12/1945 ANTLERS
5. 52 4/27/1942 PRYOR
6. 36 5/ 3/1999 BRIDGE CREEK-OKLAHOMA CITY-MOORE
7. 35 6/12/1942 OKLAHOMA CITY /SOUTHWEST/
8. 33 4/25/1893 CLEVELAND COUNTY
9. 23 11/19/1930 BETHANY
10. 21 5/ 8/1882 MCALESTER

$$

..SPEG.

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