Summary

Multiple severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes, large hail, high winds, and flash flooding across most of western, central, and southern Oklahoma and western north Texas during the afternoon and evening hours of May 16th, 2015.

Storm survey teams surveyed damage from two of the tornadoes that occurred on Sunday, May 17, 2015.

Based on the damage that was found, one tornado was rated as EF-3 as it moved along a 35-mile path from southwest of Elmer to east of Snyder in southwestern Oklahoma and briefly moving across western north Texas near the Red River. This tornado persisted for over one hour.

A second tornado was rated EF1 along a 12-mile path from northwest of Fairview to north of Cleo Springs in Major County  in northwestern Oklahoma.

This is preliminary information and details and mapping may be revised with additional information. Investigation and analysis will continue with these tornadoes as well as other confirmed tornadoes that occurred in Elk City, near Meers, south of Anadarko, and near Geronimo.

Preliminary Tornado Damage Path Maps

Radar Imagery

The following image shows a split screen view of reflectivity and storm relative velocity for the Elmer-Odell-Tipton-Snyder Tornado at 5:57 PM CDT on May 16, 2015 from the Frederick, OK (KFDR) Radar.

Fast Facts

• A total of 10 tornadoes occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of May 16, 2015 in western/central Oklahoma and western north Texas.


• NWS crews surveyed tornado damage paths in western Oklahoma on Sunday, May 17th Based on their findings, the Elmer-Odell-Tipton-Snyder Tornado was given an EF-2 rating and the Cleo Springs Tornado an EF-1 rating.


• A public information statement was issued at 9:34 PM CDT on May 17, 2015 and contains more information on the storm surveys and ratings.

Web Pages and Reports Related to the May 16, 2015 Severe Weather Outbreak

• Storm Prediction Center Storm Reports for May 16, 2015


• SPC Severe Weather Event Review for May 16, 2015


• Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Situation Update web page for severe weather events occurring in May 2015

Tornado Data

• Beckham County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Caddo County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Comanche County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Cotton County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Jackson County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Kiowa County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Tillman County, OK Tornadoes (1875-Present)
• Wilbarger County, TX Tornadoes (1950-Present)


• Tornadoes that have occurred in or near Elk City, OK (1875-Present)
• Tornadoes that have occurred in or near Snyder, OK (1875-Present)


• The May 10, 1905 Snyder, Oklahoma F5 Tornado - This violent tornado that killed at least 97 people and ravaged the town of Snyder is still ranked as the second deadliest Oklahoma tornado of all time.


• October 9, 2001 Tornado Outbreak in Western Oklahoma - A total of 19 tornadoes occurred during this outbreak including the F3 tornado that damaged parts of Elk City, OK.


• The November 7-8, 2011 Severe Weather Outbreak - This severe weather outbreak in western north Texas and Oklahoma produced multiple tornadoes including the EF-4 Tornado near Tipton, OK.

Public Information Statement

NOUS44 KOUN 180234
PNSOUN
OKZ006-011-021-023-030-035>038-044-TXZ085-181445-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
934 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 5/16/15 TORNADO EVENT

.ELMER-ODELL-TIPTON-SNYDER TORNADO...

RATING:                 EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    125 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  35 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   TO BE DETERMINED
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0 KNOWN

START DATE:             MAY 16 2015
START TIME:             APPROX 535 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         6 SW ELMER / JACKSON COUNTY / OK
START LAT/LON:          34.42 / -99.42

END DATE:               MAY 16 2015
END TIME:               APPROX 645 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           APPROX 3 E SNYDER / KIOWA COUNTY / OK
END LAT/LON:            34.66 / -98.90

SURVEY_SUMMARY: INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TORNADO IS STILL VERY
PRELIMINARY. A LARGE MULTIPLE VORTEX TORNADO DEVELOPED IN 
SOUTHERN JACKSON COUNTY OKLAHOMA SOUTHWEST OF ELMER OKLAHOMA AND
NORTH OF ODELL TEXAS... AND MOVED NORTHEAST THROUGH THE FAR
NORTHERN PORTION OF WILBARGER COUNTY TEXAS... THEN BACK INTO 
JACKSON COUNTY OKLAHOMA SOUTHEAST OF ELMER. THE TORNADO CONTINUED
NORTHEAST MOVING THROUGH TILLMAN COUNTY FROM WEST OF TIPTON TO 
SOUTHWEST OF SNYDER... THEN CONTINUED IN KIOWA COUNTY FROM SOUTHWEST
OF SNYDER TO EAST OF SNYDER. THE DISSIPATION POINT OF THE TORNADO
HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. THE MOST INTENSE DAMAGE FOUND SO FAR 
IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF2 TORNADO.

.CLEO SPRINGS TORNADO...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  12 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   50 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0 KNOWN

START DATE:             MAY 16 2015 
START TIME:             622 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         5.5 NW FAIRVIEW / MAJOR COUNTY / OK
START LAT/LON:          36.32 / -98.56

END DATE:               MAY 16 2015
END TIME:               642 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           4 NNE CLEO SPRINGS / MAJOR COUNTY / OK
END LAT/LON:            36.46 / -98.42

*SURVEY_SUMMARY: A TORNADO DEVELOPED ABOUT 5.5 MILES NORTHWEST
OF FAIRVIEW IN MAJOR COUNTY AND MOVED NORTHEAST TO 4 MILES NORTH-
NORTHEAST OF CLEO SPRINGS JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 8 AND SOUTH OF THE
ALFALFA COUNTY LINE. THE TORNADO PASSED ACROSS THE NORTHWEST 
CORNER OF CLEO SPRINGS WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN CLEO SPRINGS
CAUSED BY ADJACENT THUNDERSTORM WINDS. THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE
CONTINUED NORTHEAST FROM WHERE THE TORNADO DISSIPATED TO AREAS
NEAR AND SOUTHWEST OF HELENA IN ALFALFA COUNTY.

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

NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA. 

$$

Tornado Data

Ten tornadoes have been confirmed in Oklahoma and western north Texas in the NWS Norman forecast area for the May 16, 2015 severe weather outbreak. NWS crews surveyed tornado damage paths in western Oklahoma on Sunday, May 17th, and gave the Elmer-Odell-Tipton-Snyder Tornado an EF-3 rating and the Cleo Springs Tornado an EF-1 rating.

Storm Data

Preliminary Storm Reports for 5/06/2015 Compiled by the Storm Prediction Center

Preliminary Storm Reports on May 16, 2015 Issued by NWS Norman

NWUS54 KOUN 170339
LSROUN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1039 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0351 PM     TSTM WND GST     SWEETWATER              35.43N 99.91W 
05/16/2015  E65.00 MPH       ROGER MILLS        OK   PUBLIC          

0431 PM     TSTM WND DMG     20 NW CROWELL           34.19N 99.97W 
05/16/2015                   FOARD              TX   STORM CHASER    

            LESS THAN 2-INCH SMALL TREE LIMBS DOWNED

0431 PM     TSTM WND GST     20 NW CROWELL           34.19N 99.97W 
05/16/2015  E70.00 MPH       FOARD              TX   STORM CHASER    

0445 PM     HAIL             STRONG CITY             35.67N 99.60W 
05/16/2015  E1.00 INCH       ROGER MILLS        OK   PUBLIC          

0445 PM     HAIL             4 S GOODLETT            34.28N 99.88W 
05/16/2015  E2.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   STORM CHASER    

0445 PM     HAIL             4 S GOODLETT            34.28N 99.88W 
05/16/2015  E1.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            REPORTED BY KOLJ RADIO 

0454 PM     HAIL             2 N QUANAH              34.32N 99.74W 
05/16/2015  E2.00 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   PUBLIC          

0457 PM     HAIL             QUANAH                  34.30N 99.74W 
05/16/2015  E2.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   AMATEUR RADIO   

0458 PM     HAIL             QUANAH                  34.30N 99.74W 
05/16/2015  E1.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            FROM KOLJ RADIO

0500 PM     HAIL             1 E QUANAH              34.30N 99.72W 
05/16/2015  E2.50 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0500 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 E QUANAH              34.30N 99.72W 
05/16/2015  E80.00 MPH       HARDEMAN           TX   STORM CHASER    

0505 PM     HAIL             1 E QUANAH              34.30N 99.72W 
05/16/2015  E1.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   STORM CHASER    

0509 PM     HAIL             8 S QUANAH              34.18N 99.74W 
05/16/2015  E2.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TX   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0522 PM     TSTM WND GST     DUKE                    34.66N 99.57W 
05/16/2015  E65.00 MPH       JACKSON            OK   PUBLIC          

0525 PM     TSTM WND GST     CROWELL                 33.98N 99.72W 
05/16/2015  E60.00 MPH       FOARD              TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

0530 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LEEDEY                  35.87N 99.35W 
05/16/2015                   DEWEY              OK   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            MOBILE HOME BLOWN OVER, OTHERS DAMAGED.

0530 PM     TORNADO          3 NW ODELL              34.38N 99.45W 
05/16/2015                   WILBARGER          TX   PUBLIC          

0535 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N ODELL               34.42N 99.42W 
05/16/2015                   JACKSON            OK   STORM CHASER    

            SHED DESTROYED

0547 PM     TORNADO          2 E ELK CITY            35.41N 99.38W 
05/16/2015                   BECKHAM            OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            I40 AT MILE MARKER 41

0615 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KNOX CITY               33.42N 99.82W 
05/16/2015                   KNOX               TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            CAMPER BLOWN OVER

0615 PM     HAIL             KNOX CITY               33.42N 99.82W 
05/16/2015  E1.00 INCH       KNOX               TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0620 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SHEPPARD AFB            33.97N 98.51W 
05/16/2015                   WICHITA            TX   ASOS            

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLEO SPRINGS            36.41N 98.44W 
05/16/2015                   MAJOR              OK   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            TREES DOWN

0633 PM     TSTM WND DMG     W TIPTON                34.50N 99.14W 
05/16/2015                   TILLMAN            OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            POWER LINES DOWNED EAST OF RED RIVER BRIDGE ON HWY 5

0635 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 N MUNDAY              33.48N 99.63W 
05/16/2015                   KNOX               TX   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLEO SPRINGS            36.41N 98.44W 
05/16/2015                   MAJOR              OK   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            CAR WAS FLIPPED OVER. ROOF FROM OFFICE BLDG WAS DAMAGED.

0703 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MOUNTAIN PARK           34.70N 98.95W 
05/16/2015                   KIOWA              OK   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            SEVERAL ROADS UNDER WATER AND CLOSED, INCLUDING HWY 183

0719 PM     TORNADO          2 S MEERS               34.75N 98.58W 
05/16/2015                   COMANCHE           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0720 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 W MEDICINE PARK       34.73N 98.56W 
05/16/2015  M59.00 MPH       COMANCHE           OK   MESONET         

0746 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 S APACHE              34.82N 98.36W 
05/16/2015  E65.00 MPH       COMANCHE           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            ON HWY 62

0755 PM     TORNADO          3 N CYRIL               34.94N 98.20W 
05/16/2015                   CADDO              OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

0800 PM     TORNADO          4 SW GERONIMO           34.44N 98.43W 
05/16/2015                   COTTON             OK   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RELAYED BY KSWO 

0802 PM     TORNADO          2 S GERONIMO            34.45N 98.38W 
05/16/2015                   COMANCHE           OK   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0808 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 ENE LAWTON            34.63N 98.34W 
05/16/2015  M70.00 MPH       COMANCHE           OK   AMATEUR RADIO   

0811 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S LAWTON              34.54N 98.42W 
05/16/2015                   COMANCHE           OK   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            TREES DOWN, NOT VERY LARGE. REPORTED BY KSWO

0909 PM     FLASH FLOOD      S DUNCAN                34.50N 97.96W 
05/16/2015                   STEPHENS           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            1 FT OF WATER ON HWY 81 

0920 PM     TSTM WND GST     TINKER AIR FORCE BASE   35.42N 97.39W 
05/16/2015  M58.00 MPH       OKLAHOMA           OK   AWOS            

0942 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N COMANCHE            34.38N 97.97W 
05/16/2015                   STEPHENS           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            30-INCH TREE DOWNED AND BLOCKING OLD HWY 81

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DUNCAN                  34.50N 97.96W 
05/16/2015                   STEPHENS           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            2.5-INCH TREE DOWNED AND BLOCKING A STREET.

1007 PM     FLASH FLOOD      STILLWATER              36.12N 97.06W 
05/16/2015                   PAYNE              OK   PUBLIC          

            STREET FLOODING REPORTED BETWEEN NORTH PARK DR AND NORTH 
            STAR DR. WATER IS ABOVE THE CURB.

1055 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 N RINGLING            34.19N 97.59W 
05/16/2015  M57 MPH          JEFFERSON          OK   MESONET       

&&

$$

JPIKE

Radar Imagery

Radar Image for the Elmer-Tipton, OK Tornado

The following image shows a split screen view of reflectivity and storm relative velocity for the Elmer-Tipton, OK Tornado at 5:57 PM CDT on May 16, 2015 from the Frederick, OK (KFDR) Radar.

Satellite Imagery

Damage Photos

Tornado Damage at Elk City, OK

A tornado produced damage on the northeast side of Elk City, OK when it moved through an RV/travel trailer park located near the intersection of U.S. Interstate Highway I-40 and OK State Highway 34. One travel trailer was destroyed while 3 more travel trailers were moved from their pads. In addition, trees were uprooted and a metal car port was destroyed and blown 200 yards away from its previous location. The following photos were provided by Michael Galloway, the Custer County, OK Emergency Manager.