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Heat Continues for the East and South-Central U.S.; Strong to Severe Storms Across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The extremely dangerous heat wave continues across the East Coast and much of the South-Central U.S. today. Record high temperatures are expected for some areas especially across the Mid-Atlantic where extreme heat risk conditions reside. There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms today for the northern Mid-Atlantic into portions of southern New England. Read More >

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Tornado Track Map for Washita County, OK
 
Washita County, OK Tornadoes Prior to 1950
# Date Time
(CST)
Path
Length
(miles)
Path
Width
(yards)
F-Scale Killed Injured County Path
  05/23/1903 Aft       0   Washita "Burns" (just N of Burns Flat)
  04/27/1912 1230 85 880   15 39 Kiowa/ Washita/ Caddo/ Canadian Lugert - near Hobart - Colony - near Hinton - near Calumet
  04/27/1912 1400   880   0 2 Washita Rocky
  04/27/1912 2045 12         Kiowa/ Washita Near Hobart - near Sentinel
  04/28/1912 0130       2 2 Washita Sentinel
  06/05/1936 1700 1 50   1 0 Washita Corn
  04/09/1944 1730 14     1 10 Washita Near Cordell and Cloud Chief
  06/26/1946 1845   440   0 0 Washita Near Cowden
  10/09/1949 2315 16 440   0 0 Beckham/ Washita Elk City - near Canute - near Foss
Washita County, OK Tornadoes (1950-Present*)
# Date Time
(CST)
Path
Length
(miles)
Path
Width
(yards)
F-Scale Killed Injured County Path
1 04/28/1950 1417 21 400 F3 1 1 Kiowa/ Washita near Lugert (15 SW Hobart) - near Lone Wolf - near Sentinel
2 06/08/1951 1830 11 173 F3 0 0 Washita Corn - Colony - 3 ESE Colony
3 04/22/1957 1901 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Washita SW of Sentinel
4 05/22/1957 0615 15 10 F2 0 0 Kiowa/ Washita/ Caddo 5 SW Mountain View - near Eakly
5 05/04/1959 2200 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Washita S of Sentinel
6 05/25/1962 1605 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita 13 E Elk City
7 05/25/1962 1825 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita 11 NNE Cordell
8 05/25/1962 1828 7 250 F4 0 9 Washita 3 W Dill City- Dill City- 4 W Cordell
9 05/26/1962 1745 0.1 10 F? 0 0 Washita 4 W Sentinel
10 09/11/1963 1745 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Washita Near Foss
11 11/06/1964 1130 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita 1 ESE Sentinel
12 04/04/1965 1710 4 33 F2 0 0 Washita 1.5 E- 5 ENE Dill City
13 06/08/1966 1800 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita Just East of Cowden
14 06/11/1970 1200 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Washita Near Colony
15 06/07/1971 1900 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita 4 N Cordell
16 05/22/1972 2027 1.9 33 F1 0 0 Washita Near Cordell
17 03/27/1975 0230 20 150 F1 0 0 Beckham/ Washita/ Custer 10 SW- 10 NE Elk City
18 05/02/1975 1530 5 150 F3 0 0 Washita 1 NW Rocky - 4 NE Rocky
19 05/02/1975 1540 0.8 100 F1 0 0 Washita 8 SE Cordell
20 04/17/1976 0350 5 30 F1 0 0 Washita 10 NW Mountain View
21 06/12/1977 1200 2 50 F1 0 0 Washita 4 WSW Dill City
22 06/12/1977 1225 6 77 F1 0 0 Washita 5 WNW- 8 NNW Cordell
23 06/12/1977 1225 6 77 F1 0 0 Washita 5 WNW Cordell... then merger with other tornado
24 07/23/1979 1430 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Washita Near Lake Valley
25 05/20/1980 2130 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita NW of Carnegie
26 05/22/1981 1617 7 200 F2 0 0 Washita 2 NW Cordell - E of Bessie
27 05/22/1981 1725 1 50 F1 0 0 Washita 2 E Lake Valley
28 05/22/1981 1807 5 300 F2 0 0 Washita/ Caddo 3 ESE- ~6 ENE Cowden
29 05/22/1981 1830 15 100 F2 0 0 Kiowa/ Washita/ Caddo N of Mountain View - 6 N Alfalfa
30 05/11/1982 1822 7 50 F2 0 0 Washita 4 SW Sentinel - S of Port
31 05/11/1982 1900 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita ~3 E Burns Flat
32 06/13/1983 1800 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Washita 11 SSW Cordell
33 03/17/1986 1755 34 100 F1 0 0 Greer/ Beckham/ Washita 2 W Plainview- S of Delhi- 5 S Carter- N of Retrop- 2 N Canute
34 05/16/1986 2000 0.2 23 F0 0 0 Washita 1.5 N Dill City
35 10/01/1986 2025 0.1 30 F0 0 0 Washita 2 S Canute
36 06/06/1994 2029-2045 6 150 F1 0 2 Custer/ Washita 5 NNW Foss- 0.5 S Foss
37 04/02/1999 2050-2052 1.1 25 F1 0 0 Washita Dill City
38 03/07/2000 1715-1719 2 20 F1 0 0 Washita 5 E - 7 E Sentinel
39 05/26/2000 1812-1828 3 20 F0 0 0 Washita/ Caddo 2 SSE - 3 ESE Colony (3 W Eakly)
40 05/05/2001 1911 0.1 15 F0 0 0 Washita 2 N Cordell
41 05/05/2001 1915-1919 0.5 75 F0 0 0 Washita 4 NNE Cordell
42 10/09/2001 1530-1556 12 600 F3 0 0 Beckham/ Washita/ Custer NE side of Elk City (2 NE Elk City) - 2.5 W Foss Reservoir Dam (7.5 SSW Butler)
43 10/09/2001 1608-1621 6 500 F3 0 9 Washita 1.5 SSW Cordell - Cordell - 3.5 NNE Cordell
44 10/09/2001 1632-1636 2 200 F1 0 0 Washita 2.5 NW - 3 NNW Corn
45 10/09/2001 1636-1710 13 440 F3 0 1 Kiowa/ Washita 1 N Gotebo - 4.5 SSE Cowden (7 NNE Mountain View)
46 05/24/2002 1727-1729 0.2 25 F0 0 0 Washita 3 SE Burns Flat
47 08/18/2007 1610-1620 4 30 EF0 0 0 Washita 10 SSE - 6 SSE Cordell
48 05/12/2010 1921-1935 10 50 EF1 0 0 Washita/ Custer 7 S - 6 ENE Clinton
49 05/16/2017 1746-1818 18 1000 EF2 1 10 Beckham/ Washita 3 NW Carter - Elk City (S side) - 3 WSW Canute
50 05/18/2017 1429-1437 6 100 EF1 0 0 Washita 6 ENE Rocky - 2.5 SW Cloud Chief
51 05/18/2017 1440 0.5 100 EF? 0 0 Washita 2.5 NNW Cloud Chief
52 05/18/2017 1540 0.3 50 EF? 0 0 Washita 4 N Cloud Chief
53 05/07/2019 2232-2255 9 400 EF2 0 0 Washita 2.5 S Rocky - Rocky - 3.5 SSW Cordell
54 05/07/2019 2246-2248 0.5 40 EF? 0 0 Washita 5 SSW Cordell
55 10/12/2021 1824 0.1 25 EF? 0 0 Washita 3 S Foss
 

Significant Tornadoes in Washita County

  Date Time
(CST)
Path
Length
(miles)
Path
Width
(yards)
F-Scale Killed Injured County Path
  04/28/1950 1417 21 400 F3 1 1 Kiowa/ Washita Near Lugert (15 SW Hobart) - near Lone Wolf - near Sentinel

This tornado touched down in the vicinity of Altus-Lugert Lake about 15 miles southwest of Hobart in Kiowa County, and progressed north-northeasterly to near Lone Wolf. It then turned more northerly and dissipated near Sentinel in Washita County. The tornado traveled along a 21-mile path. Five homes were demolished and another 6 were damaged. A total of 17 farms were damaged. One person was killed and another person injured. Property loss was estimated at $100,000.

  05/25/1962 1828 7 250 F4 0 9 Washita 3 W Dill City- Dill City- 4 W Cordell

This tornado touched down onto two farms three miles west of Dill City, destroying buildings and killing 400 turkeys. As the twister moved eastward toward Dill City, it was observed without a full condensation funnel. The tornado was spotted by a Highway Patrol Unit at 6:20 pm CST west of the city. The storm was described by witnesses as having two distinct vortices rotating within the main tornado circulation.

The tornado was observed with a full condensation funnel as it approached the west edge of town at 6:28 pm CST. The tornado cut a 750-yard damage swath across the northern part of Dill City before continuing east, causing destruction to farms for another 3 miles before it veered to the north. The tornado then traveled across OK State Highway 152, about 5 miles west of Cordell, and headed northeast. It continued for 1 more mile, demolishing all buildings on a farm, before it dissipated.

Nine people were injured from the storm, although no serious injuries were reported. The toll of damage along the 7-mile path included 29 homes (including 2 trailer homes) destroyed. A total 12 more homes received major damage while 13 had minor damage, and 7 farm buildings were destroyed. A total of 60 families were affected by the damage. Thirty-five vehicles were lost, trees were snapped, and 26 utility poles downed.

  06/06/1994 2029-2045 6 150 F1 0 2 Custer/ Washita 5 NNW Foss- 0.5 S Foss

Thunderstorms developed in west-central Oklahoma during the evening hours of June 6th and moved into portions of southern Oklahoma. These storms produced a tornado, hail up to 2 inches in diameter, damaging winds, damaging lightning and flash flooding rains.

This tornado developed at 8:29 pm CST 5 miles north-northwest of Foss and moved south-southeast 5.5 miles before dissipating 0.5 miles south of Foss. This F1 tornado tore a section of the roof off an abandoned gas station, blew a pickup from a parking lot in a truck stop onto U.S. Interstate Highway I-40, overturned 4 cars and 4 tractor trailers on U.S. Interstate Highway I-40 closing both directions of travel for several hours.

The tornado also destroyed a mobile home, damaged an antenna, the roof of a hay barn, a flagpole, a travel trailer and the roofs of homes, blew the windows out of a restaurant, tore a section of a roof off a boat storage building, damaged or destroyed several signs, uprooted trees, and broke off tree limbs. Two people received minor injuries when the vehicle they were in was overturned on U.S. Interstate Highway I-40.

  10/09/2001 1608-1621 6 500 F3 0 9 Washita 1.5 SSW Cordell - Cordell - 3.5 NNE Cordell

A major tornado outbreak occurred across western Oklahoma during the afternoon and early evening of October 9th. Nineteen tornadoes were confirmed, with three rated F3. The first F3 tornado developed in northeast Beckham County, near Elk City, and tracked northeastward for 11 miles before dissipating. As the tornado entered Custer County, a home of wood frame with brick exterior had most of its interior and exterior walls destroyed. The tornado then continued across an unpopulated area, causing major damage to trees and fences, before dissipating 2.5 miles west of Foss Dam.

The second F3 tornado developed in Washita County, near Cordell. The Oklahoma State Emergency Management Office estimated that 477 single-family homes were damaged, 132 considered uninhabitable. In addition, 40 businesses were damaged, 22 considered uninhabitable. Damage was estimated near 100 million dollars, and nine injuries were reported.

The last F3 tornado developed in Kiowa County and produced F3 damage soon after entering Washita County. Several vehicles and large pieces of farm equipment were tossed and destroyed. About 4 miles north-northeast of Mountain View, 3 homes suffered major damage, with one rated F3. As the tornado continued northeastward, F3 damage was inflicted on a farm, where a house and several barns and outbuildings were leveled. A 10,000-gallon diesel tank ended up in an open field about one-quarter mile away from its original position.

For simplicity, the tornadoes that occurred on this day were identified by the supercell thunderstorm that produced them, beginning with A and ending with E. Each tornado was then given its own number. For example, the 3rd tornado produced by supercell thunderstorm A is called A3. In addition, some tornadoes tracked across multiple counties.

Tornado C1: This tornado developed on the southwest side of Cordell, where a mobile home and metal warehouse were blown into a farmhouse. The tornado then moved through the south, east and northeast portions of Cordell, including a business district and a large residential area. Most damage south of Main Street was rated F0 or F1. North of Main Street, the damage path widened to approximately 500 yards, with the tornado then inflicting widespread F1 to F2 damage up to 12th Street. Hundreds of homes were damaged in this area. As the tornado began to exit the northeast side of Cordell, F3 damage was sustained to several homes on 9th Street, just west of Crider Road. An F4 rating was considered; however, the structural integrity of most structures was at or below average, and was taken into consideration. Another interesting note is that several eye-witnesses reported that the tornado was widest and contained the most violent-looking winds at this time. The tornado eventually exited Cordell and dissipated 3.5 miles northeast of town. The Oklahoma State Emergency Management Office estimated that 477 single-family homes were damaged, 132 considered uninhabitable. In addition, 40 businesses were damaged, 22 considered uninhabitable. Damage was estimated near 100 million dollars, and nine injuries were reported.

  10/09/2001 1636-1710 13 440 F3 0 1 Kiowa/ Washita 1 N Gotebo - 4.5 SSE Cowden (7 NNE Mountain View)

See the narrative for the previous tornado for a summary of the October 9, 2011 tornado outbreak. Tornado D2, Kiowa County portion: This multiple-vortex tornado developed 1 mile north of Gotebo, resulting in mostly minor tree damage before crossing into Washita County at 1649 CST. F1 damage was observed, however, 5 miles west of Mountain View, where a wood-frame barn was heavily damage.

Tornado D2, Washita County portion: Extensive tree damage was observed from the Kiowa/Washita County border, northeastward to near State Highway 115, where the tornado leveled (rated F2) the Oakdale Schoolhouse, an old structure built in the 1920s. Across the street from the schoolhouse, a diesel shop was leveled, along with a barn, garage, and an unanchored wood-floor home. Several vehicles and large pieces of farm equipment were also tossed and destroyed. About 4 miles north-northeast of Mountain View, 3 homes suffered major damage, with one rated F3. As the tornado continued northeastward, F3 damage was inflicted on a farm, where a house and several barns and outbuildings were leveled. A 10,000-gallon diesel tank ended up in an open field about one-quarter mile away from its original position.

  05/16/2017 1746-1818 18 1000 EF2 1 10 Beckham/ Washita 3 NW Carter - S side of Elk City - 3 WSW Canute

The Elk City tornado initially developed near the North Fork of the Red River about 3 miles northwest of Carter. Damage was primarily to trees and power poles for the first few miles as it moved northeast approaching OK State Highway 34.

One fatality occurred on State Highway 34 (Merritt Road) south of OK State Highway 152 when his vehicle was impacted by the tornado. According to law enforcement, the victim had been in a mobile home, then left in his vehicle to try and find more substantial shelter. He had returned to his mobile home and it's believed he was still in the vehicle when the tornado hit.

Moving northeast, permanent homes and mobile homes were damaged, and damage continued to power poles and trees. About two miles southwest of Elk City Reservoir, persistent EF-2 damage occurred as the tornado continued northeast over Elk City Reservoir and through a neighborhood on south side of Elk City just west of OK State Highway 6. Numerous homes were damaged and mobile homes damaged or destroyed from southwest of Elk City Reservoir through the south side of Elk City. The tornado continued moving east- northeast out of Elk City and moved into Washita County.

Damage assessments found 66 homes destroyed (62 in Elk City) and 140 homes damaged (126 in Elk City). In addition, 3 businesses were destroyed and 5 businesses were damaged by the tornado. Damage costs are a rough estimate.

 

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.