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Extremely Critical Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Hurricane Rafael Approaching Gulf of Mexico

Strong Santa Ana winds will bring critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions to portions of California today into Friday. Rafael has strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for parts of the Florida Keys. It is too soon to determine any northern Gulf Coast impacts. Read More >

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Tornado Track Map for Ellis County, OK
 
Ellis 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
  07/07/1905 1740 s n     1 Ellis Near Gage
  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)
  09/02/1934 1630 s n   0 0 Ellis Pleasant View (3 ESE Gage)
  09/02/1934 1630 1 200   0 0 Ellis 9 S 2 W Shattuck
  07/24/1943         0 0 Ellis N of Fargo
  04/09/1947 1952 221 3200   169
(101)
980
(782)
Ellis/ Woodward/ Woods .5 SE White Deer TX - 5 NW Pampa TX - Glazier TX - Higgins TX - 4 SE Shattuck - 4 NW Arnett - 3 SE Gage - 2 SE Fargo - Woodward - near Hartner KS - St. Leo KS
  05/31/1947 1815 50 330   0 1 Ellis unrecorded
  05/20/1949 1800 35 100   0   Ellis/ Woodward Near Shattuck - near Tangier
  05/20/1949 1930   67   1 1 Ellis Near Catesby
Ellis County, OK Tornadoes (1950-Present*)
# Date Time
(CST)
Path
Length
(miles)
Path
Width
(yards)
F-Scale Killed Injured County Path
1 05/07/1950 1830 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis 1.5 W - 2 W Gage Airport
2 07/27/1951 1530 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis W of Arnett
3 04/29/1954 1500 33 10 F2 0 0 Roger Mills/ Ellis/ Dewey northern Roger Mills county - southern Ellis county - near Vici
4 10/25/1954 1830 8 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 7 S Fargo
5 05/25/1955 1800 5 400 F1 0 0 Ellis near Shattuck
6 06/03/1955 1830 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis W of Shattuck
7 06/15/1955 2000 6 500 F2 0 0 Ellis near Arnett
8 06/16/1955 1830 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis W of Arnett
9 06/22/1955 2100 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis 12 N Gage
10 07/04/1955 1500 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis 20 SW Vici
11 06/23/1956 2100 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis near Gage
12 04/20/1957 0140 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 3 NW Arnett
13 05/16/1957 0032 7 200 F1 0 0 Ellis 7 W Arnett
14 05/29/1957 2015 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 14 W Arnett
15 06/21/1958 0115 0.5 67 F3 0 0 Ellis near Gage
16 03/28/1960 1830 24 200 F2 0 0 Ellis 3 NW Shattuck - extreme NE Ellis County
17 05/04/1961 2000 0.1 10 F2 0 0 Ellis 7 S Arnett
18 06/05/1962 1655 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 10 NW Gage
19 06/05/1962 1700 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis S of Gage
20 06/05/1962 1705 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 4 N Shattuck
21 06/05/1962 1720 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 3 NE Higgins TX
22 06/05/1962 1720 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis Near Catesby
23 06/05/1962 1720 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis Just NW of Gage
24 05/10/1964 1845 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 2 SSE Shattuck
25 08/17/1964 1800 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 5 SSW Catesby
26 05/07/1965 1850 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 6 SW Gage
27 05/13/1965 2100 0.1 10 F2 0 0 Ellis WNW of Fargo
28 05/25/1965 1535 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 12 N Shattuck
29 05/25/1965 1600 0.1 10 F1 0 0 Ellis/ Harper 3 S May - NE of May
30 04/17/1966 1540 7 100 F1 0 0 Ellis 6 NW- 8 N Shattuck
31 04/17/1966 1640 1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis Lake Vincent (9 WSW Arnett)
32 06/07/1966 1800 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 5 S Arnett
33 06/10/1967 0010 0.1 10 F2 0 0 Ellis 15 NW Leedey
34 06/10/1967 1530 4 100 F1 0 0 Ellis 9 WSW- 8 W Arnett
35 06/10/1967 1630 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis Near Harmon
36 06/09/1968 1530 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis SE of Catesby
37 06/23/1969 1700 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis Near Gage
38 11/19/1973 1715 4 40 F1 0 0 Ellis S and E of Arnett
39 03/02/1977 1324 1 100 F1 0 0 Ellis 10 S Arnett
40 04/30/1978 1933 3 60 F2 0 0 Ellis Just SW- SE of Shattuck
41 03/04/1981 1625 0.3 13 F0 0 0 Ellis 2 N Shattuck
42 05/11/1982 1831 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 4 WSW Arnett
43 05/15/1982 2130 3 50 F2 0 0 Ellis Peek (E of Packsaddle Lake)
44 05/30/1982 1935 0.1 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 2 NW Arnett
45 05/13/1983 1945 3 40 F1 0 0 Ellis 4 SSW- 5 SSE Fargo
46 05/27/1983 2137 0.1 50 F0 0 0 Ellis 5 NNE Shattuck
47 03/22/1987 1845 8 100 F2 0 0 Ellis 1 SW- 7 N Catesby
48 03/22/1987 1910 0.2 10 F0 0 0 Ellis 5 N Gage
49 03/22/1987 1930 0.1 50 F1 0 0 Ellis 7 NW Gage
50 04/24/1990 2123 19 250 F2 0 5 Ellis 8 WSW Arnett- Shattuck- 11 NE Shattuck
51 04/09/1992 1705-1711 0.2 30 F0 0 0 Ellis 3 N Fargo
52 04/09/1992 1708 0.2 20 F0 0 0 Ellis 3 N Fargo
53 06/08/1995 1917 0.1 30 F0 0 0 Ellis NNE of Shattuck
54 06/18/1999 1806-1809 0.1 20 F0 0 0 Ellis 5 NE Catesby
55 02/24/2000 2013-2049 27 150 F1 0 0 Lipscomb TX/ Ellis OK/ Harper OK 10 NE Lipscomb TX - 5 SE Laverne OK
56 05/05/2002 1858-1900 1.5 25 F0 0 0 Hemphill TX/ Ellis OK 16 ESE Glazier TX - 15 SW Arnett OK
57 06/12/2002 1830-1835 1 50 F1 0 0 Ellis 7 ENE - 6 ENE Catesby
58 03/27/2004 1243-1248 2 50 F0 0 0 Ellis 12 SE Arnett - 8 SSW Harmon
59 04/21/2004 1826-1828 0.3 30 F0 0 0 Ellis 7 NNW Shattuck
60 04/21/2004 1828-1831 1 200 F0 0 0 Ellis 7.5 NNW - 7 N Shattuck
61 05/04/2007 1721-1745 4 50 EF1 0 0 Ellis 4 SW - 3 WNW Arnett
62 05/04/2007 1745 0.2 30 EF0 0 0 Ellis 5 ENE Arnett
63 05/05/2007 1916-1933 5 200 EF0 0 0 Roger Mills/ Ellis 4 N Crawford - 13 S Arnett
64 05/05/2007 1939 0.3 30 EF0 0 0 Ellis 10 SSE Arnett
65 05/05/2007 1956-2007 2 50 EF0 0 0 Ellis 1.5 SE - 2 NE Arnett
66 05/05/2007 2034-2058 8 300 EF2 0 1 Roger Mills/ Ellis 4.5 NNE Roll - 17 SSW Harmon
67 05/05/2007 2150-2230 17 600 EF2 0 0 Ellis/ Dewey/ Woodward 9 ESE Harmon - 6 ENE Sharon
68 04/26/2009 1534-1550 10 300 EF2 0 0 Roger Mills/ Ellis 3 NE Crawford - 14 SSW Harmon
69 05/19/2010 0022 0.5 50 EF0 0 0 Ellis 1 S Packsaddle (17 S Arnett)
70 05/19/2010 0215 0.5 30 EF1 0 0 Ellis 4 N Fargo
71 06/11/2011 1930 1 10 EF0 0 0 Ellis 6.5 N Shattuck
72 04/14/2012 2242-2326 34 400 EF3 6 29 Ellis/ Woodward 2 SSW Arnett - Woodward - 4 N Woodward
73 11/16/2015 2020-2113 43 200 EF1 0 0 Hemphill TX/ Lipscomb TX/ Ellis OK 3.5 NW Glazier TX - 15 NNW Gage OK
74 11/16/2015 2118-2151 27 400 EF2 0 0 Ellis/ Harper 6 SSE May - 10 E Buffalo
75 04/17/2019 1547-1553 1.6 50 EF1 0 0 Ellis 4.5 NW - 6 NW Shattuck
76 04/17/2019 1549-1603 1.3 10 EF0 0 0 Ellis 7 N Shattuck
77 05/23/2019 1926-1958 16 1500 EF3 0 0 Lipscomb TX/ Beaver OK/ Ellis OK/ Harper OK 3 NNE Follett TX - 6 NNW Catesby OK - 5.5 SSW Laverne OK
78 06/15/2023 1727-1733 5 200 EF1 0 0 Lipscomb TX/ Ellis 3 S - 7 SE Higgins TX (3 S Higgins TX - 11 WSW Arnett OK)
 

Significant Tornadoes in Ellis County

  Date Time
(CST)
Path
Length
(miles)
Path
Width
(yards)
F-Scale Killed Injured County Path
  04/09/1947 1952 98* 3200   184 (116) 980 (782) Hemphill, TX/ Lipscomb, TX/ Ellis/ Woodward/ Woods Near Canadian TX - Glazier TX - Higgins TX - 4 SE Shattuck - 4 NW Arnett - 3 SE Gage - 2 SE Fargo - Woodward - 10 W Alva

The most deadly tornado to ever strike within the borders of the state of Oklahoma occurred on Wednesday, April 9, 1947 in the city of Woodward. The Woodward tornadic supercell thunderstorm began in the Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of April 9, 1947, and produced at least six tornadoes along a 220-mile path that stretched from White Deer, TX (northeast of Amarillo) to St. Leo, KS (west of Wichita).

While it is still officially attributed to have traveled in a single long track through 3 states, work done by Tom Grazulis of the Tornado Project, and research scientist Don Burgess indicates that a separate tornado occurred near White Deer, TX, and 4 or more tornadoes occurred near the Oklahoma state line and into Kansas. In addition, the Woodward tornado may have begun closer to Pampa, TX, but there is no corroborating evidence to confirm a damage path in the area.

What is known is that the violent tornado that struck Woodward had a confirmed path that started 3 miles northwest of Canadian, TX. The tornado moved northeast, and continued on the ground continuously for about 98 miles, before ending in Woods County, Oklahoma about 10 miles west of Alva. The tornado was massive, up to 1.8 miles wide, and traveled at forward speeds of about 50 miles per hour.

The tornado first struck Glazier and Higgins in the Texas Panhandle, devastating both towns and producing at least 69 fatalities in Texas before crossing into Oklahoma. In Ellis County, Oklahoma, the tornado did not strike any towns, passing to the southeast of Shattuck, Gage, and Fargo. Even though no towns were struck, nearly 60 farms and ranches were destroyed and 8 people were killed with 42 more injured. Moving into Woodward County, one death was reported near Tangier, OK

The violent tornado (F5 on the Fujita Scale) unleashed its worst destruction on Woodward, striking the city without warning at 8:42 pm CST. Over 100 city blocks on the west and north sides of the city were destroyed with lesser damage in the southeast portion of the town. Confusion and fires reigned in the aftermath with over 1000 homes and businesses destroyed, at least 107 people killed in and around Woodward, and nearly 1000 additional injuries.

Normal communications between Woodward and the outside world were not restored for some time and there was great uncertainty as to victim status. In fact, the bodies of three children were never identified, and one child who survived the tornado was lost and never reunited with her family. Help for Woodward came from many places, including units from as far away as Oklahoma City and Wichita. Beyond Woodward, the tornado lost some intensity, but still destroyed 36 homes and injured 30 people in Woods County before it dissipated. The supercell thunderstorm would produce at least another 4 tornadoes near the Oklahoma State line and in southern Kansas.

In all, at least 116 lives were lost in Oklahoma on that fateful night with another 68 deaths occurring in Texas. Never before or since has a tornado been so costly to human life in the Sooner State. Another 782 people were in Oklahoma with 198 injuries occurring in Texas. Damages were estimated at $1.5 million in Texas and $8 million in Oklahoma. The tornado destroyed 507 structures and damaged 803 more in Oklahoma. A  total of 119 structures were destroyed and another 117 were damaged in Texas.

Because of the Woodward tornado and other devastating tornadoes in the late 1940's and early 1950's, and because of new technologies available after World War II, the Weather Bureau (now the National Weather Service) began a tornado watch and warning program in 1953. Since then, the warning system composed of the National Weather Service, local civil preparedness agencies, and the media has continued to mature and provide better and better information to citizens to help them protect themselves from tornadoes. Because of the strengths of the warning system, tornado death tolls in Oklahoma, and nationwide, have dropped considerably with each passing decade and, hopefully, will continue to decrease.

  04/24/1990 2123 19 250 F2 0 5 Ellis 8 WSW Arnett- Shattuck- 11 NE Shattuck

A tornado touched 8 miles west-southwest of Arnett and moved north-northeast, hitting the town of Shattuck at 9:48 pm CST, and dissipating 11 miles northeast of Shattuck at approximately 10:10 pm CST. Damage was continuous from 6 miles south of Shattuck to 0.75 miles north of Shattuck. Ten buildings (mostly businesses) were destroyed, 17 buildings received major damage, and 41 buildings incurred minor damage. Three mobile homes and several outbuildings were destroyed. Five people were injured, and one person was seriously injured and required hospitalization. The last known damage occurred 11 miles northeast of Shattuck, and consisted of roof damage and siding ripped from a farmhouse. Total damages were estimated at $1.5 million.

  05/05/2007 2034-2058 8 300 EF2 0 1 Roger Mills/ Ellis 4.5 NNE Roll - 17 SSW Harmon

An upper-level storm system moved slowly into south central Colorado during the afternoon. A dry line had become established and was located along the Oklahoma and Texas panhandle border. Also, favorable upper-level winds were rotating around the upper-level storm system, crossing the dryline over western Oklahoma. As the afternoon progressed, convergence along the dryline became maximized over this area. Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours and they quickly became supercells. Two of the supercells produced several tornadoes.

A tornado touched down in far northern Roger Mills County at 8:34 pm CST, and moved northeast crossing the Canadian River into Ellis County. Some tree damage was noted about 4.5 miles north-northeast of Roll in Roger Mills County. This is the fourth tornado in Oklahoma from the southern supercell.

This tornado crossed the Canadian River into southern Ellis County at 8:36 pm CST. Two houses and two mobile homes were destroyed in the Packsaddle area of southern Ellis County to the east of US Highway 283 (about 18 miles south-southwest of Harmon), and a roof was removed from another mobile home. At least one of these homes suffered a complete removal of the roof and some damage to the exterior walls. Several cars were damaged or destroyed, as well as trees and power lines.

  04/14/2012 2242-2326 34 400 EF3 6 29 Ellis/ Woodward 2 SSW Arnett - Woodward - 4 N Woodward

The tornado developed approximately just south of Arnett, OK (Ellis County) at 10:42 pm CST (11:42 pm CDT) on April 14, 2012 and moved northeast. Two homes were categorized as destroyed and a few other homes sustained damage. Trees and power lines were also damaged as the tornado moved toward the Woodward county border. The tornado eventually crossed the border, producing only minor damage (mainly downed trees and power poles/lines) as it moved over mainly rural portions of Woodward County, southwest of the city of Woodward, OK.

At approximately 11:12 pm CST (12:12 am CDT on April 15, 2012), the tornado struck two mobile homes 5 miles southwest of Woodward. The damage here was determined to be EF-2 in intensity, and also resulted in 3 fatalities. The heaviest damage, rated EF-3, was reported as the tornado entered the southwest sides of Woodward around 11:18 pm CST. Several homes and businesses were heavily damaged as the tornado continued northeast. Several more mobile homes were destroyed by the tornado on the north side of Woodward, and resulted in 3 additional fatalities. The tornado finally exited the city of Woodward at approximately 11:23 pm CST, eventually dissipating approximately 4 miles north of Woodward at 11:27 pm CST.

  05/23/2019 1926-1958 16 1500 EF3 0 0 Lipscomb TX/ Beaver OK/ Ellis OK/ Harper OK 3 NNE Follett TX - 6 NNW Catesby OK - 5.5 SSW Laverne OK

A vigorous upper level low pressure system developed across southern Nevada. Significant wind shear and instability developed as moisture was drawn north into the Panhandles setting the stage for a very long duration and higher end severe episode. Initially, elevated supercell storms developed in the NW Texas Panhandles on the cold side of a nearly stationary frontal boundary and moved northeast into the central Oklahoma Panhandle as the first of multiple disturbances moved across the area. Hail up to golf ball size and wind damage was reported with these storms. During the afternoon hours, upper level disturbances, daytime heating and the very pronounced frontal boundary stretching from near Amarillo northeast into Beaver County, Oklahoma became the main catalyst for surface based supercells which produced very large hail up to baseball size and several tornadoes. Most of the tornadoes remained in Texas, however one very large and long tracked tornado crossed the Texas state line into Beaver County and eventually into Ellis and Harper counties in northwestern Oklahoma. This tornado remained in very rural areas throughout its life-cycle.

This tornado began in Lipscomb County in Texas, crossed into southeast Beaver County Oklahoma and crossed into Ellis and Harper Counties from there. The tornado got stronger and larger with time, but mainly damaged trees, fences and power poles in the area of this survey limiting the EF rating to a 2. The tornado did greater damage (and earned higher rating) as it destroyed a home just feet across the county line. This damage was surveyed by the Norman Weather Forecast Office.

The tornado crossed into southeast Beaver County Oklahoma and moved into Ellis and Harper Counties from there. The tornado got stronger and larger with time, but mainly damaged trees, fences and power poles in the area of this survey limiting the EF rating to EF-2. The tornado did greater damage (and earned higher rating) as it destroyed a home just feet across the county line.

Immediately after moving into Ellis County, a home and outbuilding were completely destroyed. An extended cab pickup truck in a carport at this home was blown 0.3 of a mile northeast with some pieces of the truck found over one half mile northeast of the home. Numerous power poles were snapped both north-south along the county line and east-west along County Road 30. The tornado continued to move northeast and into Harper County southwest of Laverne.

After moving into southwestern Harper County, the tornado broke numerous power poles and damaged trees as it moved northeast, crossing U.S. Highway 412/OK State Highway 3, and dissipating about one mile north of the highway to the southwest of Laverne.

 

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.