A cold front will work across the Eastern U.S. through Monday with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms before broad high pressure brings quiet weather by Tuesday. Across the Western U.S., a cold front will shift across the region through Tuesday. An Atmospheric River following the front will bring heavy coastal rain and high elevation snowfall to portions of the Northwest. Read More >
Kay County, OK Tornadoes Prior to 1950 | |||||||||
# | Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
04/28/1893 | 2100 | 3 | 440 | 5 | 0 | Kay | Ponca City | ||
07/28/1894 | nt | Kay | Kildaire | ||||||
04/12/1896 | aft | s | n | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Newkirk | ||
05/20/1896 | aft | s | n | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Newkirk | ||
05/27/1896 | 1100 | 5 | 200 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 7 S Arkansas City KS | ||
05/27/1912 | 1720 | 1 | Kay | N of Blackwell | |||||
03/18/1927 | 1900 | 35 | 500 | 1 | Garfield/ Grant/ Kay | Near Kremlin - near Tonkawa | |||
03/18/1927 | 2100 | 38 | 1760 | 0 | 2 | Noble/ Kay/ Osage | 8 SE Tonkawa - near Apperson (4 NW Burbank) - near "Denoya" (3 SW Shidler) | ||
04/09/1929 | 2045 | 5 | 880 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Blackwell | ||
05/07/1932 | s | n | 0 | 0 | Kay | NE of Ponca City | |||
04/17/1935 | nt | 3 | 0 | 1 | Kay | Near Blackwell | |||
04/24/1935 | 1930 | 12 | 1760 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Autwine | ||
06/02/1935 | 1630 | 42 | 50 | 0 | 3 | Kay/ Osage | Perth KS - NW of Newkirk - near Fairfax | ||
03/30/1949 | 0038 | 97 | 300 | 4 | 45 | Dewey/ Blaine/ Major/ Garfield/ Grant/ Kay | 9 SW Canton - Canton - Longdale - 3 NNE Enid - near Hunter - near Blackwell - KS (family?) | ||
Kay County, OK Tornadoes (1950-Present*) | |||||||||
# | Date | Time (CST) |
Path Length (miles) |
Path Width (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Path |
1 | 06/09/1950 | 1825 | 0.1 | 100 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | E of Blackwell |
2 | 04/24/1951 | 2100 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 6 SW Blackwell |
3 | 06/08/1951 | 1914 | 0.3 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Tonkawa airport |
4 | 04/21/1952 | 1605 | 0.3 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NNW Blackwell |
5 | 07/08/1953 | 1540 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 W Ponca City airport |
6 | 11/19/1953 | 0825 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Blackwell (SE of Maulk airport) |
7 | 03/24/1954 | 1905 | 3 | 200 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 NNW- 4 N Newkirk |
8 | 05/25/1955 | 2100 | 3 | 500 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | NE of Tonkawa |
9 | 05/25/1955 | 2126 | 29 | 500 | F5 | 20 | 280 | Kay OK/ Sumner KS | Blackwell OK - north into Kansas |
10 | 05/25/1955 | 2200 | 88 | 1320 | F5 | 80 | 273 | Kay OK/ Sumner KS/ Cowley KS | Near state line S of Ashton KS - Udall KS - N of Atlanta KS [no fatalities or injuries in Oklahoma] |
11 | 05/27/1955 | 2115 | 22 | 300 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Grant/ Kay | eastern Grant and NW Kay counties |
12 | 05/27/1955 | 2130 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | between Blackwell and Braman |
13 | 05/27/1955 | 2200 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | near Tonkawa |
14 | 04/02/1956 | 2045 | 0.1 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 6 N Billings |
15 | 04/02/1956 | 2130 | 108 | 880 | F4 | 2 | 29 | Kay OK/ Cowley KS/ Chautauqua KS/ Elk KS/ Greenwood KS/ Woodson KS/ Coffey KS | 6 SE Newkirk OK - near Hardy OK - near Gridley KS [likely tornado family. No fatalities and 2 injuries in Oklahoma/] |
16 | 05/30/1956 | 2144 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | NW of Blackwell |
17 | 04/22/1957 | 2200 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 NE Ponca City |
18 | 05/22/1957 | 0638 | 2 | 23 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | near Ponca City |
19 | 05/29/1957 | 2337 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 6 W Ponca City |
20 | 09/01/1958 | 1700 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 4 W Ponca City airport |
21 | 11/17/1958 | 0808 | 39 | 10 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Garfield/ Noble/ Kay | Near Fairmont - near Blackwell |
22 | 05/04/1959 | 2115 | 6 | 300 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 W- 4 NNE Blackwell |
23 | 05/17/1959 | 1855 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 8 W Braman |
24 | 03/31/1960 | 1800 | 0.2 | 100 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 SW Blackwell |
25 | 04/29/1960 | 1415 | 0.1 | 10 | F? | 0 | 0 | Kay | 1.5 N Blackwell |
26 | 03/26/1961 | 2015 | 8 | 100 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Kay/ Osage | Kaw City - Webb City |
27 | 04/21/1961 | 2215 | 3 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 1.5 N Peckham |
28 | 05/30/1962 | 1630 | 0.1 | 10 | F? | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Newkirk |
29 | 04/22/1964 | 1645 | 54 | 733 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Garfield/ Noble/ Kay | 5 SE Enid - West side of Ponca City - 6 N Ponca City |
30 | 04/22/1964 | 1730 | 28 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Garfield/ Noble/ Kay | 5 NE Garber - Tonkawa |
31 | 05/01/1964 | 1545 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 4 SW Blackwell |
32 | 03/16/1965 | 1640 | 83 | 300 | F4 | 0 | 7 | Grant OK/ Kay OK/ Sumner KS/ Cowley KS | 6 SSW Nash OK- 2 N Jefferson OK- 4 N Braman OK- Geuda Springs KS- 6 E Winfield KS [Two injuries in Oklahoma] |
33 | 04/04/1965 | 2225 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | SW of Tonkawa |
34 | 06/13/1965 | 0125 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NW Blackwell |
35 | 06/13/1965 | 0125 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NW Blackwell |
36 | 05/16/1966 | 2153 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Tonkawa |
37 | 06/05/1966 | 1750 | 3 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Kay | 6 WNW- 4 W Blackwell |
38 | 05/31/1967 | 1810 | 0.3 | 217 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Just NE of Newkirk |
39 | 09/26/1967 | 1430 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 SW Tonkawa |
40 | 04/03/1968 | 0010 | 16 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Noble/ Kay | 1 ESE Billings - 7 SE Blackwell |
41 | 04/19/1968 | 1600 | 0.5 | 50 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 ESE Blackwell |
42 | 05/08/1968 | 1745 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 NE Blackwell |
43 | 05/22/1968 | 2030 | 11 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 1 W Braman - 2 N Peckham |
44 | 06/20/1970 | 1930 | 0.5 | 100 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 N Tonkawa |
45 | 06/02/1971 | 1900 | 0.1 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 8 W Tonkawa |
46 | 08/21/1972 | 1730 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 1 | Kay | Lake Ponca |
47 | 03/13/1973 | 1508 | 52 | 250 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Kay OK/ Cowley KS | Newkirk OK - 6 ENE Atlanta KS [not continuous path in Kansas] |
48 | 04/30/1973 | 2125 | 0.4 | 67 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Chilocco |
49 | 05/18/1973 | 1800 | 9 | 33 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NW- 5 NE Braman |
50 | 06/04/1973 | 1800 | 12 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay/ Osage | 3 S- 11 E of Ponca City |
51 | 09/04/1973 | 1358 | 16 | 200 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 N Tonkawa - 3 NE Ponca City |
52 | 11/19/1973 | 1945 | 14 | 60 | F2 | 0 | 6 | Kay | 8 SW Tonkawa - Tonkawa - 6 NE Tonkawa |
53 | 11/19/1973 | 2010 | 3 | 150 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Blackwell |
54 | 04/17/1978 | 1354 | 9 | 40 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 4 NW Ponca City - 1 NE Kildaire |
55 | 04/17/1978 | 1357 | 8 | 60 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 SW- 2 E Newkirk |
56 | 04/17/1978 | 1358 | 11 | 40 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 7 NW Ponca City - 2 SW Newkirk |
57 | 04/17/1978 | 1358 | 12 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 4 WSW- 6 NNE Newkirk |
58 | 05/11/1978 | 1435 | 4 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 3 | Kay | 4 WSW- .5 W Braman |
59 | 03/18/1979 | 0700 | 0.1 | 10 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Newkirk |
60 | 05/17/1981 | 1425 | 19 | 33 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Just NE of Blackwell - ~8 NNW Newkirk |
61 | 07/16/1981 | 1430 | 22 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 SW Tonkawa - near Peckham |
62 | 09/12/1982 | 1720 | 1.5 | 50 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Tonkawa |
63 | 04/27/1983 | 1840 | 12 | 100 | F1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 SW Tonkawa - 5 S Ponca City |
64 | 05/12/1983 | 1737 | 0.1 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 12 NW Blackwell |
65 | 05/12/1983 | 1805 | 0.1 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 SW Blackwell |
66 | 06/18/1983 | 2105 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Near Kaw City |
67 | 04/29/1984 | 1340 | 0.1 | 10 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 8 SW Tonkawa |
68 | 03/26/1991 | 2005-2145 | 57 | 500 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Grant OK/ Kay OK/ Sumner KS/ Cowley KS | 3 NE Nash OK- 6 N Arkansas City KS |
69 | 03/26/1991 | 2112 | 0.1 | 20 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NNE Braman |
70 | 04/26/1991 | 0545 | 1 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Tonkawa |
71 | 05/11/1992 | 1558 | 0.5 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 7 NW Blackwell |
72 | 05/11/1992 | 1620 | 0.5 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 SE Blackwell |
73 | 06/08/1993 | 1607 | 0.1 | 20 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 7 N Blackwell |
74 | 06/08/1993 | 1620 | 0.1 | 20 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 4 NW Newkirk |
75 | 06/08/1993 | 1635-1702 | 12 | 150 | F3 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 SSW- 10 E Newkirk |
76 | 06/08/1993 | 1715-1717 | 0.3 | 80 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 14 ESE Newkirk |
77 | 05/06/1994 | 1630 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Kildaire |
78 | 08/29/1996 | 1620 | 0.1 | 20 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 E Blackwell |
79 | 09/25/1996 | 2225 | 0.2 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Grant/ Kay | 5 E Deer Creek/ 2 W Nardin |
80 | 09/25/1996 | 2239-2240 | 0.1 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 N Tonkawa |
81 | 09/25/1996 | 2240-2241 | 0.1 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 N Tonkawa |
82 | 09/25/1996 | 2351 | 0.1 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 W Ponca City |
83 | 05/07/1997 | 1858 | 0.1 | 23 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 7 W Blackwell |
84 | 05/25/1997 | 2110 | 0.1 | 50 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 NW Newkirk |
85 | 05/24/1998 | 1955 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 1 WNW Braman |
86 | 05/24/1998 | 2130 | 0.1 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NW Tonkawa |
87 | 09/18/2002 | 1829-1830 | 0.3 | 25 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 5 NW Blackwell |
88 | 06/03/2005 | 2230 | 0.2 | 30 | F0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 3 SW Hardy |
89 | 09/12/2008 | 0205 | 0.3 | 25 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 1 E Tonkawa (east side of Tonkawa) |
90 | 05/13/2009 | 1754-1805 | 0.2 | 100 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 9 S Nardin |
91 | 05/10/2010 | 1438-1534 | 41 | 1500 | EF3 | 0 | 2 | Grant OK/ Kay OK/ Sumner KS | 8 SW Wakita OK- 5 SE South Haven KS |
92 | 05/10/2010 | 1515-1523 | 5 | 500 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Grant/ Kay | 7 E Renfrow - 6 WNW Braman |
93 | 05/10/2010 | 1517-1526 | 7 | 400 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 6 WNW - 3.5 NNE Braman |
94 | 05/10/2010 | 1521-1522 | 0.8 | 50 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 6 N Nardin - 6 W Braman |
95 | 04/30/2012 | 2107-2113 | 2 | 50 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 0.5 W - 2 S Nardin |
96 | 04/30/2012 | 2125-2138 | 7 | 100 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2.5 SSE Nardin - 6 W Tonkawa |
97 | 05/07/2019 | 2257-2301 | 2.1 | 60 | EF1 | 0 | 0 | Kay | Newkirk |
98 | 05/12/2023 | 1906-1907 | 0.3 | 10 | EF0 | 0 | 0 | Kay | 2 SW Tonkawa |
Date | Time (CST) |
Length of Path (miles) |
Width of Path (yards) |
F-Scale | Killed | Injured | County | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
05/25/1955 | 2126 | 28 | 500 | F5 | 20 | 280 | Noble/ Kay/ Sumner KS | 8 W Marland - E of Tonkawa - Blackwell - SE of South Haven KS | |
This violent tornado initially touched down about 8 miles west of Marland, OK around 9:00 pm CST. It caused some light damage as it moved almost due north into Kay County. The tornado passed to the east and northeast of Tonkawa, OK and destroyed a few homes while its parent supercell storm also produced baseball-sized hail in Tonkawa. The tornado continued north and moved through the east side of Blackwell, OK at 9:27 pm CST, causing complete destruction in much of the east side of town. Nineteen people were killed in Blackwell, as well as one person to the northeast of Blackwell. Another 280 people were injured. Approximately 80 blocks in town were damaged or destroyed. The damage was massive with 500 homes damaged, 400 homes destroyed, 20 business establishments leveled, and 40 additional businesses were damaged. The tornado passed east of Braman, OK, then turned to the north-northwest and dissipated to the southeast of South Haven, in south central Kansas. Damage to crops in the area was estimated at $15,000 and damage to other property was estimated at $8,000,000. The supercell thunderstorm also produced another tornado that touched down about 4 miles north of Peckham, OK that moved into Kansas, eventually killing 80 people in and near Udall, KS. Both the Blackwell tornado and Udall, KS tornadoes were rated F5, although the "Udall" tornado produced minimal damage in Oklahoma. |
|||||||||
04/02/1956 | 2130 | 108* | 880 | F4 | 2 | 29 (2) |
Kay/ Cowley KS/ Chautauqua KS/ Elk KS/ Greenwood KS/ Woodson KS/ Coffey KS | * Likely tornado family. 6 SE Newkirk - near Hardy - near Gridley KS | |
Although listed a single tornado, this event was probably a family of tornadoes produced by the same supercell thunderstorm. The initial tornado began in Kay County 6 miles southeast Newkirk, OK at 9:30 pm CST, and only minor damage was reported in this area. This tornado apparently lifted before it reached the Arkansas River. What was probably the second tornado in the series touched down east of the Arkansas River and continued moving northeast. It had a multiple vortex phase as witnesses observed several funnels merged into one southwest of the town of Hardy, OK in Kay County. This violent tornado hit Hardy, and 2 people were injured in Hardy when their home was leveled. Many farm buildings were completely destroyed as well in the area as well. Six cattle and a horse were killed on one of the farms. The tornado appears to have crossed the Kansas state line into southeastern Cowley County and moved northeast south of Maple City, KS at 9:45 pm CST. It continued northeast passing 3 miles east of Grenola, KS and ended 5 miles northwest of Howard, KS. No fatalities occurred with this storm, but 25 people were injured including the 2 persons in Oklahoma. Numerous houses, barns, businesses, and sheds were damaged or completely demolished along the tornado's path. The wind velocities from the tornado were so strong that a plastic belt was driven into a piece of tree by force in Maple City-Otto, KS area. Witnesses reported the tornado as sounding like a loud roar or a whistle. This tornado may have traveled through Kay County in Oklahoma, and Cowley, Chautauqua and Elk Counties in Kansas. Another tornado then formed 4 miles southwest of Toronto, KS and struck the Toronto area at 10:58 pm CST. The tornado produced F4 damage to a home 1 mile north of Toronto a killed one person there. The continued to the northeast before turning more to the north and dissipating 2 miles southeast of the town of Gridley, KS in Coffey County. A baby was killed in a home 3 miles south of Gridley and the body was carried for over a mile from the home. West of Toronto, KS a house simply “fell apart” when the tornado hit. Several reports showed that other people were also carried variable distances in the air. In addition to the 2 fatalities, another 4 were injured by this tornado. This violent tornado may have traveled into Greenwood, Woodson and Coffey Counties in Kansas. |
|||||||||
04/22/1964 | 1645 | 54 | 733 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Garfield/ Noble/ Kay | 5 SE Enid - West side of Ponca City - 6 N Ponca City | |
A large, tornado-producing supercell thunderstorm started building southeast of Enid, and then tracked over 50 miles to the northeast causing heavy tornado and hail damage during a two-hour swing across the Garber, Billings, and Tonkawa areas, and then to the Ponca City area. The supercell likely produced a series of tornadoes instead of a single, long-track tornado. Three funnels aloft formed first and then joined to drop the ground at 4:45 pm CST about 5 miles southeast of Enid. The tornado moved northeastward and completely destroyed a farmstead along the initial mile of its path before reaching a width of 0.5 miles. The tornado then veered to the north-northeast for 4.5 miles where it crossed U.S. Highway 64 at a width of 100 yards. It then skipped along an east-northeast course with its path varying from 50 to 1500 yards, and eventually came within 0.25 miles of the southwest edge of Garber before lifting. The tornado and strong thunderstorm downdrafts damaged at least 10 homes, and destroyed barns, granaries, and outbuildings within an area of 3 miles on either side of the storm track. Lightning produced a fire that burned down a barn. A man was injured by flying glass when his automobile was damaged on U.S. Highway 64 east of Enid. Tornadic damage was evident 4.5 miles northeast of Garber where a new tornado probably formed. Another tornado formed in the area and the two tornadoes skipped a short distance on the ground a short distance toward Billings where a third tornado joined them and dipped to the ground briefly several times. The three tornadoes passed Billings around 5:30 pm CST and destroyed buildings, a 200-barrel oil tank, and damaged many roofs and windows. One family escaped injury when their car was picked up and carried by the tornado as it cross U.S. Interstate Highway I-35 near OK State Highway 15. The main tornado was sighted at 5:50 pm CST near the Marland "Y" and U.S. Highway 177 as it continued near Ponca City. The second tornado headed northward toward Tonkawa and damaged 3 farmsteads and 7 wheat bins, and downed 4 oil rigs. This second tornado lifted near the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River and then touched down in the Irby addition on the southeastern edge of Tonkawa at 6:15 pm CST, and swept northeastward across Second and First Streets to the rodeo grounds. The tornadic winds occurred over an 8-block area included damage to roofs, garages, barns, and power lines. Golf ball size hail was also reported in Tonkawa. The main tornado continued northeastward toward Ponca City and condensation funnel was observed ending 100 feet above the ground. It was joined west of Ponca City by another tornado and the two tornadoes skirted along the west side of Ponca City. The main tornado traveled over the Selvey Addition where 3 automobiles sustained windows damage and the roofs and windows of homes were damaged. The tornado last struck 2 miles north of the Ponca City Airport where a house was damaged and large barn was twisted off of its foundation, causing a partial collapse of the building. |
|||||||||
03/16/1965 | 1640 | f83 | 300 | F4 | 0 | 7 (2) |
Grant/ Kay/ Sumner KS/ Cowley KS | 6 SSW Nash- 2 N Jefferson- 4 N Braman- Geuda Springs KS- 6 E Winfield KS | |
Although this event is listed a single tornado with an 83-mile track, it is most likely that a series of at least 4 tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma and Kansas, with at least one violent tornado occurring within this tornado family in Oklahoma. Two funnels were first reported before a tornado formed 5.7 miles south-southwest of Nash at 4:40 pm CST where the Liberty Church and adjacent parsonage were leveled along with a steel granary. The storm moved northeastward and quickly dissipated east of Nash at 4:55 pm CST. This tornado was probably the first in a series of tornadoes produced by the same supercell thunderstorm. Observers noted a fast movement of the thunderstorm along with numerous tornado touch-downs. A tornado, probably the second in the series, was observed moving to the northeast 2 miles north of Jefferson. It then caused heavy damage along a 6-mile path from U.S. Highway 81, 3 miles southwest of Medford to U.S. Highway 64, 4 miles east of Medford. Five farmsteads were heavily damaged here and 1 woman was injured. The greatest damage and longest track occurred when what was probably the third tornado in the series initiated 5 miles northwest of Deer Creek in Grant County, and then moved northeastward to the Grant-Kay County line 5 miles south of the Kansas border. One man was injured 6 miles northeast of Deer Creek when he was caught inside his house, which was leveled. Fifteen farmsteads were hit, 6 of which were completely destroyed, and 3 received major damage. Data from this event suggest that the tornado continued into the west corner of Kay County, destroying 10 summer cabins and trailer homes near Lake Blackwell and downing 70 power poles. The tornado was last sighted in Oklahoma about 1 mile south of the Kansas line and just east of Interstate 35 before it moved northeast into Kansas about 5 miles southeast of South Haven, KS. It was in a multi-vortex phase as it crossed the state border. From there the tornado moved rapidly to the northeast at 45 mph, hitting Geuda Springs, KS before dissipating 6 miles east of Winfield, KS. Additional data from the event suggest that a fourth tornado also blew down signs along Interstate Highway 35, 3 miles south of Braman and then moved north-northeast, toppling a 262-foot microwave tower (rated to withstand 175 MPH winds) just north of Braman at 5:53 pm CST. A nearby compressor station also sustained major damage when one home and a 150-foot cooling tower were blown down. Damage was also reported 4 miles north of Braman. |
|||||||||
06/05/1966 | 1750 | 3 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Kay | 6 WNW- 4 W Blackwell | |
A tornado was watched by hundreds of people in the evening twilight as it touched down 6 miles west and 2.5 miles north of Blackwell where it remained for about 20 minutes before moving southward across a farmstead. The two-story home at the farm was moved 12 feet off of its foundation and heavily damaged. The barn and all of the outbuildings also received heavy damage. A home located one mile south of the farm incurred extensive damage and one woman was cut badly on her leg. A granary, garage, and machine shed were also demolished by the tornado which continued to the southeast to destroy another barn and storage shed. The tornado then swung eastward for a short time before dissipating 4 miles west of Blackwell. |
|||||||||
08/21/1972 | 1730 | 0.1 | 10 | F1 | 0 | 1 | Kay | Lake Ponca | |
A waterspout formed on Lake Ponca, which is located on the northeastern side of Ponca City. A man standing in hip-deep water was injured when he was picked up and thrown onto the bank. A boat was also submerged by the tornado, but sustained no damaged. Wind gusts up 60 mph were reported by the Ponca City FAA Flight Service Station. |
|||||||||
03/13/1973 | 1508 | 52 | 250 | F2 | 0 | 1 | Kay OK/ Cowley KS | Newkirk OK - 6 ENE Atlanta KS [not continuous path in Kansas] | |
A tornado touched down about 7 miles southwest of Newkirk and moved through the city before continuing into Kansas. The tornado extensively damaged several homes and mobile homes. Nearly a hundred other homes and several business buildings received damages to a lesser degree, and utilities were destroyed. The tornado produced an intermittent damage path in Newkirk as it touched down in the northwestern, central, and southeastern sides of the city. One person was pinned inside a car and injured when the car was overturned by the tornado. One woman received minor injuries when the tornado demolished her mobile home. The tornado hit the courthouse in Newkirk where about 60-70 people were located, but all escaped injury when the tornado blew out a window, caused extensive roof damage, and damaged many cars in the parking lot. The tornado crossed the Oklahoma-Kansas state line about 5 miles southeast of Arkansas City, Kansas and continued to the northeast to just west of Silverdale, and thence to 1 mile west of Burden, 4 miles east of Atlanta, and 5.5 miles east-northeast of Atlanta where it dissipated. The tornado's damage path in Kansas was intermittent. |
|||||||||
11/19/1973 | 1945 | 14 | 60 | F2 | 0 | 6 | Kay | 8 SW Tonkawa - Tonkawa - 6 NE Tonkawa | |
A tornado touched down 8 miles southwest of Tonkawa and moved northeastward through the eastern side of Tonkawa before dissipating 6 miles northeast of the city. Within in Tonkawa, 4 mobile homes and 4 businesses were destroyed, and 180 homes and rural buildings, 20 businesses, 1 city building, the city electrical system, and the high school were damaged. Total damages amounted to $1.5 million. Six minor injuries were reported. Spotty, light damaged occurred 6 miles northeast of Tonkawa were the tornado dissipated. Winds were measured at 78 mph at Northern Oklahoma College, which was located slightly away from the direct path of the tornado. |
|||||||||
05/11/1978 | 1435 | 4 | 100 | F2 | 0 | 3 | Kay | 4 WSW- .5 W Braman | |
A tornado touched down 3.5 miles west and 1 mile south of the community of Braman. As it moved to the northeast, the tornado destroyed 5 mobile homes used as cabins which were located 2 miles west-southwest of Braman along the Chikaskia River. One man was slightly injured when the tornado hit the mobile home in which he was living. A woman and her child were injured when the tornado rolled their mobile home down a 15-foot embankment. The tornado dissipated 0.5 miles west of Braman. |
|||||||||
05/10/2010 | 1438-1534 | 41 | 1500 | EF3 | 0 | 2 | Grant OK/ Kay OK/ Sumner KS | 8 SW Wakita OK- 5 SE South Haven KS | |
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 midafternoon 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. This tornado developed as a multiple-vortex tornado along OK State Highway 11 southwest of Wakita. The tornado initially moved east and southeast continuing to affect OK 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. The tornado crossed into Kay County from Grant County and continued to produce significant damage. One home was destroyed and another significantly damaged between the Grant County line and U.S. Highway 177. After the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 177, an anchored mobile home was destroyed and blown to the east, and a tri-level home was destroyed with the top floor blown about 50 yards northeast into some trees, and the ground floor pivoted and was displaced to the northwest exposing the basement where one minor injury occurred. The tornado continued to produce significant tree damage as it moved east-northeast, and blew semi-trucks over along U.S. Interstate Highway I-35 at the Kansas state line. This tornado crossed into Sumner County Kansas. Two semi-tractor trailers were blown off of the Kansas Turnpike right at the state line as the tornado crossed the interstate. The overturned semi's temporarily closed U.S. Interstate Highway I-35 for a short time as they blocked traffic in both directions. The tornado also caused significant tree damage as it moved northeast into rural Sumner County, Kansas before it dissipated. |
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.