Tornado outbreak of May 22, 2020

A powerful trough moved from the west coast towards the central United States, and set the stage for a large severe weather outbreak. The event was forecast days in advance by the SPC, with a risk area outlined with the day 6 outlook. On the day of the event, the SPC upgraded the moderate risk they had in place the day before to a high risk for north Oklahoma, central Kansas, and south Nebraska. A strong surface low had formed and was positioned in northwest Kansas. The dryline extended from the surface low down into southwest Oklahoma, and a warm front was draped across much of the southern half of Nebraska. Given the impressive dynamics, with a 110+ knot jet streak nosing into the risk area, as well as a very strong low level jet, shear was not going to be an issue. 0-1 km SRH values were up to 300m2/s2 and 0-3km SRH values reached 700m2/s2 in some spots. Hodographs were textbook; they were very curved and exhibited the strong shear and potential for violent tornadoes nicely. Temperatures soared to 90 degrees, with dew points in the low 70's throughout the warm sector. The cap eroded by noon, and storms developed around 2:00 PM CDT. A PDS tornado watch was issued for much of the high risk area, with >95% chance of 2+ tornadoes, and a 90% of a significant tornado. There were two main areas where supercells with tornadoes developed: the dryline from central Kansas into central Oklahoma, and the warm front in extreme southern Nebraska. By 3:00 PM numerous tornadoes were down, and the outbreak continued until just before midnight. The outbreak produced six violent tornadoes (4 EF4, 2 EF5), and is just the seventh day in since 1950 with multiple (E)F5 tornadoes. 52 people died, and the damages totaled almost $4 billion.

Tornado Statistics
 

May 22 Event
{| class="wikitable toccolours collapsible" width="100%" ! colspan="6" |List of confirmed tornadoes - May 22, 2018
 *   EF# || Location || County || Time of Origin (UTC) || Path length || Damage
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Nebraska
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Red Cloud
 * Webster
 * 1956
 * 6.8 mi
 * Short-lived tornado went through farmland north of Red Cloud. Only damage was to crops and an outbuilding was destroyed.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Amboy
 * Webster
 * 1959
 * 14.8 mi
 * Strong tornado occured simulataneosly with the EF0 tornado north of Red Cloud. The tornado touched down north of the Kansas/Nebraska border at 2:59 PM, and proceeded northeast. The very small community of Amboy took a direct hit, with four buildings in town taking EF2 damage.  The tornado dissipated just west of Highway 78 in a cornfield.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Hardy to Ruskin
 * Nuckolls
 * 2024
 * 10.32 mi
 * This large wedge tornado achieved high-end EF2 strength on its 10 mile path. The tornado touched down on the northern side of Hardy, and moved north-northeast through mainly open farmland. The tornado did EF1 damage to a few farm buildings before entering Ruskin, where high-end EF2 damage was noted to several buildings on Main Street.  The tornado lifted just north of town, with a peak width of half a mile.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * N of Hardy
 * Nuckolls
 * 2029
 * 5.64 mi
 * Satellite tornado to the Hardy-Ruskin wedge. EF1 damage was noted to a farmhouse.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * E of Oak
 * Nuckolls, Thayer
 * 2048
 * 2 mi
 * Weak needle-shaped tornado remained in open fields, spawned from the same supercell that produced the Hardy-Ruskin EF2 tornado. Crossed from Nuckolls County into Thayer County before dissipating.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * W of Odell to Pickrell
 * Gage
 * 2125
 * 27.62 mi
 * 1 death - This intense tornado began just west of Odell in southwest Sage County. It rapidly gained size, turning into a multi-vortex wedge tornado as it turned north and moved through farmland.  The tornado killed one person in their car as it followed Route 77 up to Beatrice.  The city took a direct hit from the tornado at high-end EF3 strength.  Numerous homes in the Beatrice Country Club area were flattened or had only interior walls standing, and a few buildings in the downtown area of Beatrice demonstrated EF3 damage, as well.  Fortunately, no one was killed in the city.  The tornado did widespread EF2 damage on the north side of Beatrice, and narrowly missed the airport.  The twister became narrow and meandered through open country before weakening near Pickrell.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * SW of Salem
 * Richardson
 * 2246
 * 3.9 mi
 * Stovepipe tornado that was the first of four tornadoes spawned by a cyclical supercell in extreme southeast Nebraska. Although large and visually intense, this tornado did not impact any structures, remaining in open fields southwest of Salem.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Falls City area
 * Richardson
 * 2304
 * 8.13 mi
 * Second tornado spawned by cyclical supercell in Richardson County. Tornado began southwest of Falls City and moved north-northeast.  The tornado did high-end EF1 damage to three homes on the western outskirts of Falls City.  Continuing northeast, additional EF1 damage was noted to a few buildings on the north side of town, including the Community Medical Center.  The tornado crossed the Big Nemaha River before weakening.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * NE of Falls City
 * Richardson
 * 2322
 * 0.3 mi
 * Third tornado spawned by cyclical supercell in Richardson County. Did minor damage to a farmhouse and downed power lines on 712 Road.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * E of Falls City
 * Richardson
 * 2330
 * 5 mi
 * Fourth and last tornado from the supercell in Richardson County. Took an unusual path; began moving east parallel to 706 Road east of Falls City, and then took a sharp turn north and damaged a farmhouse.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Kansas
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * NE of Sylvia to Nickerson
 * Reno
 * 1939
 * 18.8 mi
 * Tornado spent much of its lifespan in open farmland. Touched down northeast of Sylvia, and moved northeast and crossed Route 50.  Tornado began exhibiting intense multi-vortex characteristics, but damage was limited due to the rural area the tornado moved through.  Slight ground scouring was noted and most trees in the path were debarked.  Two farmsteads exhibited EF3 damage, being flattened and partially swept away.  Tornado moved directly into Nickerson, where EF3 damage was noted again to Nickerson High School and a few other buildings in town before the tornado apbruptly stopped.  The tornado had a max width of 800 yards and was on the ground for almost 19 miles.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Holyrood area
 * Ellsworth
 * 1945
 * 4.76 mi
 * Short-lived tornado did minor damage to crops, trees, and a few buildings on the north side of Holyrood.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Wilson
 * Russell, Ellsworth
 * 1958
 * 11.2 mi
 * 1 death - This stovepipe tornado moved through very rural areas in eastern Russell County before crossing into Ellsworth County and doing EF2 damage to homes on the south side of Wilson. The Wilson High School had its roof and some walls removed, and a high-end EF2 rating was applied there, with estimated wind speeds of 135 mph.  A poorly built home near the school was nearly flattened, and the inhabitant was killed.  The tornado continued northeast, weakened and dissipated near I-70.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * W of Hill City to Edmond to W Prarie View
 * Graham, Nortin
 * 2018
 * 33.85 mi
 * Long-track, multi-vortex tornado was the only tornado other than its satellelite tornado that formed near the triple point in northwest Kansas. Touched down in open fields west-northwest of Hill City, moving north-northeast. A few farmsteads were damaged at EF1 to EF2 strength before the tornado wavered slightly more east, and then continued on its original course.  The tornado grazed the southwest side of Edmond, where high-end EF1 to low-end EF2 damage occured to a few buildings and grain bins.  Only EF0 and EF1 damage was noted past Edmond, as the tornado remained in mostly open country.  It deviated a bit more northeast before dissipating west-southwest of Prarie View.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * NW of Hill City
 * Graham
 * 2021
 * 3.34 mi
 * Satellite tornado to the Edmond tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * S of Medicine Lodge to N of Sharon
 * Barber
 * 2036
 * 12.7 mi
 * Remained in open land and did minimal damage to farm buildings as it crossed Route 160. Was the middle supercell of three in south-central Kansas that went onto produce several significant tornadoes.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Cunningham
 * Pratt, Kingman
 * 2047
 * 9.7 mi
 * The first violent tornado of the outbreak was spawned by the northern of the three cyclical, intense, long-track supercells in south-central Kansas. The tornado moved through open farmland for much of its lifespan, doing some ground scouring.  The tornado entered the southern side of Cunningham and reduced a few homes to piles of rubble, earning an EF4 rating.  EF3 damage was noted to several other homes as well.  Shortly after exiting town, the tornado lifted.  It had a max width of 700 yards, tracked almost 10 miles, and had estimated peak wind speeds of 170 mph.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * N of Inman to Hope
 * McPherson, Marion, Dickinson
 * 2048
 * 40.61 mi
 * Long-tracked wedge tornado was spawned by the same supercell that produced the Nickerson EF3. It touched down and moved northeast directly into McPherson.  Most of the damage was done on the south side of the city, where several buildings exhibited EF2 damage, and four homes showed low-end EF3 damage.  The east side of McPherson took damage as well, with the McPherson College building having its roof taken off, and several more homes and buildings damaged at EF1 to low-end EF3 strength.  Additional EF2 to EF3 damage was noted to a few farm buildings and agricultural equipment as the tornado passed south of Roxbury.  The twister continued through open country before lifting near Hope.  It was on the ground for just over an hour.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * W Wakefield to NE of Riley
 * Clay, Riley
 * 2058
 * 24.66 mi
 * Long-tracked tornado spawned from the supercell that produced the Holyrood EF1 two hours earlier. Began in farmland west of Wakefield on a northeasterly path, then took a right turn to a more easterly one.  Narrowly missed Riley and lifted near the Riley/Pottawatamie County border.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * S of Palmer
 * Washington
 * 2101
 * 6.54 mi
 * Tornado damaged crops and outbuildings south of Palmer. Spawned by the same supercell that produced the Wilson tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Kiowa to SE of Anthony
 * Barber, Harper
 * 2105
 * 32.3 mi
 * Long-lived wedge tornado produced by the southern of the three intense cyclical supercells in south Kansas. Tornado likely would have been rated much higher had it hit significant structures, but it remained in open land for the entirety of its 32 mile path, damaging only crops and a few outbuildings.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * Spivey to NW of Clearwater
 * Kingman, Sedgwick
 * 2124
 * 35.8 mi
 * EF3 tornado with estimated peak winds speeds of 150 mph. Began in Spivey and immediately did EF3 damage.  It was the second tornado spawned by the middle of three cyclic supercells in south-central Kansas.  Moved east-northeast and did EF3 damage to a home on SE 70 Avenue.  Remained in very rural areas and entered Sedgwick County.  The tornado didn't damage any significant structures and eventually weakened northwest of Clearwater.  It was in the ground for just under and hour and had a max width of half a mile.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * SW of Olsburg to Goff
 * Pottawatamie, Nemaha
 * 2132
 * 47.11 mi
 * 2 deaths - High-end EF3 tornado spawned by the Holyrood-Riley supercell. Began just east of Turtle Creek and Lake.  Two homes south of Fostoria were nearly flattened at EF3 strength.  Significant rowing of corn and grass occurred as the tornado moved through rural areas of Pottawatamie County.  The worst damage happened in Wheaton, where every building in town was damaged.  High-end EF3 damage was noted to a dozen homes that were mostly flattened.  Two peopled were killed.  The tornado continued northeast and passed between Neuchatel and Duluth, and EF3 damage occurred to a home on Onaga Road.  The tornado persisted to Goff, where EF2 damage was noted before it lifted just outside of town.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * SW Pretty Prarie to N of Whitewater
 * Reno, Sedgwick, Harvey
 * 2134
 * 54.33 mi
 * 3 deaths - High-end EF2 tornado spawned by the Cunningham supercell. Did near EF3 damage to buildings in Pretty Prarie, crossed the Cheney Resovoir, moved northeast through rural areas, and entered Mt. Hope, where high-end EF2 damage was again noted.  A tornado emergency was issued for Bentley and Sedgwick, where EF2 to near EF3 damage occurred to numerous homes and businesses.  One person died in Bentley and two more perished in Sedgwick.  The tornado weakened and continued northeast until it dissipated north of Whitewater.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * N of Freeport to E of Douglass
 * Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Butler
 * 2203
 * 61.98 mi
 * 6 deaths - Extremely violent and devastating EF5 wedge tornado. The tornado began in fields north of Freeport and moved into Argonia where EF2 to EF3 damage occured to most buildings in the center of town.   It grew to just over a mile wide and turned slightly right as it moved through rural areas north-central Sumner County.  Chasers noted extremely intense motion and horizontal vorticies with the tornado.  A large home south of Riverdale was completely swept away, earning an EF5 rating.  A tornado emergency was issued as the tornado moved into Belle Plaine.  Incredible damage took place as several homes were flattened or swept away. Two dozen homes sustained EF5 damage, as well as the post office and library in town.  A car was thrown 300 yards and crushed beyond recognition.  Debris was finely granulated, wind-rowing was extreme, and six people were killed.  The tornado left town and did EF4 damage to a home on E 100th Avenue.  The tornado shrunk to about half a mile wide and did EF5 damage to a home on N Weber Road, which was swept away.  It crossed the Arkansas River and debarked several trees completely, some of which were reduced to stumps.  High-end EF3 damage occured to two homes on N River Road before it moved into very rural areas again.  Intense ground scouring occured.  Eventually the tornado came to a residential area south of Douglass where EF3 to low-end EF4 damage was noted.  It began to turn north and produced EF2 damage before ending a few miles east of Douglass.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * White City to Alta Vista
 * Morris, Wabaunsee
 * 2206
 * 17.44 mi
 * Several homes sustained EF2 damage in White City. Remained in relatively rural areas and did minor damage to structures it did impact before lifting in Alta Vista.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Clearwater
 * Sedgwick
 * 2224
 * 1.78 mi
 * Knocked down a few trees and a few homes sustained roof damage. Preceded the Wichita area EF4.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Oatville to Andover to S of Towanda
 * Sedgwick, Butler
 * 2229
 * 22.38 mi
 * 12 deaths - Extremely high-end EF4 tornado. Began near Oatville at 6:29 PM, and began moving northeast.  Rapidly intensified to a high-end EF3 as it crossed I-235 and moved into subdivisions in Southwest Wichita, where a few homes were flattened.  Four homes on W 30th Street sustained EF4 damage, being reduced to rubble.  An industrial complex sustained EF2 to EF3 damage.  As the tornado crossed the Arkansas River, a tornado emergency was issued.  Intensified to a high-end EF4 with estimated wind speeds of 190 mph as it went through South City.  Numerous homes were flattened or partially swept away, and dozens were injured.  The tornado continued northeast doing widespread EF3 to EF4 damage.  It neared a mile wide adding to the extent of the devastation.  The tornado strengthened and did borderline EF5 damage to two homes in Park Meadows, both of which properly anchored and completely swept away, and then took a bit more of a northeastern track and moved into the north side of Andover.  Near EF5 damage occured again, and wind speeds were estimated at just under 200 mph.  Several well-built homes were partially or completely swept clean leaving only their slab foundations left, but contextual discrepancies prevented a rating higher than EF4.  The tornado turned back to an east-northeasterly track into rural areas, where extreme wind rowing of debris was noted as well as some ground scouring.  Trees in the path were debarked.  The tornado dissipated near I-35 south of Towanda.  It had a max width of just under a mile and damages totaled about $1 billion.  The EF4 rating is disputed by some, as it could have been rated higher.  It was spawned by the middle of the three intense supercells in south central Kansas.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * N of Potwin
 * Butler
 * 2258
 * 0.98 mi
 * Brief tornado caused no damage.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * S of Burns
 * Butler
 * 2304
 * 9.32 mi
 * Two farmsteads were heavily damaged and a tractor was thrown 150 yards, both earning an EF3 rating. This tornado was spawned by the Cunningham-Sedgwick supercell.  It had a max width of 300 yards.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * Silver Lake
 * Shawnee
 * 2320
 * 5.08 mi
 * Short-lived yet intense tornado spawned by the McPherson-White City supercell. Did significant damage to several homes and businesses in Silver Lake.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * W of Elmont
 * Shawnee
 * 2329
 * 2.17 mi
 * A few homes were damaged and one was destroyed. Touched down shortly after the Silver Lake tornado lifted.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * N of Rosalia to NW of Hamilton
 * Butler, Greenwood
 * 2335
 * 16.89 mi
 * Extremely large tornado with a maximum width of 1.8 miles. Remained in open land for much of its lifetime, but EF2 damage was noted to one home.  It was spawned by the same supercell that produced the Wichita-Andover tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF4
 * Matfield Green to Lebo to W of Ottawa
 * Chase, Lyon, Coffey, Osage, Franklin
 * 2349
 * 81.67 mi
 * 2 deaths - Very long-tracked and violent tornado. Damage was minimal until the tornado did EF3 damage to homes northwest of Olpe.  Some ground scouring occured as the tornado passed through areas southwest of Neosho Rapids.  The tornado attained peak intensity when the town of Lebo took at direct hit.  Damage there was rated high-end EF4, as several homes and businesses were destroyed.  A few poorly anchored homes were swept away.  Two people died in Lebo.  A tornado emergency was issued and the town of Melvern took a direct hit soon after.  Ten homes were flattened at EF4 strength.  Debris from the town fell from the sky in Topeka some time later.  It weakened significantly and narrowed to about 100 yards wide, and eventually dissipated west of Ottawa.  The tornado was spawned by the Cunningham-Sedgwick supercell.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * S Elk City Lake to Englevale
 * Montgomery, Labette, Noesho, Crawford
 * 0011
 * 71.53 mi
 * 5 deaths - After the Ponca City, OK EF5 lifted, the same supercell went on to produce another very long-tracked tornado. It didn't impact any significant structures for some time before doing EF2 damage to some homes southeast of Sycamore.  Trees were slightly debarked in some spots.  The tornado clipped the northwestern tip of Labette County and swept away two farms earning a high-end EF3 rating.  After crossing Lake Parsons it overturned an irrigation pivot and leveled a farm.  Slight ground scouring was also noted.  It remained in rural areas until reaching Girard, where numerous homes were destroyed at high-end EF3 strength on the north side of town.  The tornado turned north-northeast and lifted near Englevale.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * Eureka
 * Greenwood
 * 0040
 * 2.2 mi
 * Brief yet high-end EF2 tornado spawned by the Belle Plaine supercell. Several homes on the southern side of Eureka were severely damaged and five people were critically injured.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * E of Burlington
 * Coffey
 * 0058
 * 9 mi
 * Two homes were destroyed early in the track. Trees were denuded and snapped and a few more homes sustained EF1 to EF2 damage before the tornado weakened.  It was spawned by the supercell that produced the Wichita area tornado.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * NNW of Westphalia (1st tornado)
 * Coffey, Anderson
 * 0116
 * 8.73 mi
 * Began immediately after the Burlington tornado ended. Downed trees and damaged a few outbuildings.  Initially was thought to be part of the same track as the Burlington EF2 but later analysis determined a separate track.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * NNW of Westphalia (2nd tornado)
 * Coffey, Anderson
 * 0118
 * 4.42 mi
 * Occured simulataneosly with the previous tornado and tracked parallel to it. Trees were downed and street signs were bent over.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * SW of Noesho Falls to W of Colony
 * Woodson, Allen, Anderson
 * 0141
 * 12.45 mi
 * In Neosho Falls, a few homes were left with only interior walls standing, and a poorly anchored home was partially swept away. It clipped the northwest corner of Allen County, weakened considerably and eventually dissipated in a field west of Colony.  Spawned by the Belle Plaine supercell.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * SW of La Cynge
 * Linn
 * 0237
 * 0.79 mi
 * Very brief tornado downed several trees and damaged a few homes.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * S of La Cynge
 * Linn
 * 0238
 * 1.9 mi
 * Damage was very minimal. A home had a small portion of its roof removed.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * N of Fontana
 * Miami
 * 0314
 * 5.76 mi
 * Several trees were downed an in some cases partially denuded.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * NE of Fontana
 * Miami
 * 0321
 * 1 mi
 * Damaged a home before crossing the Marais Des Cynges River and dissipating.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * S of Louisburg
 * Miami
 * 0325
 * 0.2 mi
 * Brief tornado took limbs off trees.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Oklahoma
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * S of Fairview
 * Major
 * 1948
 * 0.1 mi
 * Confirmed tornado did no damage. The supercell that spawned this tornado went on to produce an EF5 a bit over an hour later.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * Watonga area
 * Blaine
 * 1953
 * 2.48 mi
 * A few homes on the north side of Watonga sustained roof damage and some street signs were bent over.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Apache to WNW of Cement
 * Caddo
 * 1955
 * 11.44 mi
 * In Apache, a few homes sustained major roof damage, and three people were injured. A trailer was blown over and trees were downed later in the path.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * N of Hinton to Calumet
 * Caddo, Canadian
 * 2003
 * 14 mi
 * Tornado began north of Hinton near Route 281. It snapped trees and pushed two cars off of I-40.  A few home lost their roofs southwest of Calumet before the tornado dissipated.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * W of Norge to Norman
 * Grady, McClain, Cleveland
 * 2028
 * 37.65 mi
 * After the Apache tornado lifted, the same supercell cycled and put down an intense tornado. It began west of Norge and proceeded northeast into Chickasha.  Several homes and businesses in the city were destroyed, and a few were flattened, and a high-end EF3 rating was applied.  A tornado emergency was issued shortly after the tornado went through town.  The small community of Middleburg took a direct impact from the tornado at EF3 strength.  Most homes took some degree of damage, and the school had its roof removed and an outer wall collapsed.  It then moved through semi-rural subdivisions south of Blanchard, and EF2 to EF3 damage was again noted to a few homes.  The tornado contracted to about 200 yards wide and did EF1 damage as it continued northeast towards Norman.  It did EF2 damage as it crossed the Canadian River and into the city, and abruptly dissipated west of the University of Oklahoma's main campus.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * E of Enid to Ponca City to Sedan (KS)
 * Garfield, Noble, Kay, Osage, Chautaugua (KS)
 * 2101
 * 102.5 mi
 * 17 deaths - Incredibly long-track and devastating EF5 tornado. Began in a field east of Enid and moved northeast.  It rapidly intesified and did EF3 damage to a home south of Breckenridge.  It then did damage to wind turbines.  EF3 damage occured to four homes north of Garber, as they were left with only interior walls standing or were flattened.   The tornado moved into open fields and widened to about a mile wide.  Chasers noted that it exhibited violent motion, ground-scouring occurred, and trees were debarked.  It continued northeast and came to Billings, where it intensified to a high-end EF4.  Several homes were left as piles of rubble and in a few cases partially swept away.  Extreme wind rowing of debris occurred northeast of town, and grass was scoured to the bare soil.  As the tornado crossed I-35, a car was thrown 500 yards and crushed, killing the occupant.  The tornado turned a bit more north and then back to its northeasterly course.  As it crossed Salt Fork and the Arkansas River, more trees were snapped and completely debarked.  A few trees were reduced to debarked stumps.  A tornado emergency was issued as it approached Ponca City.  On the west side of town, numerous homes were swept away completely, and an EF5 rating was applied to many of them.  Pavement was scoured from roads, too.  Now at peak intensity, it went through the town center.  The scope of the damage was extreme, as numerous buildings were reduced to rubble or swept away, and several buildings sustained EF5 damage.  Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and in some cases crushed beyond recognition and wrapped around debarked trees.  More homes sustained EF4 to EF5 damage on the east side.  Debris was very finely granulated and wind rowing of debris was intense.  In eight cases, the slab foundations of homes either buckled or were partially swept away.  More large and well-built homes showed EF3 to EF4 damage before the wedge crossed East Lake Ponca. Violent motion and horizontal vortices were seen by chasers.  More ground scouring and tree debarking occured as the tornado approached Kaw City, where three more homes were swept away at EF5 strength.  It then entered very rural areas, and the only damage done was ground scouring.  The small town of Foraker took a direct hit, and every building in town took EF2 to EF3 damage.  It didn't damage any structures until crossing into Kansas.  Many buildings in Elgin sustained EF4 damage.  One well-constructed home was swept away with debris pushed about 100 yards from the foundation, but damage was only rated high-end EF4 there as the vehicles at the home weren't moved far and shrubs weren't denuded.  Post Elgin, it began gradually turning north.  It contracted in size, and did EF2 damage to trees and outbuildings.  It passed northwest of Peru, turned due north, and weakened 2 hours and 45 minutes after touching down.  It tracked 102.5 miles, killed 16 people, and did almost $2 billion in damages.  It is considered among many one of the most violent tornadoes ever recorded.
 * - |}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|
 * 0321
 * 1 mi
 * Damaged a home before crossing the Marais Des Cynges River and dissipating.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * S of Louisburg
 * Miami
 * 0325
 * 0.2 mi
 * Brief tornado took limbs off trees.
 * colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Oklahoma
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * S of Fairview
 * Major
 * 1948
 * 0.1 mi
 * Confirmed tornado did no damage. The supercell that spawned this tornado went on to produce an EF5 a bit over an hour later.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF0
 * Watonga area
 * Blaine
 * 1953
 * 2.48 mi
 * A few homes on the north side of Watonga sustained roof damage and some street signs were bent over.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF1
 * Apache to WNW of Cement
 * Caddo
 * 1955
 * 11.44 mi
 * In Apache, a few homes sustained major roof damage, and three people were injured. A trailer was blown over and trees were downed later in the path.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF2
 * N of Hinton to Calumet
 * Caddo, Canadian
 * 2003
 * 14 mi
 * Tornado began north of Hinton near Route 281. It snapped trees and pushed two cars off of I-40.  A few home lost their roofs southwest of Calumet before the tornado dissipated.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF3
 * W of Norge to Norman
 * Grady, McClain, Cleveland
 * 2028
 * 37.65 mi
 * After the Apache tornado lifted, the same supercell cycled and put down an intense tornado. It began west of Norge and proceeded northeast into Chickasha.  Several homes and businesses in the city were destroyed, and a few were flattened, and a high-end EF3 rating was applied.  A tornado emergency was issued shortly after the tornado went through town.  The small community of Middleburg took a direct impact from the tornado at EF3 strength.  Most homes took some degree of damage, and the school had its roof removed and an outer wall collapsed.  It then moved through semi-rural subdivisions south of Blanchard, and EF2 to EF3 damage was again noted to a few homes.  The tornado contracted to about 200 yards wide and did EF1 damage as it continued northeast towards Norman.  It did EF2 damage as it crossed the Canadian River and into the city, and abruptly dissipated west of the University of Oklahoma's main campus.
 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * E of Enid to Ponca City to Sedan (KS)
 * Garfield, Noble, Kay, Osage, Chautaugua (KS)
 * 2101
 * 102.5 mi
 * 17 deaths - Incredibly long-track and devastating EF5 tornado. Began in a field east of Enid and moved northeast.  It rapidly intesified and did EF3 damage to a home south of Breckenridge.  It then did damage to wind turbines.  EF3 damage occured to four homes north of Garber, as they were left with only interior walls standing or were flattened.   The tornado moved into open fields and widened to about a mile wide.  Chasers noted that it exhibited violent motion, ground-scouring occurred, and trees were debarked.  It continued northeast and came to Billings, where it intensified to a high-end EF4.  Several homes were left as piles of rubble and in a few cases partially swept away.  Extreme wind rowing of debris occurred northeast of town, and grass was scoured to the bare soil.  As the tornado crossed I-35, a car was thrown 500 yards and crushed, killing the occupant.  The tornado turned a bit more north and then back to its northeasterly course.  As it crossed Salt Fork and the Arkansas River, more trees were snapped and completely debarked.  A few trees were reduced to debarked stumps.  A tornado emergency was issued as it approached Ponca City.  On the west side of town, numerous homes were swept away completely, and an EF5 rating was applied to many of them.  Pavement was scoured from roads, too.  Now at peak intensity, it went through the town center.  The scope of the damage was extreme, as numerous buildings were reduced to rubble or swept away, and several buildings sustained EF5 damage.  Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and in some cases crushed beyond recognition and wrapped around debarked trees.  More homes sustained EF4 to EF5 damage on the east side.  Debris was very finely granulated and wind rowing of debris was intense.  In eight cases, the slab foundations of homes either buckled or were partially swept away.  More large and well-built homes showed EF3 to EF4 damage before the wedge crossed East Lake Ponca. Violent motion and horizontal vortices were seen by chasers.  More ground scouring and tree debarking occured as the tornado approached Kaw City, where three more homes were swept away at EF5 strength.  It then entered very rural areas, and the only damage done was ground scouring.  The small town of Foraker took a direct hit, and every building in town took EF2 to EF3 damage.  It didn't damage any structures until crossing into Kansas.  Many buildings in Elgin sustained EF4 damage.  One well-constructed home was swept away with debris pushed about 100 yards from the foundation, but damage was only rated high-end EF4 there as the vehicles at the home weren't moved far and shrubs weren't denuded.  Post Elgin, it began gradually turning north.  It contracted in size, and did EF2 damage to trees and outbuildings.  It passed northwest of Peru, turned due north, and weakened 2 hours and 45 minutes after touching down.  It tracked 102.5 miles, killed 16 people, and did almost $2 billion in damages.  It is considered among many one of the most violent tornadoes ever recorded.
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 * bgcolor="#" | EF5
 * E of Enid to Ponca City to Sedan (KS)
 * Garfield, Noble, Kay, Osage, Chautaugua (KS)
 * 2101
 * 102.5 mi
 * 17 deaths - Incredibly long-track and devastating EF5 tornado. Began in a field east of Enid and moved northeast.  It rapidly intesified and did EF3 damage to a home south of Breckenridge.  It then did damage to wind turbines.  EF3 damage occured to four homes north of Garber, as they were left with only interior walls standing or were flattened.   The tornado moved into open fields and widened to about a mile wide.  Chasers noted that it exhibited violent motion, ground-scouring occurred, and trees were debarked.  It continued northeast and came to Billings, where it intensified to a high-end EF4.  Several homes were left as piles of rubble and in a few cases partially swept away.  Extreme wind rowing of debris occurred northeast of town, and grass was scoured to the bare soil.  As the tornado crossed I-35, a car was thrown 500 yards and crushed, killing the occupant.  The tornado turned a bit more north and then back to its northeasterly course.  As it crossed Salt Fork and the Arkansas River, more trees were snapped and completely debarked.  A few trees were reduced to debarked stumps.  A tornado emergency was issued as it approached Ponca City.  On the west side of town, numerous homes were swept away completely, and an EF5 rating was applied to many of them.  Pavement was scoured from roads, too.  Now at peak intensity, it went through the town center.  The scope of the damage was extreme, as numerous buildings were reduced to rubble or swept away, and several buildings sustained EF5 damage.  Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and in some cases crushed beyond recognition and wrapped around debarked trees.  More homes sustained EF4 to EF5 damage on the east side.  Debris was very finely granulated and wind rowing of debris was intense.  In eight cases, the slab foundations of homes either buckled or were partially swept away.  More large and well-built homes showed EF3 to EF4 damage before the wedge crossed East Lake Ponca. Violent motion and horizontal vortices were seen by chasers.  More ground scouring and tree debarking occured as the tornado approached Kaw City, where three more homes were swept away at EF5 strength.  It then entered very rural areas, and the only damage done was ground scouring.  The small town of Foraker took a direct hit, and every building in town took EF2 to EF3 damage.  It didn't damage any structures until crossing into Kansas.  Many buildings in Elgin sustained EF4 damage.  One well-constructed home was swept away with debris pushed about 100 yards from the foundation, but damage was only rated high-end EF4 there as the vehicles at the home weren't moved far and shrubs weren't denuded.  Post Elgin, it began gradually turning north.  It contracted in size, and did EF2 damage to trees and outbuildings.  It passed northwest of Peru, turned due north, and weakened 2 hours and 45 minutes after touching down.  It tracked 102.5 miles, killed 16 people, and did almost $2 billion in damages.  It is considered among many one of the most violent tornadoes ever recorded.
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