Early February 2011 Tornado Outbreak

In early February 2011, things took an unexpected turn for a tornado outbreak. From February 5th at 4:30 AM to February 7th at 11:00 PM, 63 tornadoes were reported, 88+ confirmed. This was also the deadliest February tornado outbreak of all time until 2015 [just barely exceeding this outbreak's death toll with 29]. Several wedge tornadoes were confirmed on February 5th, but regardless, nothing higher than a low-end EF3 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM Central Standard Time. An EF4 was confirmed that night at 8:08 PM and lasted for 161 full minutes on the ground. Almost half of all deaths within this tornado outbreak occurred within that twister alone. Nine fatalities did occur on February 6th and two fatalities on February 7th.

February 5th
At least 10 notable tornadoes were reported on the 5th, resulting into 17 fatalities and about 145+ injuries.

Grand Lake Towne-Ketchum-Afton, Oklahoma
This tornado formed as a powerful waterspout in the Neosho River, and the small village of Grand Lake Towne was hit just 3 minutes after the tornado formed. When it hit, the tornado caused EF1+ to low-end EF2 damage to every single home in the town. Several lakehouses sustained significant to possibly substantial damage. At least 11 injuries were confirmed in Grand Lake Towne. It directly hit downtown Ketchum, with eight injuries, about 35 structures destroyed and over 100 damaged, including one fatality. It then remained over open fields for approximately 40 minutes before hitting a few structures in Afton. It destroyed a double-wide mobile home, killing one occupant inside and injuring the other six inside. At least four other homes were destroyed, 33 homes damaged, with several outbuildings being almsot entirely swept away. It died out just as it was leaving the outskirts of Afton. It tracked 19.9 miles, was up to 250 metres wide, killed 2 people and left 29 others injured.

Strang, Oklahoma
This tornado is only notable because it was the only fatal tornado that was rated any lower than high-end EF1 [105+ mph]. Winds circled up to 84 miles per hour in this landspout-like tornado, as it tracked 7.5 miles, almost entirely through open fields and was up to 1/4 of a mile wide.

* work in progress*