Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 25, 1993

Severe thunderstorms developed in northeast Oklahoma ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon of April 24th and moved across eastern and portions of eastern Oklahoma during the night. The thunderstorms spawned 8 tornadoes, and produced hail to baseball-size and damaging straight line winds. The first two tornadoes of the day were the most destructive. The first tornado touched down in East Tulsa near 6th Street and 135th East Avenue at 1750 CST. This tornado moved northeast for about a mile before entering Rogers County at 1753 CST. There, a truck stop near Interstate 44 and 161st East Avenue took a direct hit from the tornado. Numerous tractor- trailers and cars were destroyed in the vicinity of the truck stop. Six people were killed at or near the truck stop. The tornado then continued northeast into Catoosa where several residential neighborhoods and the Colonial Port Mobile Home Park received heavy damage. The 7th and final fatality associated with this tornado occurred at the mobile home park. The tornado dissipated at 1803 CST 1 mile west of State Highway 66 north of Catoosa. This F4 tornado traveled 5.5 miles and was 250 yards wide. (M70P)(M39V)(F39V)(F8V)(M33V)(M35O)(F77M) A second tornado formed at 1757 CST near the truck stop at Interstate 44 and 161st East Avenue and moved east northeast. This tornado also caused heavy damage to Catoosa, but resulted in no additional fatalities. The tornado lifted at 1815 CST 1.5 miles north of State Highway 412 to the east of Catoosa. This F3 tornado traveled 8 miles and was 250 yards wide. The two tornadoes injured about 130 people, and damaged or destroyed 70% of the businesses in Catoosa. Damage estimates for Catoosa schools was estimated at $8 to $10 million, with the high school sustaining the brunt of the damage. Total damage caused by the tornadoes has been estimated at over $100 million. This thunderstorm also produced a microburst which destroyed a church at 15th Street and Memorial Drive in Tulsa, and damaged several other Tulsa businesses. Straight line winds also caused damage to homes and destroyed two mobile homes in Wagoner County. In all, approximately 858 dwellings were affected by the storms. Preliminary figures by county are as follows: Tulsa County - 116 homes were damaged, 17 mobile homes were damaged, 3 businesses were destroyed, 40 businesses were damaged, 1 public building was destroyed, 2 public buildings were damaged, 1 church building was destroyed, and 5 church buildings were damaged; Rogers County - 163 homes were destroyed, 147 homes were damaged, 100 mobile homes were destroyed, 41 rental units were damaged or destroyed, 49 businesses were damaged or destroyed, and 15 public buildings were damaged or destroyed; Wagoner County - 111 homes were damaged and 2 mobile homes were destroyed. The third tornado touched down at 1846 CST, 4 miles west of Locust Grove in Mayes County and moved east northeast for 4.5 miles before lifting at 1856 CST, 1.5 miles north of Locust Grove. The tornado destroyed 1 house and 5 mobile homes, and damaged 10 houses and 7 mobile homes. Several barns and outbuildings were also destroyed. One minor injury was caused by the tornado. This F2 tornado caused around $500,000 worth of damage and was 150 yards wide. The 4th and 8th tornadoes were brief F0-tornado with no significant damage reported. The tornadoes occurred 2 miles west of Rose in Mayes County at 1917CST, near Chance in Adair County at 2015 CST, 4 miles northeast of Centrahoma in Coal County at 2155 CST, near Ashland in Pittsburg County at 2215 CST and 4 miles west of Wapanucka in Johnston County at 2235 CST. Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines, and destroyed barns and outbuildings at several locations. Strong straight line winds destroyed a mobile home 2 miles south-southeast of Leach, destroyed a chicken house 3 miles southwest of Leach, damaged barns and gates 10 miles west of Atoka and downed 4 power poles near Idabel. Large hail was widespread with the storms. Baseball-size hail fell 10 miles east of Catoosa and 2 miles northwest of Locust Grove. Golfball-size hail covered the ground along State Highway 412 from 2 miles west of Inola to 1 mile south of Chouteau. A lightning strike started an oil tank battery fire near Lindsay.