Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, April 16, 1995

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Severe thunderstorms moved across southwestern and south-central Oklahoma during the afternoon and early evening, producing two tornados, damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding. A second area of thunderstorms moved across northern Oklahoma during the afternoon and produced large and damaging hail. With the storms in southwest Oklahoma two tornados were reported. The first occurred in Tillman County where a small, brief F0 tornado (gustnado) spun up on the leading edge of a thunderstorm three miles southwest of Tipton. No damage was reported. The second tornado, an F1, occurred three miles east of Faxon in Comanche County around 1600 CST. Along a path about one-quarter mile long and 33 yards wide, two barns were destroyed, a propane tank was blown over, tops of trees were twisted and snapped, and power poles were downed. Also with these storms in southwest Oklahoma, baseball-size hail fell in Indiahoma in Comanche County, broke out car windows east of Duke in Jackson County, and broke out house windows three miles northeast of Tipton in Tillman County. Flash flooding also became a problem as water was reported up to car headlights in Comanche in Stephens County. As the storms moved eastward into south-central Oklahoma, thunderstorm winds increased and some damage was reported. A barn was destroyed by severe thunderstorm winds near Faxon in Comanche County, and wind speeds as high as 72 mph were reported south of Duncan in Stephens County. In Carter County five miles north of Lone Grove, winds destroyed three barns and a wellhouse and did slight damage to three houses. In northern Oklahoma wind-driven hail in severe thunderstorms caused both crop and property damage. Quarter- to half-dollar-size hail in Garfield County broke out house windows three miles south of Fairmont and five miles southeast of Garber. In Noble County six miles south of Billings house windows were broken out by golf ball-size hail. Many wheat fields in Garfield and Noble Counties were also destroyed.

Severe thunderstorms developed in northeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening of April 16th. The storms produced large hail, damaging winds, and 1 tornado. The tornado touched down 1 mile east of Avant at 1650CST and was on the ground for 0.2 miles. 2 mobile homes were damaged by this 50 yard wide, F-0 tornado. Strong thunderstorm winds overturned and damaged a camper just southwest of Vinita, and a mobile home was also blown 5 feet off its foundation just southwest of Vinita. Strong thunderstorm winds blew part of the roof off a bus barn and caused damage to the south end of the bus barn at the corner of Osage Street and 2nd Street in Skiatook. Several trees and large tree limbs were also blown down in Skiatook. Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees 2 miles east of Oologah, and winds gusted to 65 miles an hour at Tall Chief Cove in Sperry. Half dollar size hail fell at Cleveland, and quarter size hail covered the ground 8 miles southwest of Bowring and at Osage. Dime to quarter size hail also fell at several other locations in northeast Oklahoma. Very heavy rainfall from the thunderstorms also resulted in flash flooding. Considerable street flooding occurred in Chelsea, and water entered some businesses on Main Street in Chelsea. Approximately 10 low-water bridges had to be closed in the Chelsea area due to high water. High water flooded roadways in Hominy, and considerable street flooding occurred in Cleveland and from just west of Skiatook into Skiatook.

Severe thunderstorms moved across southwestern and south-central Oklahoma during the afternoon and early evening, producing two tornados, damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding. A second area of thunderstorms moved across northern Oklahoma during the afternoon and produced large and damaging hail. With the storms in southwest Oklahoma two tornados were reported. The first occurred in Tillman County where a small, brief F0 tornado (gustnado) spun up on the leading edge of a thunderstorm three miles southwest of Tipton. No damage was reported. The second tornado, an F1, occurred three miles east of Faxon in Comanche County around 1600 CST. Along a path about one-quarter mile long and 33 yards wide, two barns were destroyed, a propane tank was blown over, tops of trees were twisted and snapped, and power poles were downed. Also with these storms in southwest Oklahoma, baseball-size hail fell in Indiahoma in Comanche County, broke out car windows east of Duke in Jackson County, and broke out house windows three miles northeast of Tipton in Tillman County. Flash flooding also became a problem as water was reported up to car headlights in Comanche in Stephens County. As the storms moved eastward into south-central Oklahoma, thunderstorm winds increased and some damage was reported. A barn was destroyed by severe thunderstorm winds near Faxon in Comanche County, and wind speeds as high as 72 mph were reported south of Duncan in Stephens County. In Carter County five miles north of Lone Grove, winds destroyed three barns and a wellhouse and did slight damage to three houses. In northern Oklahoma wind-driven hail in severe thunderstorms caused both crop and property damage. Quarter- to half-dollar-size hail in Garfield County broke out house windows three miles south of Fairmont and five miles southeast of Garber. In Noble County six miles south of Billings house windows were broken out by golf ball-size hail. Many wheat fields in Garfield and Noble Counties were also destroyed.