Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 25 to 26, 2000

Hail was reported on the southwest side of Kingfisher.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

This tornado was confirmed by a damage survey from the National Weather Service and is believed to have formed about 1/4 mile southwest of the intersection of State Highway 45 and NS246 Road in Woods County, or about 7 miles south-southwest of Dacoma, where significant tree damage was evident. Dozens of large, mature trees were stripped of most limbs, and many others were pushed over mostly in a northwestward direction, but not lofted. Then at the intersection of State Highway 45 and NS246 Road the property of the Green Valley Church sustained massive damage, most significant of which occurred to the community center, a 40 foot by 20 foot wooden structure that was completely destroyed. All exterior walls, 4 total, and the 2 interior walls were made of wood and entirely displaced from the foundation with debris located near the west edge of the foundation extending northwestward about 100 feet. On the same lot, just west and north of the community center, 3 to 4 large mature trees were either pushed over to the west and northwest or largely stripped of their limbs. The roof of the parsonage located approximately 50 feet north of the community center and just north of 2 pushed-over trees, also was heavily damaged. A 15 foot section of the gable-style roof was blown off the back side of the house and lofted eastward about 50 feet. Two large mature trees located northeast of the house were pushed over in a north-northwestward direction. Lesser damage on the property occurred to the garage, located immediately northeast of the community center, where several windows were broken and numerous roof shingles were missing. Several large bales of hay also rolled westward approximately 125 feet and were embedded in structure and tree debris. Damage to the Green Valley Community Center 6 miles SSW of Dacoma is the basis for the F2 rating. As the accompanying photo (below listing of tornado at 2225 CST) shows, this building was completely destroyed with most of the debris found to the northwest of the foundation. As the tornado tracked northeastward, a 1 mile long path of tree damage was evident on both sides of EW29 Road. Most trees had numerous limbs blown off or were damaged, while fewer trees were blown over, with the majority of trees north of the road blown over to the north and trees south of the road blown over to the east. Minor structural damage was also observed about 1/4 mile south of EW29 Road. Along NS249 Road an uninhabited house sustained significant damage to the east portion thought to be a garage, which was pushed over to the north. Numerous shingles were missing from the remainder of the house roof. A flag pole on the west side of the lot was bent to the northwest, while dozens of large mature trees north and northeast of the house were heavily damaged, with most of the them missing numerous limbs, while others were pushed over. This tree damage continued northward to EW27 Road. On the southeast side of Dacoma, an old barn was blown over, while another barn of tin construction had part of its roof blown off, with debris scattered northward a short distance. The tornado dissipated 1 mile east-northeast of Dacoma where 3-4 inch diameter tree limbs were downed.

A large area of straight-line damage accompanied the Woods County tornado along and east of its track for the first 4 miles. Damage consisted mostly of significant and widespread tree damage, at times ½ to 1 mile wide, downed power poles along State Highway 45, and damage to outbuildings.

This tornado, rated F1, touched down about 5 miles east of Carmen about ½ mile south of the intersection of EW29 Road and NS260 Road in Alfalfa County where scattered damage to trees was observed. At the intersection of EW29 Road and NS260 Road, very large limbs, some a foot or more in diameter, were blown off dozens of trees, while numerous other trees were pushed over. There was also damage to an oil storage tank made of metal. A telephone pole at the intersection was recently replaced and is assumed to have been downed during the tornado. A west to east chain link fence approximately 100 to 200 feet long was also downed southward. Major tree damage was then observed at a property about ½ mile northeast of this location with many trees laying in a westward direction. A well-designed brick home near the trees, lost dozens perhaps hundreds of shingles, especially on the west side of the house. About 1 mile northeast of this location another house sustained a broken window on the north side of the house and minor roof damage, consisting mostly of missing roof shingles. Metal siding was partially peeled back from a nearby storage barn, and a medium-aged pine tree on the west side of the house was snapped halfway to the top. Near the intersection of EW27 Road and NS262 Road damage was observed to 2 metal barns. One barn had sheet metal peeled back on the roof and west and east sides. The roof of a storage building was also blown off in an eastward direction and left nearly intact on the ground. About ½ to 1 mile north and east of this location a poorly constructed barn sustained minor roof and west-side wall damage, while another barn constructed of metal had its 2 west-facing doors blown inward and partially detached from its hinges. Continuing northward trees sustained major damage, and a grain storage silo was tossed a short distance eastward from its original location. The last area of damage was observed about ½ mile north of US Highway 64 on NS264 Road where 4 pieces of sheet metal were blown off a storage barn.

This tornado formed about 10 miles west-southwest of Fairview in Major County and tracked northeastward mainly over farmland before dissipating. Although most of the damage was sustained to trees, which alone warranted an F1 rating, a house was partially unroofed 2 miles southwest of Cedar Springs, while a travel trailer and barn were destroyed.

A large swath of damaging straight-line winds also accompanied the Major County tornado along and east of the its path. In addition to more tree damage, an irrigation system was damaged 4 miles southeast of Fairview; a grain storage bin and barn were blown over, and numerous bales of hay were blown eastward. At times the damage area was several miles wide.

Floodwaters from the Eagle Chief Creek washed out a low water crossing in a construction area adjacent to US Highway 281.

A few large tree limbs were also downed on US Highway 64, 7 miles east-southeast of Cherokee, and 1/2 mile east-southeast of the end of the tornado path in Alfalfa County, but are believed to be the result of straight-line winds.

This tornado, rated F0, formed about 1 mile north-northwest of Waukomis in Garfield County and was embedded in a large line of strong to severe thunderstorms which moved through much of Garfield County. The tornado produced 2 narrow areas of damage to wheat crop near the railroad track about 1/2 mile west of Highway 81 before dissipating.

An accompanying area of straight-line winds is believed to have destroyed a storage silo near the intersection of Highway 81 and Farmall Road, or about 1/4 mile east of the end of the tornado path in Garfield County. The silo was picked up and blown eastward across Highway 81. In addition, minor roof damage was sustained to a house; trees were heavily damaged, and an oil tank separator was blown over.

A barn was partially damaged barn with debris from the barn blown onto Highway 81.

Large tree limbs were downed.

A west-facing basement window was broken by fast moving water on Waynoka Street. Four to five inches of rain was reported in the area.

Numerous trees were uprooted.

A house was struck by lightning with the extent of damage unknown.

Minor roof damage was sustained to the Walmart on East Main.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

Numerous power poles were downed.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

Two mobile homes were destroyed, with one of them occupied by a family of 3 at the time. The 3 family members were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Power poles and trees were also downed, and several vehicles were moved slightly with their windows being broken.

A power pole was downed.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

Five large transmission poles were downed on the north side of Walters. The high school lost about one third of its overlayment on the west side of the gym. Nine homes were destroyed, 6 severely damaged, and 15 with minor to moderate damage. Thirty homes in total were damaged, 20 of them mobile homes.

Trees were downed on a refinery road.

Six large trees were downed along Highway 81 at Fuqua Park.

Numerous trees were downed on county roads.

Three large trees were downed where Mud Creek flows near Highway 53.

An office building was destroyed at Miller Construction Company.

A barn was destroyed, and damage was sustained to the roof of a house.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

Six to eight inch diameter tree limbs were downed.

Measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.

The roof was damaged at Southern Oklahoma Tech Center.

Power lines were downed. One mobile home was destroyed. Trees were felled onto vehicles, and a rig was blown over at Uniroyal Tire Plant.

Trees were downed.

Lightning struck a new, uninhabited mobile home, causing a fire which destroyed the entire home.

A roof was partially blown off a house.

Large tree limbs were downed.

Roof damage was sustained to a school.