Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 20 to 21, 2013

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 20 to 21, 2013
Start: 2013-05-20T11:30
End: 2013-05-21T09:16
Location: Oklahoma

May 20 to 21, 2013 · NWS OUN · 44 events in 21 counties and zones

A tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the 20th. Several tornadoes occurred from central Oklahoma down through south central Oklahoma near the Red River.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 24
Injuries: 212
Property damage: $2.0 billion
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 44

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

A tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the 20th. Several tornadoes occurred from central Oklahoma down through south central Oklahoma near the Red River. The strongest tornado touched down near Newcastle and traveled through Moore and south Oklahoma City. This tornado caused catastrophic damage in these areas, with a maximum rating of EF-5. The tornado claimed 24 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. In addition to the tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds cause damage in many areas.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 20, 11:25 AM CST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 11:25 AM CST, 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1225 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFS... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS
OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING. SITES
THAT COULD BE AFFECTED ARE KPNC/KOKC/KOUN/KLAW/KSPS... BUT THE
MOST LIKELY LOCATIONS ARE KOKC/KOUN. STRONG AND VARIABLE WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THESE STORMS. MVFR/VFR
CEILINGS WILL AFFECT THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE TAF PERIOD.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1030 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2013/

UPDATE...
SEVERE WEATHER IS STILL EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT. INCREASED POPS
THROUGH 12Z TUES...AND ADJUSTED SKY GRIDS SLIGHTLY. PLEASE SEE
THE DISCUSSION BELOW.

DISCUSSION...
THE LATEST INFORMATION IS INDICATING THAT WE ARE SETTING UP FOR
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL
INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING. ALTHOUGH THE 12Z OUN SOUNDING INDICATES A RATHER
SUBSTANTIAL CAPPING INVERSION IN PLACE WE STILL ANTICIPATE
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF BOTH THE SFC COLD FRONT
AND DRYLINE BY EARLY THIS AFTN.

SHORT RANGE HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS ARE DEPICTING TWO DIFFERENT STORM
MODES ACROSS OKLAHOMA TODAY. FROM JUST NORTH AND EAST OF THE
OKLAHOMA CITY METRO STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE LINEAR AND BE
MORE OF A HAIL AND WIND THREAT.

HOWEVER...FROM NEAR THE OKC METRO...SOUTHWEST ALONG AND SOUTH OF
THE I-44 CORRIDOR...INCLUDING ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA AND PERHAPS PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS FROM THE WICHITA
FALLS AREA EAST...STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE ISOLATED AND
DISCRETE IN NATURE. THE WINDS FIELDS WILL BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG...LONG-
TRACKED TORNADOES AS WELL AS EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS. THE AREA OF SOUTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA COULD SEE THESE STORMS LINGER THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON
AND MUCH OF THE EVENING HOURS.

POPS WERE INCREASED ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN FA FOR THIS
AFTERNOON/EVE.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 646 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2013/

DISCUSSION...
AVIATION DISCUSSION FOR THE 12Z TAFS IS BELOW.

AVIATION...
MVFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 16-18Z AT KOKC...KOUN...AND
KPNC. MVFR CONDITIONS MAY REDEVELOP ANYWHERE SOUTH OF KHBR-
KPNC...BUT DID NOT MENTION DUE TO LOW CONFIDENCE.

ADDED VCTS AT KOKC AND KOUN 17-21Z WHERE CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE
IS MODERATE. ADDITIONAL TSRA MAY OCCUR AT OTHER SITES AS WELL BUT
DID NOT MENTION DUE TO LOW CONFIDENCE. IF TSRA DIRECTLY AFFECTS
SITE...BRIEF MVFR AND LOWER CONDITIONS AND VARIABLE GUSTY WIND
WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

A FRONT NEAR KHBR-KPNC WILL SLOWLY MOVE SOUTH AFTER 18Z AND BRING
A WIND SHIFT FROM GENERALLY THE SOUTH TO NORTH.

MBS

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 459 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2013/

DISCUSSION...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH
VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES IS THE FORECAST CHALLENGE OF
THE DAY.

THROUGH 11 AM THIS MORNING...CAPPING SHOULD NOT ALLOW FOR
MUCH...IF ANY STORM DEVELOPMENT. LOCATIONS NEAR AND EAST OF
PONCA CITY HAVE THE BEST SHOT FOR AN ELEVATED STORM OR TWO.

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT ANOTHER ROUND OF SIGNIFICANT SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING IN THE
SPC MODERATE RISK AREA. THE ENVIRONMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
WILL BE SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY WITH A FEW SUBTLE DIFFERENCES
INCLUDING SLIGHTLY LOWER LOW LEVEL HELICITY AND SHEAR VALUES AND
SLIGHTLY WEAKER CAPPING.

IT APPEARS THE HIGHEST CHANCE AREA FOR SEVERE STORMS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BE A BIT FARTHER SOUTH THAN
YESTERDAY...PERHAPS NEAR A DUNCAN TO PAULS VALLEY TO SEMINOLE
LINE. THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA MAY BE AFFECTED...PARTICULARLY THE
SOUTH SIDE INCLUDING NORMAN AND MOORE. FIRST STORMS MAY DEVELOP A
BIT EARLIER AS A RESULT OF SLIGHTLY WEAKER CAPPING...1 TO 3
PM...SOMEWHERE NEAR OR JUST EAST OF I-44 FROM LAWTON TO OKLAHOMA
CITY. BASED ON LATEST HRRR/MODEL GUIDANCE...STORMS WOULD LIKELY
BEGIN AS DISCRETE SUPERCELLS AND MAY REMAIN AS THIS STORM MODE...
THOUGH SOME MODELS HINT THAT STORMS MAY BECOME MORE LINEAR. LOW
LEVEL SHEAR IS FORECAST TO INCREASE SLOWLY THROUGHOUT THE
AFTERNOON WITH AN INCREASING CHANCE FOR TORNADOES...WHICH MAY
LARGE AND LONG LIVED. VERY LARGE HAIL WILL BE ANOTHER CONCERN WITH
ANY SUPERCELL. STORMS MAY DIMINISH OR MOVE INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA
DURING THE EVENING HOURS AS THE LOW LEVEL JET VEERS TO THE
SOUTHWEST. THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WILL DECREASE TONIGHT.

LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF I-44 HAVE A MUCH LESS CHANCE FOR SEVERE
STORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. A FRONT NEAR A FREDERICK TO STILLWATER
LINE WILL MOVE VERY LITTLE THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.
TEMPERATURES TODAY SHOULD BE A BIT COOLER THAN YESTERDAY IN
MOST LOCATIONS.

ON TUESDAY...THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FRONT...MAINLY SOUTHEAST OF AN ARDMORE TO
ADA LINE...DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE
HAIL MAY BE THE MAIN HAZARDS. CONFIDENCE OF SEVERE IS LOWER IN
THESE AREAS.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...KEPT LOW CHANCES...20 TO 30 PERCENT
FOR STORMS DURING MOST PERIODS DURING THIS FRAME...THOUGH MID
LEVEL RIDGING SHOULD REDUCE STORM COVERAGE. A FEW SEVERE STORMS
ARE POSSIBLE NEARLY EACH DAY DUE TO MODERATE TO HIGH INSTABILITY
AND ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. TEMPERATURES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY
BELOW AVERAGE ON WEDNESDAY ARE FORECAST TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE BY
THE WEEKEND.

MBS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
OKLAHOMA CITY OK  85  64  77  58 /  50  50  30  10
HOBART OK         94  60  83  56 /  20  10  20  10
WICHITA FALLS TX  96  68  84  61 /  40  30  20  10
GAGE OK           84  53  83  48 /  20  10  10   0
PONCA CITY OK     83  60  78  53 /  30  40  20  10
DURANT OK         88  70  81  64 /  10  60  60  40

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...NONE.
TX...NONE.
&&

03/30/25

Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 11:30 AM CST, 0 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...OUTLOOK UNCHANGED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1230 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-211000-
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-
ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-BECKHAM-
WASHITA-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-
COMANCHE-STEPHENS-GARVIN-MURRAY-PONTOTOC-COAL-COTTON-JEFFERSON-
CARTER-JOHNSTON-ATOKA-LOVE-MARSHALL-BRYAN-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-
WICHITA-KNOX-BAYLOR-ARCHER-CLAY-
1230 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK COVERS NORTHERN...WESTERN...
CENTRAL...AND SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT
ACROSS PORTIONS OF OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS. A FEW TORNADOES
ARE EXPECTED.

LOCATION...
THE MODERATE RISK AREA IS SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM WICHITA FALLS
TEXAS...TO LAWTON OKLAHOMA...TO EL RENO...TO GUTHRIE...TO
STILLWATER. A SLIGHT RISK AREA SURROUNDS THE MODERATE RISK...
AND IS EAST OF A LINE FROM MUNDAY TO VERNON IN TEXAS...AND
ALTUS...TO WEATHERFORD...TO MEDFORD IN OKLAHOMA.

TIMING...
ALTHOUGH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM 1 PM THROUGH
MIDNIGHT...THE PEAK HOURS FOR SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING TORNADOES...
WILL BE BETWEEN 3 PM AND 8 PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

IMPACTS...
TORNADOES...POTENTIALLY STRONG WITH LONG TRACKS...ALONG WITH BASEBALL
SIZED HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS
WITHIN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. PING PONG BALL SIZED HAIL AND WINDS TO
ABOUT 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STRONGER STORMS WITHIN THE SLIGHT
RISK AREA.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS...
STORM SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE
RISK AREAS SHOULD PLAN FOR SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS FROM 1 PM UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.

DISCUSSION...
THE WEATHER SITUATION TODAY VERY MUCH RESEMBLES YESTERDAY. WARM...
UNSTABLE AIR WILL AGAIN LIE EAST OF A COLD FRONT/DRYLINE COMBINATION
THAT WILL BE OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...AND WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS. VERTICAL WIND PROFILES WILL AGAIN SUPPORT ROTATING UPDRAFTS
AND SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA.
A SLIGHTLY WEAKER CAPPING INVERSION IS INDICATED...WHICH SUGGESTS
A SLIGHTLY EARLIER BEGINNING OF STORM DEVELOPMENT...COMPARED TO
YESTERDAY. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAIRLY SPARSE EARLY IN THE
EVENT...THEN MERGE INTO SMALL CLUSTERS DURING THE EVENING.

LATEST HIGH RESOLUTION NUMERICAL MODEL FORECASTS COUPLED WITH TRENDS
IN OTHER WEATHER DATA SETS SUGGEST THE INTIAL THREAT WILL FOCUS IN
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA IN THE INTERSTATE 44 CORRIDOR...INCLUDING THE OKLAHOMA
CITY METRO AREA. WE EXPECT STORMS TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP AROUND 1 OR 2 PM
IN THESE AREAS AND BECOME SEVERE AS THEY MOVE EAST. THE GREATEST RISK FOR
TORNADOES WILL BE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 AND EAST OF INSTERSTATE 44.

PROBABILITY TABLE...
VALID THROUGH 700 AM CDT TUESDAY MAY 21.
PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING IN THE
              NWS NORMAN COUNTY WARNING AREA...100 PERCENT.
PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS IF STORMS OCCUR...NEAR 100 PERCENT.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
HOT...DRY...AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN ELEVATED WILDFIRE
POTENTIAL IN WESTERN NORTH TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON TUESDAY...MAINLY ACROSS THE
SOUTHEAST HALF OF OKLAHOMA. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
EACH DAY FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT
CURRENTLY EXPECTED ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
NONE.

THE NEXT SCHEDULED HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 5 AM
TUESDAY AND UPDATED AS NEEDED.

CMS/16

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 6:07 AM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
707 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0540 PM     HAIL             4 NE NORMAN             35.26N 97.39W
05/19/2013  E2.00 INCH       CLEVELAND          OK   NWS EMPLOYEE

0630 PM     HAIL             CHOCTAW                 35.48N 97.27W
05/19/2013  E1.25 INCH       OKLAHOMA           OK   STORM CHASER

&&

FM

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pontotoc

When: May 20, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, 1.33 mi ENE of Ada
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.780, -96.660

Hail, Grady

When: May 20, 12:54 PM CST
Where: Grady County, 3.45 mi S of Rush Springs
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.730, -97.960

Hail, Grady

When: May 20, 12:56 PM CST
Where: Grady County, 1.38 mi S of Rush Springs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.760, -97.960

Hail, Stephens

When: May 20, 1:02 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 6.41 mi WNW of Duncan
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.520, -98.070

Hail, Canadian

When: May 20, 1:27 PM CST
Where: Canadian County, 0.89 mi NW of Yukon
Measured: 3.25 in hail
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.510, -97.750

Hail, Oklahoma

When: May 20, 1:28 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma County, (Okc)will Rogers Apt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.390, -97.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When: May 20, 1:45 PM CST to 1:47 PM CST
Where: Grady County, 3.06 mi NE of Bridge Creek to 3.5 mi NE of Bridge Creek
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.258, -97.678

An area of wind damage occurred in far northwestern Grady County into northeastern McClain County before the development of the Newcastle-Moore tornado. In Grady County, the damage was confined to trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, McClain

When: May 20, 1:47 PM CST to 1:56 PM CST
Where: McClain County, 4.08 mi W of Newcastle to 3.05 mi NW of Newcastle
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.261, -97.671

An area of wind damage occurred in far northeastern Grady County into northwestern McClain County before the development of the Newcastle-Moore tornado. Tree damage occurred throughout this path, and a number of homes and mobile homes received damage in McClain County.

Tornado, McClain

When: May 20, 1:56 PM CST to 2:04 PM CST
Where: McClain County, 2.83 mi NW of Newcastle to 3.67 mi N of Newcastle
Rating: EF4
Path length: 1.85 mi
Path width: 1,280 yd
Continued into: Cleveland, Ok (OUN)
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.284, -97.628

The violent Newcastle-Moore tornado was first observed developing about one-half mile south of State Highway 37 in northwest Newcastle to the east of Rockwell Avenue. EF4 damage was observed soon after the tornado crossed State Highway 37. The tornado continued to expand in size as it approached the Canadian River and moved into Cleveland County.

Of the 212 direct injuries documented with this tornado, 5 are estimated to have occurred in McClain County.

Tornado, Stephens

When: May 20, 1:58 PM CST to 2:01 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 7 mi SSE of Marlow to 5.72 mi NE of Duncan
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.556, -97.913

A brief tornado was reported via Spotter Network near Marlow. No damage was reported and the tornado lasted a very short time.

Tornado, Cleveland

When: May 20, 2:04 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where: Cleveland County, 6.97 mi WSW of Moore to 2.91 mi WNW of Stanley Draper Lake Dam
Rating: EF5
Path length: 12 mi
Path width: 1,900 yd
Deaths: 24 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 207 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.0 billion
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.303, -97.605

The violent Newcastle-Moore tornado moved into Cleveland County from McClain County as it moved northeast across the Canadian River near Interstate 44. The tornado then turned more east and then east-northeast after crossing Interstate 44. Violent EF4 damage was again observed as it began to move into progressively higher density residential areas approaching May Avenue.

The center of the large tornado path passed near SW 149th Street and Western Avenue. After crossing Western Avenue, numerous buildings were destroyed and horses killed at Orr Family Farm. Two storage tanks estimated to weigh approximately 10 tons were lifted from Orr Family Farm and landed about one-half mile east. Moving east, the tornado destroyed much of Briarwood Elementary School, where the NWS storm survey team initially rated the damage as EF5. However, further evaluation indicated that an EF4 rating was more appropriate at the school. Despite the destruction of this elementary school during school hours, no fatalities occurred at the school. As the tornado continued to move east and east-northeast, it moved through much more densely populated suburban neighborhoods of southwest Oklahoma City and Moore where violent destruction was widespread and a few houses were rated EF5. The width of EF4 and greater damage was up to 250 yards wide as the tornado moved through neighborhoods east of Western Avenue. The first two fatalities occurred in a house in the neighborhood just east of Briarwood Elementary, with another fatality in a house as the tornado approached Santa Fe Avenue.

After crossing Santa Fe Avenue, the tornado moved through more suburban neighborhoods and toward Plaza Towers Elementary School. Damage to the school was extensive and seven children were killed when a wall collapsed at the school. Nine other people were killed in eight different neighborhood homes within one-quarter mile of Plaza Towers Elementary, most occurring just south of the school.

The tornado turned northeast as it approached Telephone Road, made a loop near the intersection of Telephone Road and 4th Street, then moved southeast crossing the interstate. Three people were killed when a convenience store along Telephone Road was destroyed. Crossing Telephone Road, the tornado inflicted significant damage to the Moore Medical Center, a post office and numerous businesses along Telephone Road and Interstate 35. Although the tornado was more narrow after crossing Interstate 35, it continued to produce EF4 damage in neighborhoods east of the interstate as it curved east and then again east-northeast. One fatality occurred at a business just east of the interstate, and one final fatality occurred in a home between Eastern Avenue and Bryant Avenue. Consistent EF4 damage continued until the tornado passed SE 4th Street just east of Bryant Avenue. Moving east from Bryant, the tornado continued to produce EF2 damage with isolated EF4 damage noted. The density of housing also decreased east of Bryant as the tornado moved east and east-northeast before dissipating east of Air Depot Blvd. between SE 119th Street and SE 134th Street in southeast Oklahoma City.

Overall, over 300 homes experienced EF4/EF5 damage along the tornado path. Of the 212 direct injuries documented from this tornado, 207 are estimated to have occurred in Cleveland County.

Hail, Oklahoma

When: May 20, 2:06 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma County, 1.78 mi SW of Valley Brook
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.380, -97.500

Tornado, Stephens

When: May 20, 2:07 PM CST to 2:22 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 4 mi SSE of Marlow to 4 mi W of Bray
Rating: EF1
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.596, -97.933

Several storm chasers and spotters observed a tornado that developed southeast of Marlow, and moved northeast to between Marlow and Bray. Minor damage to trees and power lines was reported. No injuries or fatalities occurred.

Hail, Oklahoma

When: May 20, 3:12 PM CST
Where: Oklahoma County, (Okc)will Rogers Apt
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.390, -97.600

Reported at Will Rogers World Airport.

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 20, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Waurika
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.170, -98.000

Hail, Garvin

When: May 20, 3:36 PM CST
Where: Garvin County, 0.69 mi N of Whitebead
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.770, -97.300

Tornado, Lincoln

When: May 20, 3:40 PM CST to 3:42 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 6 mi NE of Meeker to 3.13 mi SSE of Sparks
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.21 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.561, -96.815

Several reports were received of a brief tornado northeast of Meeker. No damage was reported.

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 20, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Cornish
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.160, -97.600

Hail, Garvin

When: May 20, 3:52 PM CST
Where: Garvin County, 6.24 mi W of Stratford
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.800, -97.070

Hail, Murray

When: May 20, 4:43 PM CST
Where: Murray County, 2.15 mi SSE of Turner Falls
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.400, -97.140

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When: May 20, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Carter County, Gene Autry
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.280, -97.040

Roof blown off of Old Gene Autry Gym.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When: May 20, 5:39 PM CST
Where: Johnston County, 2.38 mi WNW of Wapanucka
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.380, -96.460

A spotter reported branches down in the area.

Tornado, Coal

When: May 20, 5:49 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
Where: Coal County, 4 mi WSW of Lehigh to 2 mi E of Lehigh
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.9 mi
Path width: 250 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.448, -96.285

Emergency management and spotters reported a tornado near Lehigh. Damage to trees and outbuildings occurred. Damages estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bryan

When: May 20, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Bryan County, 4.19 mi N of Durant Eaker Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.990, -96.390

Trees and power lines reported down on the west side of Durant.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When: May 20, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Carter County, 2.37 mi NNE of Lone Grove
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.210, -97.240

Mesonet WNW of Ardmore reported a gust to 62 mph.

Hail, Love

When: May 20, 7:24 PM CST
Where: Love County, 0.69 mi S of Marietta
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.930, -97.120

Hail, Marshall

When: May 20, 8:09 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 3.86 mi NNE of Woodville
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.020, -96.620

Hail, Bryan

When: May 20, 8:58 PM CST
Where: Bryan County, 0.57 mi W of Cobb
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.080, -96.420

At the intersection of SH-22 and Albert Pike Rd.

Hail, Comanche

When: May 20, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Geronimo
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.480, -98.380

Hail, Stephens

When: May 20, 10:26 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 1.49 mi NNW of Duncan
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.520, -97.970

At the Stephens Co. Fairgrounds.

Hail, Garvin

When: May 20, 10:27 PM CST
Where: Garvin County, Wynnewood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.640, -97.160

Public reported dime to quarter size hail covering the ground.

Hail, Stephens

When: May 20, 10:34 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 2.76 mi N of Empire City
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.460, -98.040

Reported via Kswo.

Hail, Pontotoc

When: May 20, 11:26 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, 1.33 mi ENE of Ada
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.780, -96.660

Hail, McClain

When: May 21, 3:00 AM CST
Where: McClain County, 1.13 mi E of Purcell
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.010, -97.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: May 21, 4:17 AM CST
Where: Caddo County, 2.27 mi W of Cyril
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.900, -98.240

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: May 21, 4:20 AM CST
Where: Caddo County, Cyril
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.900, -98.200

Trees damaged and power lines down.

Hail, Caddo

When: May 21, 4:25 AM CST
Where: Caddo County, Cyril
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.900, -98.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: May 21, 4:26 AM CST
Where: Caddo County, Cement
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.940, -98.140

Roof was blown off building near Highway 277.

Hail, Grady

When: May 21, 4:46 AM CST
Where: Grady County, Ninnekah
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.950, -97.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: May 21, 4:49 AM CST
Where: Caddo County, Cement
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.940, -98.140

Trees and power lines were reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grady

When: May 21, 4:50 AM CST
Where: Grady County, 2.15 mi NNW of Ninnekah
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.980, -97.930

Hail, Greer

When: May 21, 8:53 AM CST
Where: Greer County, 1.13 mi E of Reed
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.900, -99.680

Hail, Greer

When: May 21, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Greer County, 2.99 mi SSE of Brinkman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.970, -99.500

Hail, Kiowa

When: May 21, 9:16 AM CST
Where: Kiowa County, 0.69 mi S of Lone Wolf
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.980, -99.250

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	63	Male	Business	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	38	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	45	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	40	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	70	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	7	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	4	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	49	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	51	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	46	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	54	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	65	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	39	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-08-01	90	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	29	Female	Permanent Structure	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	49	Female	Permanent Structure	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	0	Male	Permanent Structure	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Female	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Female	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Female	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Female	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	8	Male	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Male	School	Direct
Tornado, Cleveland	2013-05-20	9	Male	School	Direct

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Oklahoma, 2013 Warnings in Oklahoma, May 2013

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 451539, 451540, 451541, 451542, 451543, 451544, 465057, 465060, 451537, 453283, 451572, 451545, 453285, 451546, 451547, 451548, 453287, 451549, 451550, 451551, 451552, 451553, 453289, 451554, 451556, 451558, 451559, 451560, 451562, 451564, 451566, 451568, 451666, 451667, 451673, 451674, 451668, 451675, 451669, 451676, and more.