Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma · 2010
EF0 tornado, Cashion to Navina, Oklahoma, May 10, 2010
From Cashion to Navina, this EF0 tornado ran 6.7 miles across Kingfisher and Logan counties on May 10, 2010, touching down at 4:46 PM CDT and reaching 30 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- May 10, 2010
- Touchdown
- 4:46 PM CDT (21:46 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:54 PM CDT (21:54 UTC)
- On the ground
- 8 minutes
- Path length
- 6.7 miles (10.8 km)
- Path width
- 30 yards (27 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Kingfisher and Logan counties
- Touchdown point
- 35.726, -97.743
- Lift-off point
- 35.726, -97.743
- Record number
- 1005101546-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A significant outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes affected a large part of northern, central, and southern Oklahoma. Tornadoes were most numerous across central and southern Oklahoma, with significant damage occurring over many areas. |Severe thunderstorms erupted by mid afternoon across northern and western Oklahoma. Given the potent combination of ingredients in place, storms began to produce tornadoes quickly after initiation. Storm motions of 50 to 60 mph were common.||During the mid afternoon hours, severe weather was confined to northern Oklahoma. It was there a long track supercell storm produced tornadoes near the Kansas border - including one rated EF3 - from near Wakita to north of Braman.||The capping inversion that had delayed thunderstorm development into central Oklahoma weakened, allowing for explosive supercell development along the dry line along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor. Rapid development and intensification was common with the late afternoon storms, with storms becoming tornadic within a very short time after initiation. This round of storms would directly impact a large part of the Oklahoma City metro area at rush hour, and posed a significant threat to the area. The first tornado in this area occurred in Canadian County.||During the next several hours, tornadoes were clustered around the metro area, and at times there were multiple significant damaging tornadoes occurring simultaneously. Several of the tornadoes had long tracks. Damage from the tornadoes was substantial, with numerous structures, vehicles, trees and power poles/lines significantly damaged or destroyed. One of the more intense tornadoes moved across Lake Thunderbird east of Norman destroying numerous boats.||More storms developed across southwest and south central Oklahoma, and also quickly became tornadic. ||By 9 pm, 35 tornadoes had been reported. While the loss of three lives was tragic, the casualties could have been much higher given the storm's fast motions, their intensity, the time of day and the areas impacted. ||While exact monetary damage figures were not available, it is estimated that losses were in excess of $595 million. At least 450 sustained injuries, most of them minor. Unfortunately three people lost their lives. ||Note: The large number of injuries and tornadoes made it difficult to associate injuries with specific tornadoes. Injury numbers were included when we had confidence in the numbers. ||Note: The complex nature of storm evolutions and interactions made the job of classifying tornadoes difficult. This represents our best scientific assessment based on ground and aerial surveys, data from multiple radars, photographic and video evidence and anecdotal information.
Kingfisher County portion of Tornado #H1. This tornado moved into Kingfisher County from Canadian County and moved northeast damaging outbuildings, trees and power lines across the southeastern portion of Kingfisher County. The tornado moved into Logan County just southeast of Cashion.
Logan County portion of tornado #H1. The tornado moved into Logan County from Kingfisher County just southeast of Cashion. The tornado moved northeast another half of a mile damaging tree limbs and an antenna.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 18:25 UTC and running to 01:17 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:25 UTC | 01:17 UTC | Tornado Watch | OUN |
| 20:41 UTC | 20:57 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN |
| 21:16 UTC | 22:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OUN |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 19:59 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Norman, OK (KOUN), 12:00Z
9.8 hours before the tornado, 64 km from the path. May 10, 2010.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 53 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -331 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 442 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 55 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 640 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 652 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 5.3
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.0 K/km
Norman, OK (KOUN), 00:00Z
2.2 hours after it, 64 km from the path. May 11, 2010.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1789 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -99 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2741 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1693 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 76 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 269 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 259 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 6.2
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.6 K/km
The surface observations
Oklahoma City/Wiley (PWA), 23 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:53 UTC | 83 | 67 | 170° 23 kt | 34 | 1001.7 | |
| 20:53 UTC | 85 | 68 | 170° 29 kt | 39 | 1000.3 | |
| 21:40 UTC | 82.4 | 66.2 | 170° 28 kt | 37 | 998 | VCTS |
| 21:53 UTC | 79 | 69 | 170° 23 kt | 41 | 998.6 | -TSRA |
| 22:16 UTC | 78.8 | 68 | 190° 26 kt | 37 | 999 | -TSRA |
| 22:30 UTC | 77 | 66.2 | 190° 20 kt | 30 | 998.3 | TS |
| 22:49 UTC | 80.6 | 69.8 | 190° 10 kt | 998.3 | ||
| 22:53 UTC | 80 | 70 | 210° 10 kt | 998.3 | ||
| 22:58 UTC | 82.4 | 69.8 | 200° 12 kt | 998.6 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Norman radar (KTLX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 21:46 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Cashion | Logan, OK | 3 HAM ANTENNAS BLOWN DOWN...NUMEROUS SHEDS DAMAGED. SIDING FROM A HOUSE WAS DAMAGED. |
| 21:50 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Sw Yukon | Canadian, OK | VIA KOTV...AND NUMEROUS SPOTTER REPORTS. |
| 22:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 N Norman | Cleveland, OK | BRADFORD PEAR TREE SHEARED OFF AT THE BOTTOM. FENCE BLOWN ACROSS ROAD. SOME SHINGLES OFF HOUSES. POWER POLES DOWN TOO. |
| 22:15 UTC | HAIL 3.75 | Del City | Oklahoma, OK | 3.5 TO 4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL. DELAYED REPORT. |
| 22:16 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | Moore | Cleveland, OK | |
| 22:18 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Sw Moore | Cleveland, OK | TORNADO ORIGINALLY REPORTED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES NEAR 164TH AND JUST EAST OF WESTERN AVE IN MOORE. NUMEROUS TORNADO REPORTS TO THE EAST NORTHEAST THROUGH MOORE CITY LIMITS. |
| 22:20 UTC | TSTM WND GST 63 | 2 Nw Norman | Cleveland, OK | |
| 22:23 UTC | HAIL 2.13 | 4 W Moore | Cleveland, OK | |
| 22:25 UTC | HAIL 4 | 1 Ene Moore | Cleveland, OK | INITIAL OBSERVER REPORTED THAT THE HAIL WAS ACTUALLY LARGER BEFORE IT WAS LATER PHOTOGRAPHED AT AROUND 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. |
| 22:25 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Ese Moore | Cleveland, OK | POWER LINES DOWN AND REPORTS OF ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOUSES SE 149TH BETWEEN SUNNYLANE AND SOONER RD. |
| 22:30 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 S Choctaw | Oklahoma, OK | |
| 22:30 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | 1 Se Moore | Cleveland, OK | ALSO TREE DAMAGE REPORTED IN THE AREA. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2010 tornado in OklahomaEvery tornado in Oklahoma since 1950Warnings in force in Oklahoma nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 10, 2010
70 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10 | 1:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Wichita, KS | 0.9 | 25 | $5,000 | ||
| May 10 | 1:31 PM CDT | EF0 | Wichita, KS | 1.3 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 1:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Logan, KS | 1.6 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 2:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Scott, KS | 0.1 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 2:18 PM CDT | EF0 | Logan, KS | 2.2 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 2:22 PM CDT | EF0 | Logan, KS | 1.3 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 3:08 PM CDT | EF0 | Ness, KS | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| May 10 | 3:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Grant, OK | 0.5 | 20 | |||
| May 10 | 3:38 PM CDT | EF3 | Grant, OK to KS | 40.7 | 1,500 | 2 | $125,000 | |
| May 10 | 3:39 PM CDT | EF0 | Grant, OK | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| May 10 | 4:03 PM CDT | EF0 | Grant, OK | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| May 10 | 4:12 PM CDT | EF0 | Kingman, KS | 2.7 | 125 | |||
| May 10 | 4:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant, OK | 5.0 | 500 | |||
| May 10 | 4:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Kay, OK | 6.7 | 400 | |||
| May 10 | 4:21 PM CDT | EF0 | Kay, OK | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| May 10 | 4:34 PM CDT | EF2 | Kingman, KS | 3.1 | 700 | $125,000 | ||
| May 10 | 4:44 PM CDT | EF1 | Kingman, KS | 1.8 | 300 | |||
| May 10 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF0 | Canadian, OK | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| May 10 | 4:46 PM CDT | EF0 | Canadian, OK | 4.0 | 40 | |||
| May 10 | 4:49 PM CDT | EF1 | Cowley, KS | 1.4 | 300 | $200,000 | ||
| May 10 | 4:53 PM CDT | EF0 | Noble, OK | 0.5 | 20 | |||
| May 10 | 4:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Sedgwick, KS | 5.1 | 300 | $50,000 | ||
| May 10 | 5:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Noble, OK | 21.0 | 2,460 | $50,000 | ||
| May 10 | 5:02 PM CDT | EF1 | Noble, OK | 1.5 | 40 | |||
| May 10 | 5:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Jefferson, OK | 5.0 | 50 | |||
| May 10 | 5:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Cowley, KS | 0.7 | 150 | $15,000 | ||
| May 10 | 5:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Oklahoma, OK | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 10 | 5:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Stephens, OK | 6.3 | 700 | |||
| May 10 | 5:20 PM CDT | EF4 | Moore–Choctaw tornado, OK | 24.0 | 2,000 | 2 | 49 | |
| May 10 | 5:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Cleveland, OK | 3.8 | 250 | |||
| May 10 | 5:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Cleveland, OK | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 10 | 5:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Elk, KS | 0.3 | 75 | |||
| May 10 | 5:32 PM CDT | EF4 | Norman–Lake Thunderbird tornado, OK | 22.3 | 880 | 1 | 32 | |
| May 10 | 5:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Osage, OK | 0.1 | 75 | |||
| May 10 | 5:34 PM CDT | EF1 | Cleveland, OK | 5.5 | 250 | |||
| May 10 | 5:36 PM CDT | EF1 | McClain, OK | 4.6 | 880 | |||
| May 10 | 5:37 PM CDT | EF0 | McClain, OK | 0.8 | 150 | |||
| May 10 | 5:39 PM CDT | EF2 | Cleveland, OK | 17.4 | 440 | 3 | ||
| May 10 | 5:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Osage, OK | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| May 10 | 5:44 PM CDT | EF0 | Jefferson, OK | 1.5 | 30 | |||
| May 10 | 5:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Osage, OK | 1.0 | 75 | |||
| May 10 | 5:48 PM CDT | EF3 | Pottawatomie, OK | 6.5 | 880 | 3 | ||
| May 10 | 5:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Stephens, OK | 2.0 | 50 | |||
| May 10 | 5:56 PM CDT | EF3 | Pottawatomie, OK | 37.2 | 2,200 | 28 | $15,000 | |
| May 10 | 6:04 PM CDT | EF2 | Carter, OK | 4.5 | 400 | |||
| May 10 | 6:22 PM CDT | EF3 | Carter, OK | 4.9 | 400 | |||
| May 10 | 6:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Carter, OK | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| May 10 | 6:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Okfuskee, OK | 14.0 | 1,000 | $40,000 | ||
| May 10 | 6:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Cleveland, OK | 2.0 | 80 | |||
| May 10 | 6:54 PM CDT | EF1 | Love, OK | 2.0 | 200 | |||
| May 10 | 7:03 PM CDT | EF0 | Okmulgee, OK | 0.5 | 100 | $1,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:04 PM CDT | EF2 | Okmulgee, OK | 12.0 | 1,250 | $150,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:08 PM CDT | EF0 | Marshall, OK | 0.7 | 40 | |||
| May 10 | 7:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Marshall, OK | 0.6 | 40 | |||
| May 10 | 7:16 PM CDT | EF2 | McIntosh, OK | 1.8 | 300 | $40,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Okfuskee, OK | 15.5 | 650 | $40,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:23 PM CDT | EF2 | McIntosh, OK | 13.0 | 800 | $125,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:25 PM CDT | EF0 | McIntosh, OK | 0.4 | 100 | |||
| May 10 | 7:28 PM CDT | EF1 | McIntosh, OK | 2.6 | 600 | $3,000 | ||
| May 10 | 7:30 PM CDT | EF1 | McIntosh, OK | 1.0 | 300 | $2,000 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.