Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma · 2017
EF1 tornado, Green to Langley Arpt, Oklahoma, April 25, 2017
From Green to Langley Arpt, this EF1 tornado ran 4.1 miles across Mayes County on April 25, 2017, touching down at 11:34 PM CDT and reaching 600 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $40,000 of property damage.
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 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
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
- EF1
- Date
- April 25, 2017
- Touchdown
- 11:34 PM CDT (04:34 UTC)
- Lifted
- 11:41 PM CDT (04:41 UTC)
- On the ground
- 7 minutes
- Path length
- 4.1 miles (6.6 km)
- Path width
- 600 yards (549 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $40,000
- County
- Mayes County
- Touchdown point
- 36.400, -95.389
- Lift-off point
- 36.426, -95.327
- Record number
- 1704252234-01
The damage survey
105 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS TSA, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 mph.
- multiple snapped and uprooted trees
- uprooted trees down 180 degrees different
- convergent tree damage here
- multiple trees snapped here
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
Severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front that moved into eastern Oklahoma during the evening of the 25th. The storms moved eastward across the area through the early morning hours of the 26th, resulting in three tornadoes, hail up to baseball size, and damaging wind. Locally heavy rainfall of three to four inches resulted in flash flooding.
A tornado destroyed a mobile home, damaged several homes, destroyed outbuildings, snapped and uprooted numerous trees, and blew down power poles. The tornado developed north of the W 450 Road and west of the N 429 Road and moved northeast until it crossed the W 420 Road. It then curved to the north until it dissipated north of the W 400 Road. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.
A tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees, destroyed outbuildings, damaged homes, and blew down power poles. The tornado developed north of the W 430 Road and west of the N 428 Road. It moved northeast until it crossed the W 420 Road, then moved more easterly until it dissipated. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.
A tornado uprooted numerous trees, blew down power poles, and destroyed several outbuildings. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 100 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:49 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.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 25, 9:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 9:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 941 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2017 .DISCUSSION... Convection continues to increase in coverage near the frontal boundary that is moving into northeast Oklahoma at this time. A few of the storms have been severe, and the severe weather threat will continue well into the overnight hours as the storms continue to move off to the east and northeast. Locally heavy rainfall will also become a concern overnight as multiple storms may train over the same location. Have raised pops overnight given current trends. Have also lowered overnight low temperatures given the magnitude of the cold air spreading south across Kansas behind the cold front. Temperatures will be slow to rise Wednesday, so also lowered those high temperatures slightly. Update on the way. && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...20 LONG TERM....05 PLATE
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 25, 4:29 PM CDT, 7 hours 5 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 429 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2017 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-261030- Adair OK-Benton AR-Carroll AR-Cherokee OK-Choctaw OK-Craig OK- Crawford AR-Creek OK-Delaware OK-Franklin AR-Haskell OK-Latimer OK- Le Flore OK-Madison AR-Mayes OK-McIntosh OK-Muskogee OK-Nowata OK- Okfuskee OK-Okmulgee OK-Osage OK-Ottawa OK-Pawnee OK-Pittsburg OK- Pushmataha OK-Rogers OK-Sebastian AR-Sequoyah OK-Tulsa OK-Wagoner OK- Washington OK-Washington AR- 429 PM CDT Tue Apr 25 2017 ...ACTIVE WEATHER WEEK BEGINS TONIGHT... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Limited. AREA...Along and northwest of an Okemah to Vinita line. ONSET...7-10 PM. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Elevated. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma into far Northwest Arkansas before midnight, Northwest Arkansas into Southeast Oklahoma after midnight. ONSET...After 6 PM. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...Limited. AREA...Along and north of I-40. ONSET...After 10 PM. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...Along and north of I-40. ONSET...After 10 PM. DISCUSSION... An elevated or enhanced risk of severe storms is forecast this evening and overnight across northeast Oklahoma into far northwest Arkansas. Large hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 70 mph will be the main threats. Isolated tornadoes are possible with discrete storms and with any kinks or bows in the eventual squall line. There is a limited risk of flooding mainly late this evening into the overnight hours. Isolated to widely scattered storms are expected to develop by around 6 or 7 PM to the northwest of Tulsa near a merging dryline and cold front. These storms are expected to lift northeast into Kansas. Other storms are expected to develop farther south along the merging dryline and front over central Oklahoma by 8 or 9 PM. These storms will move quickly into northeast Oklahoma thru the evening hours, gradually becoming a line and marching east into far northwest Arkansas by around midnight. More storms will develop on the outflow reinforced front over east central Oklahoma into west central Arkansas after midnight. The severe threat is expected to wane after midnight, while the flooding risk increases, as the tendency for storms to train over the same areas increases. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. WEDNESDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential...High Wind Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. THURSDAY...Thunderstorm Potential. FRIDAY and SATURDAY...Severe Thunderstorm Potential...Heavy Rain Potential. SUNDAY and MONDAY...No Hazards. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... There will be storms ongoing early Wednesday morning, and depending on the evolution of the squall line and cold front, there may be a threat for additional severe storms Wednesday across mainly far eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The stormy pattern will continue with additional severe weather and heavy rain Friday and Saturday. With the approach of an upper level storm system Friday afternoon...storms will develop with the potential for large hail...damaging winds and a few tornadoes. The severe potential will continue into Saturday...but the main hazard may transition to heavy rain and flooding Saturday into Sunday. At least 2 to 3 inches of rain is likely...with localized higher amounts of 5 or 6 inches. This will definitely cause some flash flooding and river flooding across portions of the area this weekend. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT... An active week of weather is expected across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared for any watches or warnings that may be issued for your area. weather.gov/tulsa Contains additional information.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 25, 10:48 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1048 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 OKZ057-058-260415- Craig OK-Ottawa OK- 1048 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CRAIG AND NORTHWESTERN OTTAWA COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM CDT... At 1048 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 6 miles northeast of Welch, moving northeast at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Commerce... Treece... Picher... Cardin... A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for northeastern Oklahoma. LAT...LON 3684 9503 3697 9518 3700 9515 3700 9472 TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 229DEG 19KT 3695 9505 Lacy
Special weather statement, Apr 25, 10:56 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1056 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 OKZ054-060-061-064-067-260430- Tulsa OK-Osage OK-Rogers OK-Wagoner OK-Creek OK- 1056 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN ROGERS... SOUTHEASTERN OSAGE...NORTHEASTERN CREEK...NORTHWESTERN WAGONER AND NORTHERN TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM CDT... At 1056 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Sand Springs, moving east at 45 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations in or near the path include... Tulsa... Broken Arrow... Sand Springs... Owasso... Sapulpa... Catoosa... Turley... Gray... This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 213 and 239. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for northeastern Oklahoma. LAT...LON 3601 9616 3618 9622 3634 9577 3609 9567 TIME...MOT...LOC 0356Z 254DEG 41KT 3613 9611 Lacy
Local storm report, Apr 25, 11:02 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1102 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 PM HAIL 2 SSW SAND SPRINGS 36.11N 96.12W
04/25/2017 E1.00 INCH TULSA OK TRAINED SPOTTER
1.1 MILES WEST OF HIGHWAY 97 ON WEST 41ST ST.
&&
CASLocal storm report, Apr 25, 11:04 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1104 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1045 PM HAIL TULSA 36.13N 95.92W
04/25/2017 E1.00 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
NEAR TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
&&
CASSpecial weather statement, Apr 25, 11:11 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tulsa OK 1111 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 OKZ060-061-067-260445- Tulsa OK-Rogers OK-Wagoner OK- 1111 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ROGERS...WESTERN WAGONER AND SOUTHEASTERN TULSA COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM CDT... At 1111 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Tulsa to 4 miles southeast of Glenpool. Movement was east at 50 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations in or near the path include... Southern Tulsa... Broken Arrow... Bixby... Jenks... Glenpool... Coweta... Inola... Porter... Stonebluff... Oneta... Liberty... Redbird... Leonard... A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for northeastern and east central Oklahoma. LAT...LON 3605 9602 3615 9544 3585 9550 3586 9603 TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 256DEG 42KT 3606 9593 3589 9597 Lacy
Local storm report, Apr 25, 11:26 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1126 PM CDT TUE APR 25 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1115 PM FLASH FLOOD SAND SPRINGS 36.14N 96.11W
04/25/2017 TULSA OK TRAINED SPOTTER
STREET FLOODING ON FOREST DRIVE. ROAD IMPASSABLE.
&&
CASThe 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.
Springfield, MO (KSGF), 00:00Z
4.6 hours before the tornado, 149 km from the path. April 26, 2017.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 446 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -158 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 816 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1525 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 14 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 122 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 196 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.2 K/km
Springfield, MO (KSGF), 12:00Z
7.4 hours after it, 149 km from the path. April 26, 2017.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 25 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -181 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 579 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 52 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 174 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 176 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.2 K/km
The surface observations
Claremore Regional Airport (GCM), 18 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Tulsa radar (KINX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:33 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.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in OklahomaEvery tornado in Oklahoma since 1950Warnings in force in Oklahoma nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 25, 2017
4 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
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.