Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma · 2024
EF1 tornado, Hominy Arpt to Wolco, Oklahoma, April 1, 2024
From Hominy Arpt to Wolco, this EF1 tornado ran 5.5 miles across Osage County on April 1, 2024, touching down at 7:28 PM CDT and reaching 1,000 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $35,000 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 1, 2024
- Touchdown
- 7:28 PM CDT (00:28 UTC)
- Lifted
- 7:36 PM CDT (00:36 UTC)
- On the ground
- 8 minutes
- Path length
- 5.5 miles (8.8 km)
- Path width
- 1,000 yards (914 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $35,000
- County
- Osage County
- Touchdown point
- 36.538, -96.289
- Lift-off point
- 36.563, -96.195
- Record number
- 2404011828-01
The damage survey
55 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 110 mph.
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 a dry line over central and western Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 1st, as a strong upper level disturbance translated into the Southern Plains. The storms moved through eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours. Moderately strong instability combined with strong deep layer shear to support the development of some supercell thunderstorms, which produced several tornadoes, and damaging wind gusts. The storms evolved into a squall line that also produced damaging wind gusts during the late evening.
This tornado developed near the intersection of County Road 5408 and County Road 5257, and moved east-northeast. It crossed Highway 99, moved northeast, and dissipated after crossing County Road 2701. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped, most heavily west of Highway 99, and numerous power poles were blown down. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.
This tornado developed east of County Road 2665, along the 330 Road. It moved east-northeast and dissipated after crossing County Road 2477. The tornado blew the roof from a garage, uprooted or snapped trees, and blew down numerous power poles. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.
This tornado developed just east of Highway 11, over the southeastern side of Barnsdall. It damaged homes, destroyed outbuildings, and blew down trees and power poles as it moved east-northeast, dissipating north of County Road 2400 and west of County Road 2335. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 100 mph.
This is the first segment of a two-segment tornado. The tornado developed just west of the Osage/Washington County line, between the 2700 Road and the 2600 Road. It moved east-northeast, snapping large tree limbs near the county line. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 75 to 80 mph. The tornado continued into Washington County.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
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 1, 6:42 PM CDT, 46 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 1, 6:42 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tulsa OK 642 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (The rest of this afternoon ) Issued at 156 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 The main weather concern today is the impending severe weather threat that will be ramping up for the remainder of this afternoon and evening. Key Messages: 1.) There is an moderate risk (45% chance within 25 miles of a point) of severe weather across the area today. 2.) The severe hazard most likely to occur is large to very large hail (45% chance). Tornadoes (10% chance) and damaging wind (30% chance) may also occur. 3.) Severe storms will most likely occur in the mid afternoon to early evening in northeast OK, and in the mid to late evening in southeast OK and northwest AR. Details: A broad (but positively tilted) trough across the Desert Southwest and associated upper level jet are impinging on the region and promoting broad lift. This will gradually lower surface pressure along the cold front, with low level warm and moist advection continuing east of the front. In the near term, a stout elevated mix layer is currently keeping instability capped, but there are signs of this changing. Recent ACARS profiles have shown the ML to be deepening, eroding the cap from underneath. Additionally radar/satellite have shown CI further west across central OK. As we progress through the afternoon and evening, synoptic scale lift beneath the upper level jet streak and eventually mesoscale lift ahead of the cold front is expected to break this cap and allow for convective initiation within the forecast area. As far as timing, the initial storm activity will occur in northeast OK as rather modest low level shear coupled with steep lapse rates promotes a risk of large to very large hail. This will occur as initially discrete cells fire near the dry line. There will also be a threat of isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts. To account for these threats a Tornado Watch was recently issued for portions of eastern OK. As we head deeper into the afternoon, long and straight hodographs will promote splitting supercells that will eventually merge into more of a QLCS feature. The low level jet will punch out the lower level wind fields a bit more near sunset, relatively increasing the tornado threat for areas east of the dry line at that time. It's worth mentioning that although widespread flooding does not appear to be in play, some localized minor flooding could occur with any training or particularly heavy storms. The cold front will push into northeast OK in the late evening, gradually moving southeast overnight, ending the severe weather threat. Gusty northerly winds and much cooler air will follow behind the cold front. && .LONG TERM... (Tonight through Monday) Issued at 156 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 Tuesday will be cloudy and drizzly/showery in spots as much cooler air spills in behind the cold front. High temperatures will only reach the mid 50s to low 60s for most areas, coolest in the northwest. Skies are expected to clear out into Wednesday morning, with low temperatures falling into the mid 30s to low 40s. A few of the most cold-prone spots could see a light frost. The deep low pressure responsible for this cooler weather will gradually move east through mid week with higher pressure building in from the west. High temperatures will gradually warm, with highs in the 60s Wed-Thu and 70s Fri-Sun. Meanwhile, as the next weather system deepens in the west, breezy southerly winds will develop by late in the week. This will once again increase the fire weather potential across the area. As this system approach the area next Saturday-Sunday, rain chances will increase once again. The solar eclipse of April 8th may be impacted by this weather system or another one that is set to affect the area around next Tuesday. Ensemble cluster analysis does not shed much light on the subject at this time, with models split roughly 50- 50 into two camps for relatively better or worse viewing conditions. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 638 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will affect all sites this evening, with gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and hail possible with the storms. A cold front will sweep across the area overnight, with MVFR ceilings expected late tonight through Tuesday following the passage of the front. Gusty northwest winds will also prevail following the frontal passage. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TUL 48 55 39 64 / 80 30 0 0 FSM 59 67 41 65 / 90 20 10 0 MLC 52 60 39 66 / 80 20 0 0 BVO 43 54 35 64 / 80 40 0 0 FYV 52 63 36 59 / 100 30 10 0 BYV 55 63 38 57 / 90 30 10 0 MKO 51 59 38 63 / 80 30 0 0 MIO 48 54 37 60 / 80 40 0 0 F10 48 56 39 64 / 80 30 0 0 HHW 55 66 41 66 / 80 0 0 0 && .TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OK...None. AR...None. && SHORT TERM...06 LONG TERM....06 AVIATION...05
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 1, 4:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Tulsa OK 443 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-021030- 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- 443 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024 ...SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY THIS EVENING... This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as much of Eastern Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Tonight. TORNADO. RISK...Elevated. AREA....Eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...Critical. AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. ONSET...Ongoing. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...Limited. AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. ONSET...This evening. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...Limited. AREA...northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. ONSET...This evening. DISCUSSION... Severe thunderstorms are expected through much of the evening. The primary threat will be very large hail up to tennis ball size, damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph and a few tornadoes. The primary severe weather threat will evolve as a cold front and dry line approach eastern Oklahoma late afternoon into the early evening. Thunderstorms are expected to develop across eastern Oklahoma between 5 and 7 pm and quickly become severe, with potential for very large or damaging hail. Storms are expected to increase and spread eastward through the evening with a continued threat of very large hail, and an increasing damaging wind threat as storms grow upscale. Low level winds are expected to strengthen near sunset, which may increase the tornado potential for part of the evening. Most of the storms will exit the area around midnight. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...High Wind Potential. FRIDAY...No Hazards. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Very High Fire Weather Potential...High Wind Potential. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... Breezy and cooler conditions will occur behind the system Tuesday and Wednesday. Another low pressure system could bring a chance of thunderstorms back to the region by the weekend. weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 1, 3:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
300 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
OKZ054-012030-
Osage OK-
300 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL OSAGE COUNTY
THROUGH 330 PM CDT...
At 300 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Marland, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Southwestern Kaw Lake...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3670 9703 3668 9694 3675 9689 3674 9683
3675 9682 3659 9669 3656 9680 3653 9682
3647 9698 3649 9701 3652 9701 3655 9692
3655 9690 3658 9689 3660 9692 3658 9698
3659 9705 3660 9704 3668 9706
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 221DEG 39KT 3656 9719
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHLocal storm report, Apr 1, 4:35 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
435 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 W Hulah 36.92N 96.09W
04/01/2024 Osage OK Public
Report of damage from strong thunderstorm
winds west of Hulah.
&&
JDSSpecial weather statement, Apr 1, 4:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
449 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
OKZ055-056-012215-
Nowata OK-Washington OK-
449 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN WASHINGTON AND
NORTHWESTERN NOWATA COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM CDT...
At 449 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 3 miles
south of Hulah, moving northeast at 70 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Bartlesville... South Coffeyville...
Copan... Wann...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 9554 3677 9600 3697 9600 3700 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 234DEG 62KT 3689 9601
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial weather statement, Apr 1, 6:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
616 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
OKZ054-059-012345-
Osage OK-Pawnee OK-
616 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL OSAGE AND WESTERN
PAWNEE COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM CDT...
At 616 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 5 miles
west of Morrison, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Pawnee... Ralston...
Skedee... Sooner Lake...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 9703 3651 9701 3652 9701 3653 9698
3653 9696 3656 9689 3658 9689 3660 9691
3660 9693 3662 9690 3641 9655 3624 9683
3625 9692 3633 9693 3634 9703
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 224DEG 42KT 3629 9711
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial weather statement, Apr 1, 6:29 PM CDT, 59 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
629 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
OKZ054-020015-
Osage OK-
629 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTY
THROUGH 715 PM CDT...
At 629 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Fairfax, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Pawhuska... Fairfax...
Elgin... Bigheart...
Osage Hills State Park... Pearsonia...
Hulah... Sunset Lake...
Wah Sha She State Park...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 9600 3682 9600 3640 9655 3653 9673
3656 9675 3656 9678 3659 9682 3700 9639
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 224DEG 49KT 3660 9667
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial weather statement, Apr 1, 7:28 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
728 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
OKZ073-020100-
Pittsburg OK-
728 PM CDT Mon Apr 1 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PITTSBURG COUNTY THROUGH 800 PM
CDT...
At 727 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Ashland, moving northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
is possible.
Locations in or near the path include...
Mcalester... Hartshorne...
Krebs... Kiowa...
Savanna... Alderson...
Ashland... Haywood...
Blocker... Mcalester Regional Airport...
Blanco... Haileyville...
Pittsburg... Arpelar...
Dow... Bache...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for southeastern
Oklahoma.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 9588 3468 9589 3468 9609 3495 9609
3507 9593 3511 9552 3478 9552 3460 9588
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 233DEG 54KT 3475 9602
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe 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), 00:00Z
0.5 hours before the tornado, 181 km from the path. April 2, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1105 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -67 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2079 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1087 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 78 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 343 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 455 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 2.0
- Supercell composite
- 14.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.7 K/km
The surface observations
Bartlesville/Philli (BVO), 31 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), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:25 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 2024 tornado in OklahomaEvery tornado in Oklahoma since 1950Warnings in force in Oklahoma nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 1, 2024
12 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 | 6:32 PM CDT | EF0 | Saint Louis, MO | 2.0 | 332 | $100,000 | ||
| April 1 | 7:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Osage, OK | 7.0 | 600 | $20,000 | ||
| April 1 | 7:38 PM CDT | EF1 | Osage, OK | 2.2 | 550 | $250,000 | ||
| April 1 | 7:49 PM CDT | EF1 | Washington, OK | 4.9 | 550 | $20,000 | ||
| April 1 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Nowata, OK | 4.2 | 600 | 1 | $20,000 | |
| April 1 | 10:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Greene, MO | 2.1 | 100 | $90,000 | ||
| April 1 | 11:06 PM CDT | EF0 | Dallas, MO | 2.0 | 200 | $200,000 | ||
| April 1 | 11:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Laclede, MO | 2.2 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| April 1 | 11:24 PM CDT | EF0 | Laclede, MO | 2.3 | 100 | $75,000 | ||
| April 1 | 12:27 AM CDT | EF0 | Phelps, MO | 0.3 | 10 | $25,000 | ||
| April 1 | 12:33 AM CDT | EF1 | Benton, AR | 2.8 | 550 | |||
| April 1 | 12:35 AM CDT | EF1 | Benton, AR | 2.4 | 300 | $40,000 |
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.