Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma · 2025

EF0 tornado, Allen to Atwood, Oklahoma, May 19, 2025

From Allen to Atwood, this EF0 tornado ran 1.8 miles across Hughes County on May 19, 2025, touching down at 2:53 PM CDT and reaching 40 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $2,000 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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 19, 2025
Touchdown
2:53 PM CDT (19:53 UTC)
Lifted
2:56 PM CDT (19:56 UTC)
On the ground
3 minutes
Path length
1.8 miles (2.9 km)
Path width
40 yards (37 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2,000
County
Hughes County
Touchdown point
34.910, -96.372
Lift-off point
34.930, -96.352
Record number
2505191353-01

The damage survey

37 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS OUN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EFU. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 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

A severe weather outbreak impacted portions of central and eastern Oklahoma, as well as western-north Texas, on the 19th and into the 20th. This marked the third and final day of a multi-day severe weather sequence driven by a strong upper-level system across the Plains. The 19th featured multiple waves of supercell thunderstorms from the late morning through late evening, with the majority of activity posing a threat for large to very large hail and occasional wind damage. While three tornadoes also occurred across the WFO Norman Forecast Area, generally weak low-level wind shear precluded a greater concern for tornadoes during the episode, despite a favorable (supercell) storm mode along with strong instability and deep-layer wind shear. Flooding also became prevalent across southeastern Oklahoma due to repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorm activity over several hours.

This tornado developed in Hughes County to the southeast of Allen and moved generally northeast. Tree damage was observed along the path with significant tree damage along County Roads 1480 and 3725. At least one home and one barn had roof damage.

This tornado affected areas northeast of Allen and southwest of Atwood. Scattered tree damage was observed along the path.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

18 minutes of warning. NWS OUN issued a tornado warning for this county at 19:35 UTC, 18 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 20:15 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 17:05 UTC and running to 00:00 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
16:42 UTC17:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
17:05 UTC00:00 UTCTornado WatchOUN
17:12 UTC17:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
19:05 UTC19:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
19:21 UTC20:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
19:35 UTC20:15 UTCTornado WarningOUN
19:45 UTC20:30 UTCTornado WarningOUN
19:57 UTC20:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
20:11 UTC21:00 UTCTornado WarningOUN
20:20 UTC20:45 UTCTornado WarningOUN
20:22 UTC23:24 UTCFlash Flood WarningOUN
20:26 UTC20:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
20:42 UTC20:59 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
21:05 UTC21:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
21:18 UTC21:29 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
21:27 UTC22:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
21:36 UTC22:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
22:05 UTC01:00 UTCFlash Flood WarningOUN
22:11 UTC23:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUN
22:18 UTC22:45 UTCTornado WarningOUN
23:24 UTC02:15 UTCFlood WarningOUN
00:52 UTC03:45 UTCFlood WarningOUN
03:53 UTC08:00 UTCFlood AdvisoryOUN

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 16:30 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

7.9 hours before the tornado, 100 km from the path. May 19, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2025-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 2765 joules per kilogram, CIN -102, lifted condensation level 555 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Norman, OK at 12:00Z on 2025-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 360 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 33 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2765 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-102 J/kg
Surface CAPE
2740 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
555 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
360 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
378 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.8
Supercell composite
27.8
0-3 km lapse rate
4.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Norman, OK (KOUN), 00:00Z

4.1 hours after it, 100 km from the path. May 20, 2025.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2025-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 2343 joules per kilogram, CIN -41, lifted condensation level 1197 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2025-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 53 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 68 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2343 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Surface CAPE
5368 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1197 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
8.8
0-3 km lapse rate
7.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Ada_municipal_airport (ADH), 31 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
17:55 UTC75.275.2150° 10 kt1004.1BR
18:15 UTC7777150° 11 kt1003.7BR
18:35 UTC7777130° 8 kt1003.4BR
18:55 UTC78.878.8140° 11 kt1002.7BR
19:15 UTC80.678.8100° 6 kt1000.3TS BR
19:35 UTC7777120° 5 kt1001TSRA BR
19:55 UTC69.869.8260° 19 kt271001.4+TSRA FG
20:15 UTC73.473.4200° 18 kt361000.7TS BR
20:35 UTC73.473.4180° 7 kt1001.7TS BR
20:55 UTC73.473.4210° 9 kt1001VCTS BR
21:15 UTC75.275.2130° 8 kt999.3VCTS BR
21:35 UTC75.275.2130° 7 kt999.7VCTS BR

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:50 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)ReportWhereCountyRemark
19:28 UTCHAIL 11 S AllenPontotoc, OKNWSChat Report.
19:31 UTCHAIL 16 W AdaPontotoc, OKNWSChat Report.
19:36 UTCHAIL 11 Se VanossPontotoc, OKReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
19:37 UTCHAIL 1.254 S HorntownHughes, OKReport from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
19:56 UTCTSTM WND GST 631 Ssw AdaPontotoc, OKSpotternetwork Report.
19:56 UTCHAIL 1.51 Ssw AdaPontotoc, OKSpotternetwork Report.
20:13 UTCHAIL 1.5OkemahOkfuskee, OK
20:17 UTCHAIL 1.751 E SeminoleSeminole, OK
20:28 UTCTSTM WND DMGAtwoodHughes, OKTree down in road. Approximately 8 inch in diameter.
20:29 UTCHAIL 2SeminoleSeminole, OKPhoto in NWSChat.
21:40 UTCTSTM WND GST 696 Sw FittstownPontotoc, OKMeasured at OK Mesonet site.
21:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 706 Nne FittstownPontotoc, OKAlong Highway 3W between Stonewall and Ahloso.
21:48 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sse AdaPontotoc, OKTree down in roadway at CR 3 Drive and CR3580, time is radar estimate.
21:49 UTCTSTM WND GST 834 Se AdaPontotoc, OKX Photo with measurement.
21:58 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 E FrancisSeminole, OKTree Debris with tree on roadway on CR 1475. Time is radar estimate.
22:20 UTCHAIL 11 Ne FrancisPontotoc, OKX Post with photo.
22:26 UTCTORNADO5 Wsw WardvilleCoal, OK
22:37 UTCHAIL 16 Ne CoalgateCoal, OKReport from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in OklahomaEvery tornado in Oklahoma since 1950Warnings in force in Oklahoma nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 19, 2025

43 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 192:46 PM CDTEF1Hughes, OK4.4600$30,000
May 195:03 PM CDTEF1Cherokee, OK2.6600$20,000
May 195:29 PM CDTEF1Dodge, NE1.770
May 195:37 PM CDTEF1Atoka, OK1.0400
May 195:44 PM CDTEF3Pittsburg, OK16.03,0001$500,000
May 195:50 PM CDTUnratedPawnee, NE2.150
May 196:02 PM CDTUnratedCooke, TX0.130
May 196:14 PM CDTEF1Pittsburg, OK11.11,500$150,000
May 196:22 PM CDTEF1Muskogee, OK9.5900$85,000
May 196:31 PM CDTEF1Pittsburg, OK0.3100
May 196:42 PM CDTEF0Wabaunsee, KS0.440
May 196:44 PM CDTEF1Cherokee, OK12.31,100$50,000
May 196:47 PM CDTEF1Cherokee, OK10.41,300
May 196:55 PM CDTEF1Adair, OK to AR16.72,200$50,000
May 196:55 PM CDTEF1St. Clair, MO to OK, AR4.650$150,000
May 197:11 PM CDTEF1Adair, OK to AR8.21,000
May 197:15 PM CDTEF1Henry, MO3.5200
May 197:20 PM CDTEF1Washington, AR11.6900$100,000
May 197:21 PM CDTEF1Washington, AR1.0500
May 197:21 PM CDTEF1LeFlore, OK11.91,100
May 197:24 PM CDTEF1Benton, MO1.3500$115,000
May 197:28 PM CDTEF1Benton, MO4.3500$148,000
May 197:29 PM CDTEF2Washington, AR13.61,100$1.0 million
May 197:34 PM CDTEF1Sebastian, OK to AR21.41,000$1.5 million
May 197:35 PM CDTEF1Benton, MO4.4300$160,000
May 197:54 PM CDTEF1Madison, AR14.3900$100,000
May 197:56 PM CDTEF1Madison, AR2.4550$60,000
May 198:02 PM CDTUnratedJefferson, MO2.41
May 198:11 PM CDTEF1Carroll, AR7.22,300
May 198:21 PM CDTEF1Carroll, AR4.21,000$30,000
May 198:32 PM CDTEF0Buchanan, MO4.320
May 198:56 PM CDTEF1Washington, MO2.850
May 1910:18 PM CDTEF1Dent, MO6.450$30,000
May 1910:20 PM CDTEF0Dent, MO1.075$80,000
May 1910:20 PM CDTEF0Fannin, TX1.475
May 1910:21 PM CDTEF0Dent, MO4.350$55,000
May 1910:28 PM CDTEF0Dent, MO1.950$25,000
May 1910:39 PM CDTEF0Washington, MO2.2140
May 1910:40 PM CDTEF0Reynolds, MO1.650
May 1910:50 PM CDTEF1Crawford, MO1.0270$60,000
May 1911:31 PM CDTEF1Saint Francois, MO4.2500$30,000
May 1912:02 AM CDTEF0Sainte Genevieve, MO1.325
May 1912:21 AM CDTEF1Randolph, IL0.525$30,000

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.