Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma

Tornadoes in Cleveland County, Oklahoma

113 tornadoes have crossed Cleveland County since 1950, 3 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 4th of the 77 counties in Oklahoma with a tornado on record, an average of 1.5 a year. They have killed 76 people and injured 1,149. 8 were rated F4 or EF4 and above, 2 at the top of the scale.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale

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

  2. F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale

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

  3. F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale

    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. F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale

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

  6. F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale

    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.

Now

Tornadoes
113
Deaths
76
Injuries
1,149
F4 and above
8
Worst on record
F5, May 3, 1999

The deadliest in Cleveland County

  1. F5 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado, OklahomaMay 3, 199936 killed, 583 injured
  2. EF5 Moore tornado, OklahomaMay 20, 201324 killed, 212 injured
  3. F3, McClain, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties, OklahomaNovember 19, 19735 killed, 36 injured
  4. F2, Cleveland County, OklahomaApril 28, 19603 killed, 1 injured
  5. EF4 Moore–Choctaw tornado, OklahomaMay 10, 20102 killed, 49 injured
  6. EF4 Shawnee tornado, OklahomaMay 19, 20132 killed, 10 injured
  7. F4, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Hughes counties, OklahomaSeptember 14, 19572 killed, 6 injured
  8. EF4 Chickasha tornado, OklahomaMay 24, 20111 killed, 48 injured
  9. EF4 Norman–Lake Thunderbird tornado, OklahomaMay 10, 20101 killed, 32 injured

The strongest

  1. F5 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado, OklahomaMay 3, 1999F5, 37.0 mi (60 km)
  2. EF5 Moore tornado, OklahomaMay 20, 2013EF5, 13.8 mi (22 km)
  3. F4, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole and Hughes counties, OklahomaSeptember 14, 1957F4, 67.5 mi (109 km)
  4. EF4 Chickasha tornado, OklahomaMay 24, 2011EF4, 33.3 mi (54 km)
  5. EF4 Moore–Choctaw tornado, OklahomaMay 10, 2010EF4, 24.0 mi (39 km)
  6. EF4 Shawnee tornado, OklahomaMay 19, 2013EF4, 23.0 mi (37 km)
  7. EF4 Norman–Lake Thunderbird tornado, OklahomaMay 10, 2010EF4, 22.3 mi (36 km)
  8. F4 Moore tornado, OklahomaMay 8, 2003F4, 17.3 mi (28 km)
  9. F3, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln and Creek counties, OklahomaMay 5, 1960F3, 101.9 mi (164 km)
  10. F3, McClain, Cleveland and Oklahoma counties, OklahomaNovember 19, 1973F3, 24.2 mi (39 km)

Every year with a tornado

The 46 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Cleveland County. Each year links to every tornado in Oklahoma that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
20263EF2
20251EF0
202466EF3
20231312EF2
20221EF2
20211EF1
20202EF1
20195EF1
20184EF1
20171EF1
20161Unrated
201547EF2
2013426222EF5
20121EF1
20111148EF4
20107384EF4
20092EF1
20081EF0
20041F0
20032134F4
1999336583F5
19983F2
19911F1
199042F2
19882F1
19832F1
198131F1
19793F2
19772F1
19751F2
19742F1
19732536F3
19721F2
197011F2
19662F0
19652F0
19641F0
19631F1
19621F1
19612F0
1960737F3
1957126F4
19561F1
19551F1
19531F2
19512F2

Every tornado that crossed Cleveland County

113 tornadoes, newest first. The 3 at the top are this year's, from the surveying office rather than SPC's published database, and their ratings are marked as preliminary.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
January 8, 20267:24 AM CSTEF2McClain9.40
January 8, 20267:44 AM CSTEF0Cleveland1.80
January 8, 20267:52 AM CSTEF1Cleveland3.90
June 6, 20255:28 AM CDTEF0Cleveland2.4200$50,000
November 4, 202410:26 AM CSTEF0Cleveland1.330$2,000
November 3, 20241:58 AM CSTEF0Cleveland1.130$5,000
November 3, 20241:20 AM CDTEF3Cleveland2.44006$16 million
April 27, 20249:29 PM CDTEF1Cleveland3.5200$100,000
April 26, 20244:53 AM CDTEF1Cleveland1.975$6,000
April 26, 20244:49 AM CDTEF0Cleveland0.530$10,000
May 11, 20239:33 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.225$10,000
May 11, 20239:03 PM CDTEF1Cleveland2.3300$200,000
April 19, 20239:18 PM CDTEF0Cleveland1.075$10,000
April 19, 20239:13 PM CDTEF2Pottawatomie6.3700$105,000
April 19, 20239:07 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.360$5,000
April 19, 20238:47 PM CDTEF2Cleveland4.22,200$775,000
April 19, 20238:41 PM CDTEF1Cleveland1.650$50,000
April 19, 20238:36 PM CDTEF2Cleveland5.4700$500,000
April 19, 20238:32 PM CDTEF1Cleveland2.1150$10,000
April 19, 20237:55 PM CDTEF1McClain7.5700$26,000
April 19, 20237:03 PM CDTEF0Oklahoma2.6250$155,000
February 26, 20239:42 PM CSTEF1Cleveland6.0440$105,000
February 26, 20239:15 PM CSTEF2McClain26.190012$50 million
December 13, 20225:27 AM CSTEF2McClain4.9300$80,000
October 26, 202112:36 AM CDTEF1Cleveland6.650$25,000
July 11, 202012:04 AM CDTEF0Cleveland0.210$20,000
May 4, 20205:50 PM CDTEF1Cleveland2.050$20,000
May 25, 201910:56 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.730$10,000
May 21, 20194:22 AM CDTEF1Cleveland1.430
May 21, 20194:13 AM CDTEF0Cleveland0.320$3,000
May 21, 20193:57 AM CDTEF1Cleveland4.150$6,000
May 21, 20193:45 AM CDTEF1McClain3.8250$31,000
October 9, 20188:31 AM CDTEF1Cleveland2.540$75,000
October 9, 20188:30 AM CDTEF0Cleveland3.550$20,000
May 2, 20188:48 PM CDTEF1McClain4.740$10,000
May 2, 20188:42 PM CDTEF1Cleveland8.0400$10,000
October 21, 20178:36 PM CDTEF1Cleveland3.450$102,000
May 9, 20165:16 PM CDTUnratedCleveland0.110
May 19, 20153:22 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.120
May 6, 20155:53 PM CDTEF1Cleveland3.31,000
May 6, 20155:46 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.525
March 25, 20156:34 PM CDTEF2Cleveland11.2507$50 million
May 31, 20137:42 PM CDTEF1Cleveland1.0100$100,000
May 29, 20136:42 PM CDTEF1Cleveland0.110$40,000
May 20, 20132:56 PM CDTEF5Moore tornado13.81,90024212$2.0 billion
May 19, 20136:00 PM CDTEF4Shawnee tornado23.01,500210
April 13, 20123:59 PM CDTEF1Cleveland6.0600
May 24, 20115:06 PM CDTEF4Chickasha tornado33.3880148
May 10, 20106:52 PM CDTEF0Cleveland2.080
May 10, 20105:39 PM CDTEF2Cleveland17.44403
May 10, 20105:34 PM CDTEF1Cleveland5.5250
May 10, 20105:32 PM CDTEF4Norman–Lake Thunderbird tornado22.3880132
May 10, 20105:27 PM CDTEF1Cleveland0.550
May 10, 20105:22 PM CDTEF1Cleveland3.8250
May 10, 20105:20 PM CDTEF4Moore–Choctaw tornado24.02,000249
June 12, 200910:23 PM CDTEF1Cleveland2.2200
May 13, 200910:41 PM CDTEF0Cleveland0.580
May 7, 20085:21 PM CDTEF0Cleveland4.625$25,000
June 9, 20045:35 PM CDTF0Cleveland0.320$10,000
May 8, 20035:10 PM CDTF4Moore tornado17.3700134$370 million
May 8, 20035:04 PM CDTF0Cleveland2.3100$500,000
May 4, 19997:00 AM CDTF0Cleveland2.050$1,000
May 3, 19998:34 PM CDTF1Cleveland9.030$80,000
May 3, 19996:26 PM CDTF5Bridge Creek–Moore tornado37.01,43036583$1.0 billion
November 9, 19989:15 PM CSTF1McClain4.5130$110,000
October 4, 19988:34 PM CDTF2Cleveland3.0580$2.0 million
October 4, 19988:26 PM CDTF0Cleveland1.530$1,000
May 2, 19918:20 PM CDTF1Cleveland0.530$50,000 to $500,000
March 13, 19905:59 PM CSTF2Cleveland19.02001$50,000 to $500,000
March 13, 19905:53 PM CSTF1Cleveland5.050
March 13, 19905:31 PM CSTF2McClain18.0150$50,000 to $500,000
March 13, 19904:44 PM CSTF2Grady28.02001$500,000 to $5 million
September 23, 19886:00 PM CDTF1Cleveland0.580
March 28, 19885:20 PM CSTF1Cleveland0.130$50,000 to $500,000
November 18, 198310:50 PM CSTF1Cleveland0.217$500 to $5,000
May 13, 198312:20 AM CDTF0Cleveland0.150under $50
June 30, 19814:20 PM CDTF1Cleveland0.3101$50,000 to $500,000
May 17, 19816:24 PM CDTF1Cleveland1.0100under $50
May 17, 19815:46 PM CDTF1Cleveland4.2100
August 19, 19793:00 PM CDTF0Cleveland0.110$500 to $5,000
April 10, 19796:50 PM CSTF2Cleveland1.540$5,000 to $50,000
April 10, 19796:40 PM CSTF2Cleveland2.010$500 to $5,000
May 21, 19773:00 AM CDTF0Cleveland0.150$500 to $5,000
March 10, 19778:50 PM CSTF1Cleveland4.777$50,000 to $500,000
May 13, 19754:15 PM CDTF2Oklahoma2.050$5,000 to $50,000
August 1, 19744:40 PM CDTF1Cleveland1.050$50,000 to $500,000
February 18, 19743:48 PM CDTF0Cleveland0.117
November 19, 19737:30 PM CSTF3McClain24.2500536$500,000 to $5 million
June 4, 19738:12 PM CDTF0Cleveland0.417$500 to $5,000
December 29, 19728:15 PM CSTF2McClain14.540$5,000 to $50,000
October 5, 19704:40 PM CDTF2Cleveland24.42001$5,000 to $50,000
July 23, 19666:34 AM GMT-5F0Cleveland0.110
May 17, 196611:15 PM GMT-5F0Cleveland0.417$500 to $5,000
August 31, 19653:20 PM GMT-5F0Cleveland0.110
August 31, 19653:15 PM GMT-5F0Oklahoma11.650
April 3, 19646:40 PM GMT-6F0Cleveland0.110
September 11, 19634:15 PM GMT-5F1Cleveland1.050$500 to $5,000
April 27, 196212:40 AM GMT-6F1Cleveland0.110$5,000 to $50,000
May 7, 19611:45 AM GMT-5F0Cleveland0.110
May 6, 196112:50 AM GMT-5F0Cleveland0.110
May 19, 19605:25 PM GMT-5F2Cleveland0.110$5,000 to $50,000
May 5, 19604:00 PM GMT-5F3Cleveland101.9400$50,000 to $500,000
May 4, 19608:45 PM GMT-5F2Cleveland5.250$500 to $5,000
April 28, 196012:45 AM GMT-5F2Cleveland6.180031$5,000 to $50,000
April 28, 196010:05 PM GMT-5F2Cleveland3.84006$50,000 to $500,000
April 28, 196010:00 PM GMT-5F2Cleveland0.110
April 28, 19609:58 PM GMT-5F2Cleveland7.8500$50,000 to $500,000
September 14, 19576:30 PM GMT-5F4Cleveland67.544026$50,000 to $500,000
April 28, 19562:20 PM GMT-6F1Grady35.410$50 to $500
May 26, 19554:00 AM GMT-5F1Cleveland11.670$50 to $500
March 13, 19537:30 PM GMT-6F2Cleveland1.3250$500 to $5,000
April 5, 19511:20 PM GMT-6F2Cleveland5.7127$5,000 to $50,000
February 19, 195110:00 PM GMT-6F0Cleveland0.1100$50 to $500

Nearby

Warnings in force in Cleveland CountyThe forecast for Cleveland CountyThe live radar over Cleveland CountyEvery county in Oklahoma

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.