Tornadoes · United States · Oklahoma

Tornadoes in Osage County, Oklahoma

121 tornadoes have crossed Osage County since 1950, 7 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 3rd of the 77 counties in Oklahoma with a tornado on record, an average of 1.6 a year. They have killed 19 people and injured 324. 5 were rated F4 or EF4 and above.

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
121
Deaths
19
Injuries
324
F4 and above
5
Worst on record
F4, June 8, 1974

The deadliest in Osage County

  1. F4, Creek, Tulsa and Osage counties, OklahomaJune 8, 197414 killed, 150 injured
  2. EF4 Barnsdall–Bartlesville tornado, OklahomaMay 6, 20242 killed, 33 injured
  3. F4, Creek, Pawnee and Osage counties, OklahomaApril 29, 19841 killed, 60 injured
  4. EF2, Tulsa, Pawnee and Osage counties, OklahomaMarch 25, 20151 killed, 30 injured
  5. F4, Pawnee and Osage counties, OklahomaApril 26, 19911 killed, 24 injured

The strongest

  1. F4, Garfield, Noble and Osage counties, OklahomaApril 26, 1991F4, 66.0 mi (106 km)
  2. EF4 Barnsdall–Bartlesville tornado, OklahomaMay 6, 2024EF4, 40.8 mi (66 km)
  3. F4, Pawnee and Osage counties, OklahomaApril 26, 1991F4, 32.0 mi (51 km)
  4. F4, Creek, Tulsa and Osage counties, OklahomaJune 8, 1974F4, 29.0 mi (47 km)
  5. F4, Creek, Pawnee and Osage counties, OklahomaApril 29, 1984F4, 27.0 mi (43 km)
  6. F3, Osage County, OklahomaMay 8, 2003F3, 45.0 mi (72 km)
  7. F3, Osage County, OklahomaJune 18, 1973F3, 2.5 mi (4 km)
  8. EF2, Tulsa, Rogers and Osage counties, OklahomaMarch 30, 2016EF2, 20.0 mi (32 km)
  9. F2, Washington, Osage and Nowata counties, OklahomaApril 19, 2003F2, 20.0 mi (32 km)
  10. EF2, Osage County, OklahomaMay 24, 2011EF2, 17.0 mi (27 km)

Every year with a tornado

The 49 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Osage County. Each year links to every tornado in Oklahoma that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
20267EF1
20251EF1
20247233EF4
20231Unrated
20201EF0
20193EF0
20184EF0
201647EF2
20151130EF2
20133EF1
20122EF1
20119EF2
20104EF1
200862EF1
20071EF0
20061F0
20051F0
20041F1
200323F3
20011F0
20002F0
19991F0
19981F0
19974F0
19961F1
19951F0
199481F1
19921F0
19913130F4
19842165F4
19833F2
198231F2
19814F2
198011F2
19782F1
19761F1
1974114150F4
19733F3
19711F0
19691F1
19671F2
19652F2
19642F2
19621F0
19614F2
19592F1
19571F2
195621F2
19552F0

Every tornado that crossed Osage County

121 tornadoes, newest first. The 7 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, 20268:41 AM CSTEF1Osage0.8100
March 6, 20266:24 PM CSTEF1Osage6.0600
April 17, 20267:03 PM CDTEF1Kay14.41,200
April 26, 20267:57 PM CDTEF1Osage1.4400
April 26, 20268:00 PM CDTUnratedOsage0.30
April 26, 20268:42 PM CDTUnratedOsage1.4100
April 26, 20268:57 PM CDTUnratedOsage1.4100
April 2, 20255:13 AM CDTEF1Osage3.7250$10,000
November 4, 202412:20 PM CSTEF1Osage2.2100$40,000
May 6, 20249:12 PM CDTEF4Barnsdall–Bartlesville tornado40.81,700233$25 million
April 27, 20248:16 PM CDTUnratedOsage0.175
April 1, 20247:49 PM CDTEF1Washington4.9550$20,000
April 1, 20247:38 PM CDTEF1Osage2.2550$250,000
April 1, 20247:28 PM CDTEF1Osage5.51,000$35,000
April 1, 20247:17 PM CDTEF1Osage7.0600$20,000
January 2, 20234:37 PM CSTUnratedOsage0.1100
May 28, 20206:56 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150$20,000
May 22, 20198:31 PM CDTUnratedOsage0.275
May 22, 20198:28 PM CDTUnratedOsage0.2100
April 30, 20192:14 PM CDTEF0Osage1.250
November 30, 20189:36 PM CSTEF0Osage1.5200$15,000
October 7, 20187:46 PM CDTEF0Osage1.5225$50,000
May 19, 20183:04 PM CDTEF0Osage0.9100$5,000
May 19, 20182:59 PM CDTEF0Osage1.9100$2,000
April 26, 201610:00 PM CDTEF1Pawnee7.0800$150,000
April 26, 20169:52 PM CDTEF1Osage6.9900$15,000
April 26, 20169:44 PM CDTEF1Osage3.8450
March 30, 20167:13 PM CDTEF2Tulsa20.08007$2.8 million
March 25, 20155:21 PM CDTEF2Tulsa11.1800130$2.1 million
May 31, 20136:30 PM CDTEF1Osage2.5200$2,000
May 31, 20136:18 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
May 20, 20133:51 PM CDTEF1Washington6.5500$5,000
April 29, 20128:57 PM CDTEF1Osage1.3220$8,000
April 15, 20125:49 AM CDTEF1Osage4.2200$50,000
June 18, 20118:10 PM CDTEF0Osage2.975
June 18, 20118:09 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
June 18, 20117:29 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
May 24, 20116:49 PM CDTEF2Osage17.0750$20,000
May 24, 20116:44 PM CDTEF1Osage2.8440
May 23, 20115:52 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
April 14, 20115:00 PM CDTEF2Osage1.0275$25,000
April 14, 20114:12 PM CDTEF0Osage0.440
February 27, 20116:21 PM CSTEF0Cowley to KS3.575
May 10, 20105:45 PM CDTEF0Osage1.075
May 10, 20105:41 PM CDTEF0Osage1.050
May 10, 20105:33 PM CDTEF0Osage0.175
May 10, 20105:00 PM CDTEF1Noble21.02,460$50,000
November 5, 20088:12 PM CSTEF0Osage0.5752$50,000
May 31, 20087:07 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
May 1, 20089:06 PM CDTEF0Osage5.0100$5,000
May 1, 20088:37 PM CDTEF1Osage17.0450$75,000
April 23, 20085:25 PM CDTEF0Osage0.150
March 31, 20085:46 AM CDTEF1Osage5.5250$50,000
April 24, 20073:27 PM CDTEF0Osage5.5100
April 6, 20063:49 PM CDTF0Osage0.140
June 4, 20057:13 PM CDTF0Osage1.075$50,000
May 26, 20048:59 PM CDTF1Osage1.0100$10,000
May 8, 20036:46 PM CDTF3Osage45.0880$250,000
April 19, 20035:57 PM CDTF2Washington20.04403$1.9 million
May 20, 20016:30 PM CDTF0Osage0.325
June 4, 20008:43 PM CDTF0Osage0.250
March 7, 200010:10 PM CSTF0Osage0.150
May 4, 19997:30 AM CDTF0Osage0.550
October 4, 19988:56 PM CDTF0Osage1.080$40,000
September 8, 19974:45 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
July 17, 19977:05 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
May 7, 199710:02 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
May 7, 19979:37 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
April 21, 19967:00 PM CDTF1Osage0.5100$150,000
April 16, 19955:50 PM CDTF0Osage0.250$500 to $5,000
July 7, 19949:23 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
July 7, 19949:15 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
July 7, 19949:07 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
July 7, 19948:42 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
May 6, 19948:08 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
May 6, 19947:15 PM CDTF1Osage0.51001$50,000 to $500,000
April 10, 19945:02 PM CDTF1Osage0.573$50,000 to $500,000
April 10, 19943:35 PM CDTF0Osage0.130
June 19, 19922:16 PM CDTF0Osage0.230
April 26, 19918:27 PM CDTF1Osage0.310
April 26, 19918:10 PM CDTF4Pawnee32.01,700124$500,000 to $5 million
April 26, 19916:30 PM CDTF4Garfield66.01,5006$500,000 to $5 million
April 29, 198410:20 AM CDTF4Creek27.0200160$5 million to $50 million
April 26, 198410:55 PM CSTF1Tulsa5.08805$50,000 to $500,000
June 27, 198311:00 PM CDTF2Osage0.5100$50,000 to $500,000
April 27, 19838:15 PM CDTF0Osage0.250under $50
April 27, 19837:50 PM CDTF0Osage0.150under $50
November 11, 19824:45 PM CSTF1Osage0.520$5,000 to $50,000
March 15, 19826:45 PM CSTF1Osage0.110$50,000 to $500,000
March 15, 19826:40 PM CSTF2Osage0.1101$50,000 to $500,000
May 23, 19812:00 AM CDTF1Osage0.110
May 17, 19818:20 PM CDTF2Osage0.110
May 17, 19818:00 PM CDTF0Osage0.110
May 17, 19817:15 PM CDTF1Osage2.067$5,000 to $50,000
April 7, 19804:45 PM CSTF2Osage1.54401$50,000 to $500,000
May 11, 19788:00 PM CDTF0Osage0.210
May 11, 19787:00 PM CDTF1Osage1.040$5,000 to $50,000
February 20, 19764:55 PM CSTF1Osage0.533$500 to $5,000
June 8, 19744:55 PM CDTF4Creek29.040014150$500,000 to $5 million
June 18, 19735:30 PM CDTF3Osage2.540$50,000 to $500,000
June 4, 19738:00 PM CDTF1Osage1.550$500 to $5,000
June 4, 19737:00 PM CDTF2Kay12.4100$5,000 to $50,000
April 26, 19718:56 PM CDTF0Osage0.110
April 16, 19697:15 PM GMT-6F1Osage0.110
April 12, 19672:30 AM GMT-6F2Osage0.350$5,000 to $50,000
May 8, 19655:00 PM GMT-5F1Osage0.110$5,000 to $50,000
March 16, 19658:00 PM GMT-6F2Osage2.050$5,000 to $50,000
July 9, 19646:55 PM GMT-5F2Tulsa0.110$5,000 to $50,000
June 14, 19645:15 PM GMT-5F1Osage0.350$5,000 to $50,000
June 9, 19622:20 AM GMT-5F0Osage0.110
May 8, 19611:30 AM GMT-5F0Osage0.110
May 7, 19617:06 PM GMT-5F2Osage0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 30, 19616:55 PM GMT-5F2Osage0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 24, 19617:15 PM GMT-6F0Osage0.110
May 9, 19595:00 PM GMT-5F1Osage4.910
May 9, 19594:35 PM GMT-5F1Osage7.710
May 20, 19576:45 PM GMT-5F2Osage0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 9, 195612:01 AM GMT-6F0Osage0.110
April 2, 19569:30 PM GMT-6F2Pawnee12.61001$5,000 to $50,000
May 28, 19552:30 AM GMT-5F0Osage0.110$50 to $500
April 12, 19552:00 AM GMT-6F0Pawnee45.610

Nearby

Warnings in force in Osage CountyThe forecast for Osage CountyThe live radar over Osage 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.