It was 1 year ago today, that an EF-5 monster tornado plowed through Moore, Oklahoma with a top wind speed exceeding 200mph. Interestingly, the May 20th, 2013 was the last EF5 tornado recorded in the U.S. – which is just 1 of 59 EF5 tornadoes that have been recorded in the U.S. since 1950! The image below shows the monster wedge as it was south of Oklahoma City, OK.
(Image courtesy: KsOstm)
(Damage in Moore, OK – Image courtesy Oklahoma National Guard)
Moore, OK is no stranger to large tornadoes. In fact, on May 3rd, 1999 – Moore, OK was hit by another F5 tornado that was the city’s deadliest tornado in history. An F4 tornado also tracked through Moore, OK on May 8, 2003. The damage paths from all 3 tornadoes are displayed below!!
EF5 Tornadoes Since 1950
According to the Storm Prediction Center, there have been 59 EF5 tornadoes recorded since 1950, the last occurring on May 20th, 2013 in Moore, OK.
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NUMBER – DATE – LOCATION
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59 – May 20, 2013 Moore OK
58 – May 24, 2011 El Reno/Piedmont OK
57 – May 22, 2011 Joplin MO
56 – April 27, 2011 Rainsville/Sylvania AL
55 – April 27, 2011 Preston MS
54 – April 27, 2011 Hackleburg/Phil Campbell AL
53 – April 27, 2011 Smithville MS
52 – May 25, 2008 Parkersburg IA
51 – May 4, 2007 Greensburg KS
50 – May 3, 1999 Bridge Creek/Moore OK
49 – April 16, 1998 Waynesboro TN
48 – April 8, 1998 Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove AL
47 – May 27, 1997 Jarrell TX
46 – July 18, 1996 Oakfield WI
45 – June 16, 1992 Chandler MN
44 – April 26, 1991 Andover KS
43 – August 28, 1990 Plainfield IL
42 – March 13, 1990 Goessel KS
41 – March 13, 1990 Hesston KS
40 – May 31, 1985 Niles OH
39 – June 7, 1984 Barneveld WI
38 – April 2, 1982 Broken Bow OK
37 – April 4, 1977 Birmingham AL
36 – June 13, 1976 Jordan IA
35 – April 19, 1976 Brownwood TX
34 – March 26, 1976 Spiro OK
33 – April 3, 1974 Guin AL
32 – April 3, 1974 Tanner AL
31 – April 3, 1974 Mt. Hope AL
30 – April 3, 1974 Sayler Park OH
29 – April 3, 1974 Brandenburg KY
28 – April 3, 1974 Xenia OH
27 – April 3, 1974 Daisy Hill IN
26 – May 6, 1973 Valley Mills TX
25 – February 21, 1971 Delhi LA
24 – May 11, 1970 Lubbock TX
23 – June 13, 1968 Tracy MN
22 – May 15, 1968 Maynard IA
21 – May 15, 1968 Charles City IA
20 – April 23, 1968 Gallipolis OH
19 – October 14, 1966 Belmond IA
18 – June 8, 1966 Topeka KS
17 – March 3, 1966 Jackson MS
16 – May 8, 1965 Gregory SD
15 – May 5, 1964 Bradshaw NE
14 – April 3, 1964 Wichita Falls TX
13 – May 5, 1960 Prague OK
12 – June 4, 1958 Menomonie WI
11 – December 18, 1957 Sunfield IL
10 – June 20, 1957 Fargo ND
9 – May 20, 1957 Ruskin Heights MO
8 – April 3, 1956 Grand Rapids MI
7 – May 25, 1955 Udall KS
6 – May 25, 1955 Blackwell OK
5 – December 5, 1953 Vicksburg MS
4 – June 27, 1953 Adair IA
3 – June 8, 1953 Flint MI
2 – May 29, 1953 Ft. Rice ND
1 – May 11, 1953 Waco TX
Low Number of 2014 Tornadoes in Oklahoma
Here’s an interesting stat… According to the Storm Prediction Center, there have only been 4 PRELIMINARY tornado reports in the state of Oklahoma this year. The record low number of tornadoes in the state of Oklahoma is 7, which was set in 1988. According to NOAA’s NCDC, Oklahoma averages (1991-2010) 28 tornadoes in May.
2014 U.S. Tornado Reports Below Average
According to the SPC, the number of U.S. tornadoes is still running below average, which is not a bad stat to have. Through May 19th, there have been 376 PRELIMINARY tornado reports across the nation; the 2005-2013 average is 669. Incredibly, there were 1,093 reports in 2011! May, by the way, is typically the busiest month for tornadoes across the nation(averaging 276 from 1991-2010).
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