2018 Tornado Events in Eastern Oklahoma + Northwest Arkansas
Information about the tornadoes that affected the National Weather Service Tulsa area of responsibility during 2018.
Overview
Scroll down to view all tornado events or use the navigation above to jump to a particular tornado event. This overview map on the right shows all of the tornado events for the entire year.
Click on a rating location within the map to see details, including damage pictures for some locations.
- Total number of tornadoes in 2018 as of December 31, 2018 for the NWS Tulsa area of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas:
- Total number of tornadoes: 16
- EF-0: 5 | EF-1: 8
- EF-2: 3 | EF-3: 0
- EF-4: 0 | EF-5: 0
- EF-Unknown: 0
Want to download the .kml or .shp files for the damage surveys? Click here , zoom into the area of interest, select the date range in the upper right, and then use the Extract Data tool in the upper left.
NOTE: The tornado information provided is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Do you have additional information about a tornado? If so, please send us an email at: sr-tsa.webmaster@noaa.gov
Weak: EF0 65-85 mph | EF1 86-110 mph
Strong: EF2 111-135 mph | EF3 136-165 mph
Violent: EF4 166-200 mph | EF5 >200 mph
November 30, 2018 Tornado Event
NWS Tulsa meteorologists surveyed damage Saturday, December 1, in Muskogee, Sequoyah, Cherokee and Adair counties. That damage was the result of a long-lived supercell thunderstorm. Two tornadoes were confirmed. The second tornado survey was finalized Monday, December 3.
Damage in Crawford County, Arkansas was assessed by a survey team on Sunday, December 2. This was the result of two circulations that developed along the leading edge of a squall line. Two tornadoes were confirmed in Crawford County.
Damage northwest of Sperry, Oklahoma and southeast of Skiatook, Oklahoma was assessed on December 3, and a weak, short-track tornado was confirmed. It also developed along the leading edge of a squall line.
Webbers Falls, OK Tornado (Muskogee/Sequoyah Counties OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95 to 105 mph
- Path Length: 7.1 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 400 yards
- Start Location: 3.6 miles south-southeast of Webbers Falls, OK
- Start Time: 9:28 pm CST November 30, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.5422 / -95.0373
- End Location: 4.5 miles northeast of Gore, OK
- End Time: 9:37 pm CST November 30, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.5422 / -95.0373
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed in the Arkansas River bottoms of far southeastern Muskogee County, where several center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed and barns were damaged. The tornado crossed the Arkansas River into Sequoyah County, uprooting trees as it crossed I-40. It continued northeast crossing Highway 64 east of Gore, where trees were snapped. This tornado dissipated over open country south of the E1000 Road.
Skiatook, OK Tornado (Osage County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 70 to 80 mph
- Path Length: 1.5 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
- Start Location: 4.1 miles southwest of Skiatook, OK
- Start Time: 9:36 pm CST November 30, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.3141 / -96.0409
- End Location: 2.8 miles southwest of Skiatook, OK
- End Time: 9:38 pm CST November 30, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 36.3273 / -96.0193
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed south of W 113th Street N, where a barn was damaged. The tornado moved northeast, damaging trees of N 36th West Ave, and then, severely damaging two mobile homes, snapping large tree limbs, and damaging the roof of a home along Park Farm Lane. The tornado dissipated west of the Tulsa County line.
Lake Tenkiller, OK Tornado (Sequoyah/Cherokee/Adair/Delaware Counties OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-2
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 115 to 125 mph
- Path Length: 47 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 1100 yards
- Start Location: Blackgum, OK
- Start Time: 9:43 pm CST November 30, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.6064 / -94.9933
- End Location: 2.7 miles southeast of Colcord, OK
- End Time: 10:46 pm CST November 30, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 36.2310 / -94.6704
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 5
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed near Blackgum in northwestern Sequoyah County and moved northeast along the eastern shores of Lake Tenkiller in Cherokee County. Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed, numerous boat docks were destroyed, boats were destroyed, outbuildings were destroyed, many trees and power poles were snapped, and hangars at the airport west of Cookson were destroyed. The tornado continued northeast from near Cookson, crossing into Adair County on Highway 51 east of Eldon and south of Proctor, where barns were destroyed and trees snapped. The tornado moved north-northeast and crossed Highway 62 near Proctor, where a home was destroyed, several other homes were damaged, large barns were destroyed, and many trees were snapped. It snapped an uprooted many trees and destroyed barns between Highway 62 and Chewey Road, and then crossed into Delaware County near Dripping Springs. Trees were snapped and uprooted from the county line to the southeast of Colcord where it dissipated. The maximum wind in this tornado was determined from damage sustained to several lake houses and extensive tree damage that was substantial in several areas of Cherokee County, as well as home and barn damage that occurred near Proctor in Adair County.
Van Buren, AR Tornado (Crawford County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-2
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 110 to 120 mph
- Path Length: 5.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 600 yards
- Start Location: 3.1 miles northwest of Van Buren, AR
- Start Time: 11:09 pm CST November 30, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.4601 / -94.3993
- End Location: 2.6 miles northeast of Rena, AR
- End Time: 11:14 pm CST November 30, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.5069 / -94.3185
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 2
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed north of I-40 and just west of Lee Creek Road where homes sustained minor roof damage, trees were uprooted, and the roofs of several apartment complexes were damaged. The tornado moved northeast across Rena Road, damaging numerous homes, some severely, snapping three large wooden utility structures, and snapping and uprooting numerous trees. The tornado then crossed Uniontown Road and Fayetteville Road near Rena and dissipated as it approached N. Rudy Road. Maximum wind in this tornado was estimated based on severe damage to several homes, large wooden double-poled utility structures that were snapped near the ground (six poles), and a full-size pickup truck that was blown over (non-DI that supported estimated wind of nearby DIs). (DI = damage indicator, used to help estimate wind speeds)
Rudy, AR Tornado (Crawford County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 8.7 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 700 yards
- Start Location: 0.4 miles north of Rudy, AR
- Start Time: 11:17 pm CST November 30, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.5320 / -94.2691
- End Location: 1.8 miles southeast of Mountainburg, AR
- End Time: 11:24 pm CST November 30, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.6140 / -94.1501
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed just north of Rudy, where trees were uprooted on Whitson Drive to the west of Highway 282. The tornado moved east-northeast uprooting more trees and destroying barns along Highway 282. Trees were uprooted as the tornado crossed Peach Drive, with extensive tree damage as it approached I-49 on Cozy Cove and Lancaster Road. Trees were uprooted on Gregory Chapel Road. Extensive tree and power pole damage occurred along Highway 71 near Winn Mountain Road and Cain Road. The tornado dissipated after crossing Old Turner Road, to the south of Highway 348, where barns were destroyed and trees were uprooted.
October 7, 2018 Tornado Event
Fairfax, OK Tornado (Osage County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 1.5 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 225 yards
- Start Location: 0.4 miles southwest of Fairfax, OK
- Start Time: 7:46 pm CDT October 7, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.4690 / -96.7083
- End Location: 1.2 miles east-northeast of Fairfax, OK
- End Time: 7:50 pm CDT October 7, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 36.5795 / -96.6846
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed over the southwestern portion of the town of Fairfax, where the roofs of homes were damaged and power poles and large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved northeast across town, damaging roofs of a number of businesses, damaging homes, snapping large tree limbs, and blowing down power poles. Numerous windows of businesses and homes were broken due to flying debris. The tornado moved east-northeast from Fairfax, crossing County Road 5701 where large limbs were snapped, then dissipated over open country.
August 19, 2018 Tornado Event
Several low-topped, mini supercells developed across eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon of August 19th, 2018. At least two of these supercells produced weak tornadoes in Mayes and Rogers counties. NWS Tulsa meteorologists surveyed damage from these tornadoes and the results of their survey are detailed below.
Inola/Chouteau, OK Tornado (Rogers, Mayes Counties OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 8.4 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 350 yards
- Start Location: 3 miles southeast of Inola, OK
- Start Time: 3:34 pm CDT August 19, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.1307 / -95.4613
- End Location: 2.8 miles northwest of Chouteau, OK
- End Time: 3:55 pm CDT August 19, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 36.2240 / -95.3644
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed near the intersection of the E610 Road and NS424 Road where trees were uprooted. The tornado moved northeast where it apparently passed over the Oklahoma Mesonet station east of Inola, which measured 85 mph wind gusts at 10 meters above ground and 98 mph wind gusts 2 meters above ground. Just northeast of the mesonet site, the tornado destroyed an outbuilding and damaged a home on the E690 Road. Horse trailers were tossed and trees were damaged as it approached and then, moved over Highway 412. The tornado damaged mobile homes and damaged outbuildings near the W570 Road and then, apparently, dissipated north of the W550 Road.
Mazie, OK Tornado (Mayes County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 5.2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
- Start Location: 4.8 miles southwest of Mazie, OK
- Start Time: 3:45 pm CDT August 19, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.0760 / -95.4400
- End Location: 1.1 miles north-northwest of Mazie, OK
- End Time: 3:58 pm CDT August 19, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 36.1241 / -95.3676
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado apparently developed near the S425 Road just north of the E650 Road where large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved northeast and damaged a barn on the W640 Road. Large tree limbs were snapped as the tornado continued to move northeast, apparently dissipating north of the W620 Road and east of the S429 Road.
May 19, 2018 Tornado Event
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a cold front during the early afternoon across north central Oklahoma, which moved across northeast Oklahoma, affecting locations along and north of a Pawnee to Miami line. Damaging straight-line winds of 80 to 90 mph occurred near Fairfax in Osage County and Ralston in Pawnee County, and two brief EF-0 tornadoes occurred in Osage County.
Burbank, OK Tornado (Osage County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 75 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 1.9 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
- Start Location: 8.5 miles southeast of Burbank, OK
- Start Time: 1:59 pm CDT May 19, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon:
- End Location: 9.5 miles east-southeast of Burbank, OK
- End Time: 2:01 pm CDT May 19, 2018
- End Lat/Lon:
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This brief tornado was reported by storm spotters, and it damaged trees.
Pawhuska, OK Tornado (Osage County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 75 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 0.9 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
- Start Location: 9 miles west of Pawhuska, OK
- Start Time: 2:04 pm CDT May 19, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon:
- End Location: 8.5 miles west-northwest of Pawhuska, OK
- End Time: 2:05 pm CDT May 19, 2018
- End Lat/Lon:
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: A storm spotter reported a small rope tornado crossed Highway 60. This tornado damaged trees and a barn.
May 3, 2018 Tornado Event
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas during the morning and afternoon hours of May 3rd, 2018. Part of the line began to accelerate forward as a bow echo as the storms moved into west central Arkansas. A tornado developed within this bow echo segment in Franklin County Arkansas. NWS Tulsa meteorologists surveyed this damage and the results are listed below.
Peter Pender, AR Tornado (Franklin County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 95 mph
- Path Length: 9.5 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 550 yards
- Start Location: 3.1 miles northwest of Branch, AR
- Start Time: 1:09 pm CDT May 3, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.3286 / -94.0039
- End Location: 7.6 miles northeast of Branch, AR
- End Time: 1:19 pm CDT May 3, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.3731 / -93.8502
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed south of Highway 60 near Grand Prairie Road where trees were damaged. It moved east-northeast uprooting trees and snapping large limbs. The tornado moved northeast from N. Bradbury Street to near the Highway 41 and Highway 60 intersection, where trees were uprooted and large limbs were snapped. East of Highway 41, the tornado moved east-northeast along and across Highway 288 and Compressor Road, where outbuildings were destroyed, chicken houses were damaged, and trees were uprooted. The last damage noted was just west of Highway 23, where a home and nearby barn received roof damage.
April 13, 2018 Tornado Event
A supercell developed over northeastern LeFlore County Oklahoma during the afternoon of April 13th, 2018. The storm intensified as it moved northeast into northern Sebastian County and southern Crawford County Arkansas, where it produced a strong tornado. Another storm produced a weak tornado over northeastern Sebastian County and southwestern Franklin County. An NWS storm damage survey team investigated these areas on April 14th.
Mountainburg, AR Tornado (Crawford County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-2
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 110 to 120 mph
- Path Length: 11.7 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 1000 yards
- Start Location: 1.5 miles north-northeast of Rudy, AR
- Start Time: 4:04 pm CDT April 13, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.5490 / -94.2621
- End Location: 3.1 miles east-southeast of Chester, AR
- End Time: 4:19 pm CDT April 13, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.6730 / -94.1222
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 4
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed north of Rudy where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted as it crossed Frog Bayou Drive. The tornado then severely damaged a home, destroyed outbuildings, and snapped or uprooted numerous trees on Stapp Lane. Outbuildings were destroyed and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado crossed Lancaster Road and County Road 27. The tornado continued to move northeast across Highway 282 and I-49 where several cars were rolled off the highway and severe damage to trees was noted. Several mobile homes were destroyed, a permanent home was damaged, and severe tree damage was noted as the tornado moved across Overlook Trail. A well-built outbuilding was destroyed and a home was severely damaged on Locust Mountain Road. Numerous trees were also snapped and uprooted in this area. Another home was severely damaged on Dollard Road before moving into Mountainburg, where numerous homes and businesses were damaged, outbuildings were destroyed, and trees and power poles were blown down. The tornado then moved south and finally east of Lake Fort Smith, where homes were damaged, outbuildings were destroyed, and trees and power poles were blown down.
Tornado as it passed Mountainburg, Arkansas from NWS Coop Observer Jim Moore. Photo credit and permission: Jim Moore, University of Arkansas.
Lavaca, AR Tornado (Sebastian/Franklin Counties AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 95 mph
- Path Length: 5.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 400 yards
- Start Location: 4.3 miles east of Lavaca, AR
- Start Time: 5:46 pm CDT April 13, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.3300 / -94.1006
- End Location: 6 miles southwest of Cecil, AR
- End Time: 5:54 pm CDT April 13, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.3896 / -94.0341
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed about a mile west of the Sebastian/Franklin County line near Military Road where trees were uprooted and power poles were snapped. The tornado moved northeast and damaged a mobile home and uprooted trees as it crossed James Road and Ridge Road. Large tree limbs were snapped as it crossed Highway 217 and Highway 215 before dissipating south of Case Road.
March 27, 2018 Tornado Event
A line of showers and thunderstorms moved east across eastern Oklahoma and west central Arkansas during the morning of March 27, 2018. A brief tornado formed along the leading edge of a bowing severe line segment of thunderstorms as it approached the KSRX Fort Smith WSR-88D (Doppler radar).
Bonanza, AR Tornado (Sebastian County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 75 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 350 yards
- Start Location: 2.2 miles north-northeast of Bonanza, AR
- Start Time: 9:43 am CDT March 27, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.2704 / -94.4168
- End Location: 3.7 miles northeast of Bonanza, AR
- End Time: 9:45 am CDT March 27, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.2806 / -94.3840
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado damaged or destroyed several barns and snapped numerous large tree limbs as it moved east-northeast within the Cedar Creek Valley, north of Highway 45.
January 21, 2018 Tornado Event
Huntington, AR Tornado (Sebastian County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 95 mph
- Path Length: 5.2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 350 yards
- Start Location: Huntington, AR
- Start Time: 6:56 pm CST January 21, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.0823 / -94.2695
- End Location: 4.9 miles northeast of Huntington, AR
- End Time: 7:03 pm CST January 21, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.1407 / -94.2124
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed on the northwest side of Huntington, Arkansas near the water treatment plant, where it uprooted trees and destroyed a metal-framed structure. The tornado moved northeast damaging the roof of a mobile home, damaging a couple of chicken houses, and uprooting more trees.
Cecil, AR Tornado (Franklin County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 90 mph
- Path Length: 4.3 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 400 yards
- Start Location: 3.3 miles south of Cecil, AR
- Start Time: 7:40 pm CST January 21, 2018
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.3909 / -93.9501
- End Location: 2.6 miles east of Cecil, AR
- End Time: 7:45 pm CST January 21, 2018
- End Lat/Lon: 35.4397 / -93.9022
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado snapped the trunks of a few softwood trees, snapped large tree limbs, and damaged a home.
