2023 Tornado Events in Eastern Oklahoma + Northwest Arkansas
Information about the tornadoes that affected the National Weather Service Tulsa area of responsibility during 2023.
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 2023 as of July 14, 2023 for the NWS Tulsa area of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas:
- Total number of tornadoes: 10
- EF-0: 2 | EF-1: 6
- EF-2: 0 | EF-3: 0
- EF-4: 0 | EF-5: 0
- EF-Unknown: 2
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
January 2, 2023 Tornado Event
Unseasonably warm, moist, and unstable air was in place across eastern Oklahoma on January 2nd, ahead of an approaching cold front and strong upper-level disturbance. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed into and across eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening. The moderately unstable air combined with strong deep-layer and low-level wind shear resulted in the evolution of some of the thunderstorms into supercells. Several of these supercells produced tornadoes.
Damage in Mayes County was surveyed by NWS meteorologists and the details of the tornado are below. We also surveyed northeastern Pittsburg County and southwestern Haskell County, where tornadoes appeared possible based on Doppler radar. No damage was found in these areas. Northeastern Haskell County near the Tamaha area was also surveyed. There was a tornado in that area witnessed by multiple people, but the tornado appears to have occurred over Robert S. Kerr Reservoir, so no damage could be found. That tornado was rated EF-unknown as a result.
Another tornado was witnessed by multiple people west of Pawhuska and southeast of Shidler. It formed over open country, thus no damage is known to have occurred. It, therefore, was also rated EF-unknown.
Damage in eastern McIntosh County, north of Lake Eufaula, was surveyed. The damage was consistent with tornado damage. The details of the survey and tornado are below.
A brief tornado occurred southwest of Fairland in Ottawa County. This was surveyed with emergency management officials and is consistent with tornado damage, with convergence apparent in the debris field. Details of this tornado are below.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Pryor, OK Tornado (Mayes County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80-85 mph
- Path Length: 5.3 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 700 yards
- Start Location: 3 miles north-northeast of Pryor, OK
- Start Time: 5:32 pm CST January 2, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.346 / -95.298
- End Location: 3 miles southeast of Adair, OK
- End Time: 5:43 pm CST January 2, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 36.397 / -95.228
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed just east of Highway 69 and south of the 460 Road. Two outbuildings were damaged as it moved northeast across the 460 Road, and another outbuilding was destroyed as it crossed the 450 Road. The tornado then moved over the Oklahoma Mesonet Pryor station, which measured an 81 mph wind gust. The tornado continued moving northeast across the 440 Road and then the 430 Road, where the roof and siding of a home were damaged. It dissipated over open country north of the 430 Road and west of the N 437 Road.
Data from the Pryor Mesonet Site Courtesy of the Oklahoma Climatology Survey. This chart shows the measured pressure (mb), maximum 3-second wind (kt), temperature (F), and dew point (F) as the tornado passed the Pryor mesonet weather instrument site.
Texanna, OK Tornado (McIntosh County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85-95 mph
- Path Length: 8.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 650 yards
- Start Location: 6 miles east-northeast of Eufaula, OK
- Start Time: 5:52 pm CST January 2, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.320 / -95.474
- End Location: 6 miles southwest of Warner, OK
- End Time: 6:05 pm CST January 2, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 35.413 / -95.374
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed near the Lake Eufaula shoreline near the 4240 Road, where large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved northeast across Texanna Road, destroying storage buildings, damaging homes, and uprooting trees, then moved across the Duchess Creek arm of the lake. It moved back onshore and across the 1120 Road, where trees were uprooted and an outbuilding was destroyed. The tornado then damaged trees as it crossed the 1110 Road, and dissipated east of the 4290 Road and west of the Muskogee County line.
Fairland, OK Tornado (Ottawa County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90-95 mph
- Path Length: 0.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
- Start Location: 3.4 miles south-southwest of Fairland, OK
- Start Time: 6:23 pm CST January 2, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.706 / -94.874
- End Location: 2.9 miles south-southwest of Fairland, OK
- End Time: 6:25 pm CST January 2, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 36.713 / -94.867
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This brief tornado developed near the 560 Road, where several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved northeast and uprooted trees before dissipating prior to reaching the 210 Road.
April 5, 2023 Tornado Event
A brief tornado occurred near Weathers, AR on the morning of April 5, 2023. Details of this tornado are below.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Weathers, AR Tornado (Madison County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80 mph
- Path Length: 2.8 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 300 yards
- Start Location: 1 mile north-northwest of Weathers, AR
- Start Time: 5:50 am CDT April 5, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.967 / -93.5241
- End Location: 3 miles northeast of Weathers, AR
- End Time: 5:53 am CDT April 5, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 35.9934 / -93.4872
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado snapped large tree limbs and uprooted small trees.
June 17-18, 2023 Straight-line Wind & Tornado Event
A line of severe thunderstorms organized over northwestern Oklahoma during the evening of June 17, 2023. This squall line moved quickly eastward and across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas during the late evening of the 17th and early morning hours of the 18th. Widespread thunderstorm wind damage occurred across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas from these storms, with a swath of wind damage consistent with 80 to 100+ mph wind gusts. In addition to the widespread, high-end, straight-line wind damage, the squall line also produced tornadoes, which all formed on the leading edge of the thunderstorm line. Three tornadoes were confirmed where damage was more highly concentrated and convergent. These tornadoes were also highly supported by weather radar. Scroll down for information on each tornado. Then, continue scrolling for pictures of the damage from the straight-line winds.
Sadly, there was a fatality and three injuries reported in Creek County from the squall line.
On June 20, 2023, "Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called on the Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat to sign Executive Order 2023-18 declaring a State of Emergency in Creek, Delaware, Harper, Mayes, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner, and Choctaw counties following recent storms across the state."
Details for this event continue to be gathered, and frequent updates to this event summary will continue for several days. Please continue to check back (and possibly refresh your browser) in order to see updated information.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Radar
The animation on the right shows the mesoscale convective system (MCS) as it moved across northeast OK and far northwest AR. The left panel is the KINX WSR-88D weather radar reflectivity, and the right panel is velocity (where green/blue colors show movement toward the radar and red colors show movement away from the radar).
Zoomed in animation of KINX WSR-88D reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) showing the strongest portion of the MCS.
Zoomed in animation of KINX WSR-88D reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) showing the strongest portion of the MCS moving through the Tulsa metro area.
Wind Measurements
The image on the right shows the maximum wind gusts measured by the Oklahoma Mesonet stations. Since the squall line occurred during the night, use the "swipe" bar to view the gusts from both June 17th and June 18th.
The National Weather Service Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), at the official observing location at the Tulsa International Airport, measured a peak wind gust of 77 mph (67 knots) from the west at 12:30 am CDT June 18.
More information about the Oklahoma Mesonet can be found at https://mesonet.org/
Meteorological Summary
A well defined shortwave trough was located across southwestern Colorado by mid-morning on June 17, and this trough continued eastward through the day with a line of thunderstorms developing across southeast CO into the TX Panhandle by mid-afternoon. Additional severe storms developed across southwest KS into northwest OK by early evening and eventually merged into the approaching line of storms. The merger marked the development of a severe Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) that produced both severe hail and wind reports across northwest OK and southwest KS.
The aforementioned shortwave trough continued eastward into the Plains, and wind fields in the low- to mid-levels of the atmosphere strengthened in response. Additionally, a broad corridor of strong instability existed ahead of the MCS and, along with the strengthening winds, supported further strengthening of the MCS as it developed eastward through north central OK, with continued severe wind reports.
The MCS gained further organization as it moved into northeast OK, and a well-defined rear inflow jet developed, marking peak intensity of the MCS as it tracked east and northeast across much of northeast OK. The rear inflow jet served to transport winds aloft down to the surface, producing a long fetch of intense damaging winds along the Interstate 44 corridor, including through the Tulsa metro area. The MCS continued into southwest MO and far northwest AR before gradually weakening. This MCS left a track of severe wind and hail reports that extended from southeast CO through northern OK and into southwest MO.
Another severe MCS tracked from southern OK through west central AR during a similar time frame, producing numerous severe wind reports along its path.
Satellite and surface analysis from noon June 17 through 8:43 am June 18, 2023.
500 mb analysis from 5 pm June 17 through 3 am June 18, 2023.
Power Outages
According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, there were more than 350,000 power outages at the height of the storm across Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported statewide 319,535 outages at 10:30 a.m. June 18, 2023; 98,813 power outages as of 4 p.m. June 21; and 63,398 outages as of 2:15 p.m. June 22.
Verdigris Valley Electric Coop (VVEC) crews repairing lines 6/18/2023. Photo from VVEC.
Verdigris Valley Electric Coop (VVEC) crews assessing broken power pole and fallen lines 6/18/2023. Photo from VVEC.
Utility crews repairing lines 6/20/2023. Photo from PSO.
Utility crews repairing lines 6/21/2023. Photo from PSO.
Oolohah, OK Tornado (Rogers County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95-105 mph
- Path Length: 10.9 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 1000 yards
- Start Location: 4 miles east-northeast of Collinsville, OK
- Start Time: 12:40 am CDT June 18, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.392 / -95.763
- End Location: 3 miles west-southwest of Foyil, OK
- End Time: 12:52 am CDT June 18, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 36.412 / -95.570
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed east of Highway 169, southwest of Oologah. It moved just south of Oologah Lake, and dissipated southwest of Foyil. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous hardwood trees, damaged a number of homes and outbuildings, and blew down numerous power poles in the path. A tornadic debris signature was detected by KINX WSR-88D (weather radar) with this tornado.
KINX WSR-88D reflectivity (left) and storm-relative velocity (right) at 12:40 am CDT 6/18/2023.
Chelsea, OK Tornado (Rogers County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90-100 mph
- Path Length: 5.2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 800 yards
- Start Location: 7.7 miles west-southwest of Chelsea, OK
- Start Time: 12:56 am CDT June 18, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.518 / -95.565
- End Location: 2.7 miles southwest of Chelsea, OK
- End Time: 1:03 am CDT June 18, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 36.520 / -95.471
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed near an inlet of Oologah Lake and moved east toward Chelsea. Numerous hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped, and power poles were blown down.
KINX WSR-88D reflectivity (left) and storm-relative velocity (right) at 1:00 am CDT 6/18/2023.
Strang, OK Tornado (Mayes County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90-100 mph
- Path Length: 4.1 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 300 yards
- Start Location: 2 miles west-southwest of Strang, OK
- Start Time: 1:09 am CDT June 18, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.391 / -95.170
- End Location: 2 miles east-northeast of Strang, OK
- End Time: 1:15 am CDT June 18, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 36.417 / -95.103
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado uprooted trees and snapped numerous large tree limbs.
Photos from the June 17-18, 2023 Damaging Wind Event. Hover over the "i" icon in each image for the caption.
Photos from the June 17-18, 2023 Damaging Wind Event. Hover over the "i" icon in each image for the caption.
July 14, 2023 Tornado
A tornado occurred in Sebastian County AR during the early morning hours of July 14, 2023 and details about this tornado are provided below.
Based on historical tornado data since 1950, this tornado was the earliest tornado to have occurred during the month of July in the seven northwest Arkansas counties served by WFO Tulsa. Additionally, there have been only five other tornadoes confirmed during the months of July and August in these seven counties served by WFO Tulsa.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Mansfield, AR Tornado (Sebastian County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95-105 mph
- Path Length: 3.4 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 550 yards
- Start Location: Mansfield, AR
- Start Time: 4:03 am CDT July 14, 2023
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.064 / -94.259
- End Location: Liberty, AR
- End Time: 4:11 am CDT July 14, 2023
- End Lat/Lon: 35.021 / -94.233
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed on the northwest side of Mansfield, where trees were damaged. It moved southeast across the west and south side of town. Trees were uprooted, numerous large limbs were snapped throughout town, poles were blown down, and homes were damaged. Trees fell onto several homes, severely damaging them. South of Mansfield, the tornado moved south-southeast uprooting a number of trees along and east of Highway 378, before dissipating on the east side of Lake Spur.
