2020 Tornado Events in Eastern Oklahoma + Northwest Arkansas
Information about the tornadoes that affected the National Weather Service Tulsa area of responsibility during 2020.
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 2020 as of December 31, 2020 for the NWS Tulsa area of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas:
- Total number of tornadoes: 22
- EF-0: 5 | EF-1: 13
- EF-2: 0 | EF-3: 0
- EF-4: 0 | EF-5: 0
- EF-Unknown: 4
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 24, 2020 Tornado Event
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Oklahoma during the evening of November 24, 2020. One thunderstorm within the line produced two tornadoes.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Kinta, OK Tornado (Haskell County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95 to 105 mph
- Path Length: 3 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
- Start Location: 4.4 miles west-southwest of Kinta, OK
- Start Time: 8:54 pm CST November 24, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.104 / -95.316
- End Location: 1.7 miles west-northwest of Kinta, OK
- End Time: 8:59 pm CST November 24, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.124 / -95.269
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado destroyed a mobile home, snapped power poles, damaged the roofs of a couple of homes, and snapped tree limbs as it moved northeast.
Spiro, OK Tornado (Le Flore County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 4 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 250 yards
- Start Location: 1.3 miles northeast of Spiro, OK
- Start Time: 9:50 pm CST November 24, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.258 / -94.609
- End Location: 1.5 miles southeast of Fort Coffee, OK
- End Time: 9:57 pm CST November 24, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.281 / -94.545
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed in the Arkansas River bottoms northeast of Spiro where trees were uprooted. The tornado moved east-northeast, uprooting several more trees and damaging a barn before dissipating. It produced a radar detected tornadic debris signature from the KSRX WSR-88D.
May 25, 2020 Tornado Event
Supercells developed across southeastern and east central Oklahoma during the afternoon of May 25th. At least two of these storms produced tornadoes in east central and northeastern Oklahoma as they moved northward. NWS Tulsa conducted damage surveys in a number of areas, and several tornadoes were confirmed. Details of these surveys are below.
In addition to the tornadoes listed below, we also assessed storm damage reported southeast and northeast of Sallisaw. The damage in those areas was the result of 70 to 80 mph straight-line wind. We continue to collect data and review the event, and at least one additional tornado may have occurred south of Hartford, Arkansas. The Fort Smith doppler radar detected what appeared to be a weak debris signature, coupled with a strong rotational velocity signature that persisted for a couple minutes. The area is south of Harmony Road, in a heavily wooded area that is inaccessible by road.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Lake Tenkiller, OK Tornado (Seqouyah County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 0.5 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
- Start Location: 3.3 miles southeast of Paradise Hill, OK
- Start Time: 5:37 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.5982 / -95.0206
- End Location: 3 miles east-southeast of Paradise Hill, OK
- End Time: 5:38 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.6051 / -95.0214
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado destroyed boat storage units, blew down power poles/lines, and snapped large tree limbs. It was observed by storm chasers.
Watts, OK Tornado (Adair County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 90 mph
- Path Length: 0.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 120 yards
- Start Location: 2.4 miles north of Watts, OK
- Start Time: 7:11 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.1423 / -95.5724
- End Location: 3 miles north of Watts, OK
- End Time: 7:13 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 36.1504 / -94.5767
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado uprooted trees and snapped large tree limbs. It was recorded by a tower cam in West Siloam Springs, as well as by storm chasers.
Colcord, OK Tornado #1 (Delaware County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 70 to 80 mph
- Path Length: Brief
- Maximum Path Width: Narrow
- Start Location: 5 miles east-northeast of Colcord, OK
- Start Time: 7:34 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: n/a
- End Location: 5 miles east-northeast of Colcord, OK
- End Time: 7:34 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: n/a
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado snapped large tree limbs and was observed by storm chasers.
Colcord, OK Tornado #2 (Delaware County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 85 to 95 mph
- Path Length: 0.3 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 75 yards
- Start Location: 6.1 miles northeast of Colcord, OK
- Start Time: 7:45 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.3379 / -94.6321
- End Location: 6.3 miles northeast of Colcord, OK
- End Time: 7:46 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 36.3416 / -94.6344
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado uprooted trees. It likely had a longer path length, but occurred in a heavily wooded area that was mostly inaccessible by road.
Grove, OK Tornado (Delaware County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 70 to 80 mph
- Path Length: 2.2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 300 yards
- Start Location: 8.9 miles southeast of Grove, OK
- Start Time: 8:13 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.5100 / -94.647
- End Location: 7.3 miles east-southeast of Grove, OK
- End Time: 8:19 pm CDT May 25, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 36.5420 / -94.6546
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado snapped tree limbs as it crossed several county roads.
May 22, 2020 Tornado Event
Supercell thunderstorms developed across southeastern Oklahoma during the evening of May 22nd. At least one of these storms produced tornadoes. NWS Tulsa surveyed damage from these storms, and the results of the survey are below. The three tornadoes listed below were produced by the same supercell. In addition to the confirmed tornadoes listed below, we continue to investigate suspected tornadoes from other supercells near Robbers Cave State Park in Latimer County, and northeast of Heavener in Le Flore County. These areas were surveyed, along with areas of northeastern Pittsburg County, but damage was not found. Some of these areas are inaccessible by road, and some were cutoff by temporarily flooded roads.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Talihina, OK Tornado (Le Flore County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95 to 105 mph
- Path Length: 0.9 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 100 yards
- Start Location: 1.7 miles southeast of Tahlihina, OK
- Start Time: 9:58 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 34.7351 / -95.0245
- End Location: 1.4 miles east-southeast of Tahlihina, OK
- End Time: 10:02 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 34.7481 / -95.0219
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed north of Highway 63, and east of Blagg Road, where softwood trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado moved north-northeast, crossing Green Hill Road, where hardwood trees were uprooted and large tree limbs were snapped. It dissipated in open country south of Highway 271.
Whitesboro, OK Tornado #1 (Le Flore County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 3.0 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 225 yards
- Start Location: 3.4 miles northwest of Whitesboro, OK
- Start Time: 10:05 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 34.7088 / -94.9425
- End Location: 2.1 miles north-northwest of Whitesboro, OK
- End Time: 10:14 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 34.7222 / -94.8917
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed south of Highway 63 and west of Flag Lake Road, where trees were uprooted. It moved east-northeast damaging a home, destroying an outbuilding, and uprooting more hardwood trees on 374th Avenue, before crossing Highway 63. The tornado continued east-northeast, uprooting trees on Camp Tom Hale Road and Bohannon Creek Lane, and then dissipated in heavily-wooded terrain north and west of NF6027.
Lower left photo of the tornado from a Whitesboro resident. The resident's home was damaged, an outbuilding was destroyed, and a number of trees were uprooted near the point the video was taken. KSRX radar image in upper left shows reflectivity and velocity. The radar time and likely time of the screen capture was about 10:06 pm CDT.
Whitesboro, OK Tornado #2 (Le Flore County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 95 mph
- Path Length: 2.7 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 200 yards
- Start Location: 1.5 miles north of Whitesboro, OK
- Start Time: 10:15 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 34.7153 / -94.8881
- End Location: 3.3 miles northeast of Whitesboro, OK
- End Time: 10:22 pm CDT May 22, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 34.7236 / -94.8410
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: The supercell appeared to have cycled a third time, producing this tornado in heavily-wooded terrain. It uprooted a few softwood trees as it crossed NF6027, and uprooted numerous softwood trees as it crossed NF6152.
May 15, 2020 Tornado + Damaging Wind Event
A damage survey by NWS Tulsa found a tornado from storms that affected eastern Oklahoma and northwest AR on May 15, 2020. These storms also produced very heavy rainfall, resulting in damaging flash flooding.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Keefeton, OK Tornado (Muskogee County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 100 to 110 mph
- Path Length: 4.8 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 525 yards
- Start Location: 1.6 miles nort-northwest of Keefton, OK
- Start Time: 9:38 am CDT May 15, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.6112 / -95.3503
- End Location: 4.7 miles east-northeast of Keefeton, OK
- End Time: 9:49 am CDT May 15, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.6092 / -95.2655
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed along Elm Grove Road, west of S 25th Street E, where outbuildings were damaged and trees were uprooted. It moved eastward damaging or destroying about sixteen homes, destroying a number of outbuildings, uprooting numerous trees, and snapping numerous power poles until it dissipated just east of the Muskogee Turnpike. This tornado likely developed along the forward flank of a bow echo, with widespread wind damage occurring a minute or two behind the tornado when the core of the bow echo moved through this area. All of the damage attributed to the tornado showed a convergent and more concentrated debris pattern within the broader area of wind damage from the bow echo.
Heavy Rain + Flash Flooding
3"-5" of rain impacted a large area across Wagoner, Muskogee, McIntosh, Haskell, Sequoyah, and Le Flore Counties in east central OK on May 15th. A few locations received 5"-6" of rain during this time. This heavy rainfall led to damaging flash flooding.
Wash out of tin horn northeast of Oktaha, OK along W. 103rd St. S. a little east of Oktaha Rd. Image Credit: NWS Tulsa
24-hour Estimated Observed Rainfall ending at 7am CDT 5/16/2020.
April 28, 2020 Tornado Event
A damage survey by NWS Tulsa found a tornado from storms that affected eastern Oklahoma and northwest AR on April 28, 2020.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Sardis Lake, OK Tornado (Pushmataha County OK
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 5.2 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 550 yards
- Start Location: 2.8 miles northwest of Clayton, OK
- Start Time: 902 pm CDT April 28, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 34.6228 / -95.3822
- End Location: 4.6 miles northwest of Tuskahoma, OK
- End Time: 9:19 pm CDT April 28, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 34.6740 / -95.3176
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed over the hilly terrain south of Sardis Lake. It uprooted trees and blew down power poles as it crossed the E 1660 Road and then Highway 43, south of the lake. The tornado moved across the eastern portion of the lake, and came back onto land near the E 1625 Road, where trees were uprooted and large limbs were snapped. The tornado crossed Highway 2, where trees were uprooted, and then it dissipated, just south of the Latimer County line.
KSRX Radar Reflectivity (left) and Storm-Relative Velocity (right) of the Sardis Lake tornado.
March 19, 2020 Tornado Event
A damage survey by NWS Tulsa found two tornadoes from storms that affected northeast Oklahoma on the morning of March 19, 2020.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Olive, OK Tornado (Creek County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-0
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 80 to 85 mph
- Path Length: 0.6 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 75 yards
- Start Location: 2.1 miles south southwest of Olive, OK
- Start Time: 1:53 am CDT March 19, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 36.0019 / -96.4798
- End Location: 1.7 miles south southeast of Olive, OK
- End Time: 1:55 am CDT March 19, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 36.0082 / -96.4736
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed just south of Highway 33 and west of S 433rd West Avenue where large tree limbs were snapped. It moved northeast destroying an open air barn, uprooting a tree, and damaging a home. The tornado then blew the roof from a mobile home and blew the roof off a barn east of S 433rd West Avenue.
Okemah, OK Tornado (Okuskee County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 2.7 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 225 yards
- Start Location: 2.3 miles southwest of Okemah, OK
- Start Time: 10:25 am CDT March 19, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.4043 / -96.3287
- End Location: 1.5 miles southeast of Okemah, OK
- End Time: 10:29 am CDT March 19, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.4179 / -96.2854
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed south of I-40 and west of the N3760 Road. It moved east-northeast destroying a large outbuilding, damaging a home, and snapping large tree limbs as it crossed S 14th Street. Another outbuilding was destroyed east of S 14th Street and large tree limbs were snapped as it crossed Highway 27. The tornado appeared to dissipate before crossing the N3780 Road, south of the E1100 Road.
January 10, 2020 Tornado Event
Severe thunderstorms developed into eastern Oklahoma during the morning of Friday, January 10, 2020, ahead of a strong storm system that moved into the Southern Plains from the Southern Rockies. Unseasonably warm and moist air ahead of this system resulted in weak instability developing across eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. Strong wind fields and very strong wind shear, both deep-layer and low-level, combined with this instability, resulting in some of the storms through mid-afternoon becoming supercells. These storms produced hail up to golfball size, damaging wind, and a tornado. The tornado damage in Cherokee County, OK was surveyed by NWS Tulsa.
By late afternoon, the storms had evolved into a squall line that moved across far eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas through the evening hours. As this squall line moved through northwestern Arkansas, it produced damaging wind and a tornado. The damage from this tornado was surveyed by the NWS Tulsa office, along with Franklin County Emergency Management.
Anyone wishing to contribute images, video, or information may contact the National Weather Service in Tulsa at 918-838-7838.
Park Hill, OK Tornado (Cherokee County OK)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 90 to 100 mph
- Path Length: 5.8 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 250 yards
- Start Location: 3.1 miles west southwest of Keys, OK
- Start Time: 2:49 pm CST January 10, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.7796 / -95.0229
- End Location: 1.7 miles south southeast of Park Hill, OK
- End Time: 2:57 pm CST January 10, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.8369 / -94.9480
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado damaged a roof of a permanent home and the roofs of two mobile homes, uprooted a number of trees, and damaged outbuildings.
Cecil, AR Tornado (Franklin County AR)
- EF-Scale: EF-1
- Maximum Estimated Wind Speed: 95 to 105 mph
- Path Length: 3.9 miles
- Maximum Path Width: 400 yards
- Start Location: 3.2 miles east southeast of Cecil, AR
- Start Time: 7:45 pm CST January 10, 2020
- Start Lat/Lon: 35.4262 / -93.8928
- End Location: 3.4 miles south of Ozark, AR
- End Time: 7:49 pm CST January 10, 2020
- End Lat/Lon: 35.4381 / -93.8244
- Fatalities: 0
- Injuries: 0
- Survey Summary: This tornado developed along the leading edge of a line of thunderstorms, south of Highway 96. It moved east-northeast damaging the roof of a home, destroying several outbuildings, snapping or uprooting numerous trees, and blowing down power poles.
