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Altus, OK Tornado History — 176 Tornadoes Since 1950

Oklahoma · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Altus, OK had?

Altus has had 176 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Altus?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Altus was an Unrated on June 18, 2025.

When is tornado season in Altus?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Altus, with 85 on record. April through June account for 141 of the 176 tornadoes on record near Altus.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
176
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
6.8% of total
Peak Month
May
85 on record
Per Year Avg
2.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Altus

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 34 total, averaging 1.7 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 7
2023 0
2022 1
2021 3
2020 0
2019 5
2018 3
2017 3
2016 0
2015 2
2014 0
2013 2
2012 3
2011 4
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Altus

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Altus and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 18, 2025 and the most recent on June 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Altus totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 18, 2025
2 SSE Elmer, Jackson County, OK
[Landspout] Video provided showing long-lived ground circulation beneath funnel. Lasted roughly 25 minutes. (OUN)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 34
1960s 21
1970s 18
1980s 36
1990s 23
2000s 10
2010s 22
2020s 12

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 80
EF1 41
EF2 32
EF3 10
EF4 2
Unrated 11

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 3
Mar 7
Apr 28
May 85
Jun 28
Jul 6
Aug 4
Sep 0
Oct 4
Nov 11
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Altus

6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Altus since 1950, across 4 events. 149 injuries have been reported across all events. 1975 was the deadliest year on record near Altus.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 11, 1982, which caused 2 fatalities along a 10.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Altus

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on May 11, 1982 — 2 fatalities, 10.0 mi path, 700 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on May 11, 1982 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on May 23, 2024 — 2,000 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on April 29, 1970 — 170.5 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on June 18, 2025.

What the record shows near Altus

The 1980s were the busiest decade near Altus, with 36 of the 176 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Altus record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Altus, 121 reached EF0 or EF1 and 44 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Altus is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 11 near Altus are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Altus has averaged 1.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 34 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 7, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Altus, OK had?
Since 1950, 176 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Altus. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Altus?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Altus was an F3 on May 11, 1982, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Altus?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Altus, with 85 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Altus been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Altus, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Altus?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Altus was an Unrated on June 18, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Altus?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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