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Ardmore, OK Tornado History — 145 Tornadoes Since 1950

Oklahoma · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Ardmore, OK had?

Ardmore has had 145 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Ardmore?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ardmore was an Unrated on April 19, 2025.

When is tornado season in Ardmore?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ardmore, with 57 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
145
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
8.3% of total
Peak Month
May
57 on record
Per Year Avg
1.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Ardmore

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 51 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 6
2024 10
2023 1
2022 1
2021 0
2020 4
2019 4
2018 2
2017 6
2016 0
2015 4
2014 0
2013 0
2012 1
2011 2
2010 9
2009 1
2008 0
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Ardmore since December 29, 2025

These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary April 26, 2026
4 SSE Mill Creek, Johnston County, OK

Within 25 miles of Ardmore. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 17
1960s 11
1970s 18
1980s 12
1990s 28
2000s 9
2010s 28
2020s 22

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 52
EF1 45
EF2 23
EF3 9
EF4 3
Unrated 13

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 3
Mar 14
Apr 44
May 57
Jun 8
Jul 3
Aug 1
Sep 2
Oct 5
Nov 6
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Ardmore

27 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ardmore since 1950, across 10 events. 168 injuries have been reported across all events. 2009 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was an EF4 on February 10, 2009, which caused 8 fatalities along a 37.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Ardmore

Deadliest Tornado
EF4 on February 10, 2009 — 8 fatalities, 37.0 mi path, 880 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on May 7, 1995 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on May 24, 2011 — 1,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on March 13, 1953 — 45.3 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on April 19, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Ardmore

This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Ardmore lies in south-central Oklahoma, in the transition between the Arbuckle uplift and the surrounding plains, well within the heart of the country's most active tornado region. Open terrain and a location near the collision zone of very different air masses make severe weather a defining feature of the local spring.

The setup here is the classic Southern Plains one. Warm, moist air surging north from the Gulf of Mexico meets hot, dry air from the west along a sharp boundary known as a dryline, while a strong jet stream overhead supplies abundant wind shear. Under these conditions thunderstorms readily grow into long-lived rotating supercells. Activity peaks in spring, with a secondary uptick possible in autumn.

Tornado strength is measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which grades a tornado from EF0 to EF5 by the damage it produces rather than a measured wind speed. While most tornadoes are relatively weak, the Southern Plains are capable of producing the strongest and most violent tornadoes on record. For the specific history near Ardmore — the number on file, the breakdown by decade and rating, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center elsewhere on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Ardmore, OK had?
Since 1950, 145 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Ardmore. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Ardmore?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Ardmore was an EF4 on February 10, 2009, which caused 8 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Ardmore?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ardmore, with 57 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 Ardmore been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Ardmore, there have been 0 EF5 and 3 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 Ardmore?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ardmore was an Unrated on April 19, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Ardmore?
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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