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Bethany, OK Tornado History — 331 Tornadoes Since 1950

Oklahoma · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Bethany, OK had?

Bethany has had 331 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 35 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Bethany?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bethany was an EF0 on July 12, 2025.

When is tornado season in Bethany?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bethany, with 153 on record. April through June account for 242 of the 331 tornadoes on record near Bethany.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
331
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
35
10.6% of total
Peak Month
May
153 on record
Per Year Avg
4.4
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Bethany

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 121 total, averaging 6.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 5
2024 13
2023 8
2022 5
2021 6
2020 1
2019 11
2018 6
2017 1
2016 3
2015 13
2014 1
2013 15
2012 4
2011 5
2010 7
2009 4
2008 5
2007 8

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Bethany since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 4, 2026
6 W Valley Brook, Oklahoma County, OK
Delayed report. A tornado developed just east of Will Rogers International Airport and moved southeast across adjacent neighborhoods. The most significant damage occurr (OUN)
Preliminary March 10, 2026
5 NW Tuttle, Grady County, OK
(OUN)

Within 25 miles of Bethany. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Bethany

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Bethany and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 3, 2025 and the most recent on June 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Bethany totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 3, 2025
4 SE Newcastle, McClain County, OK
TDS observed from KTLX. (OUN)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 29
1960s 51
1970s 38
1980s 26
1990s 43
2000s 40
2010s 66
2020s 38

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 123
EF1 114
EF2 55
EF3 26
EF4 6
EF5 3
Unrated 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 8
Mar 17
Apr 53
May 153
Jun 36
Jul 10
Aug 11
Sep 6
Oct 22
Nov 12
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Bethany

93 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bethany since 1950, across 13 events. 1,625 injuries have been reported across all events. 1999 was the deadliest year on record near Bethany.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 3, 1999, which caused 36 fatalities along a 37.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Bethany

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on May 3, 1999 — 36 fatalities, 37.0 mi path, 1,430 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF5 on May 20, 2013 — $2.0B in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF3 on May 31, 2013 — 4,576 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on April 29, 1970 — 170.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on July 12, 2025.

What the record shows near Bethany

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Bethany, with 66 of the 331 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 38 so far. The Bethany record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Bethany, 237 reached EF0 or EF1 and 90 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Bethany is rated EF5, of which 3 are logged. A further 4 near Bethany are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Bethany has averaged 6.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 121 in total. 2013 was the busiest of them with 15, and 1 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Bethany, OK had?
Since 1950, 331 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Bethany. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Bethany?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Bethany was an F5 on May 3, 1999, which caused 36 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Bethany?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bethany, with 153 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 Bethany been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Bethany, there have been 3 EF5 and 6 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 Bethany?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bethany was an EF0 on July 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Bethany?
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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