VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Norman, OK Tornado History — 317 Tornadoes Since 1950

Oklahoma · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Norman, OK had?

Norman has had 317 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 32 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Norman?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Norman was an EF0 on June 6, 2025.

When is tornado season in Norman?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Norman, with 129 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
317
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
32
10.1% of total
Peak Month
May
129 on record
Per Year Avg
4.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Norman

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 138 total, averaging 6.9 per year over this window.

2026 0+4 prelim
2025 5
2024 18
2023 28
2022 6
2021 5
2020 2
2019 10
2018 10
2017 1
2016 2
2015 16
2014 0
2013 9
2012 2
2011 6
2010 10
2009 2
2008 3
2007 3

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Norman since December 29, 2025

These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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
1 W Dale, Pottawatomie County, OK
Preliminary April 4, 2026
6 W Valley Brook, Oklahoma County, OK
Preliminary January 8, 2026
4 E Stella, Pottawatomie County, OK
Preliminary January 8, 2026
1 N Purcell, McClain County, OK

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 30
1960s 48
1970s 34
1980s 22
1990s 31
2000s 22
2010s 66
2020s 64

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 108
EF1 110
EF2 63
EF3 21
EF4 9
EF5 2
Unrated 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 10
Mar 20
Apr 64
May 129
Jun 31
Jul 7
Aug 8
Sep 12
Oct 21
Nov 13
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Norman

77 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Norman since 1950, across 11 events. 1,517 injuries have been reported across all events. 1999 was the deadliest year on record.

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

Notable Tornadoes Near Norman

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
EF2 on April 19, 2023 — 2,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on May 5, 1960 — 101.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 6, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Norman

This overview was written August 10, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Calm weeks and volatile afternoons sit side by side in Norman's weather story. Much of the year passes quietly over central Oklahoma's open terrain, yet dry air sliding east off the high plains, humid Gulf of Mexico air streaming north, and the sharp dryline where they meet can turn a placid morning into an outbreak by evening. Fittingly, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, keeper of the national severe-weather record, forecasts from Norman itself.

The archive reflects those sudden turns. September 14, 1957 brought an F4 tornado that ran 67.5 miles and killed 2 people, and on May 3, 1999 an F5 up to 1,430 yards wide carved a 37-mile path through the area, killing 36 people and injuring 583. EF4 tornadoes swept the vicinity on May 10, 2010, again on May 24, 2011, and once more on May 19, 2013, when 2 people died along a 23-mile track.

The rhythm is strongly seasonal. April, May and June form the prime window, when shear and instability align, and May recurs throughout the event list. Autumn brings a quieter echo — an F3 tornado on November 20, 1973, killed 5 people and injured 36 as a cold front crossed the state. For the present-day picture, the live tables and maps elsewhere on this page follow the documented record for the surrounding area as new storm surveys arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Norman, OK had?
Since 1950, 317 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Norman. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Norman?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Norman was a F5 on May 3, 1999, which caused 36 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Norman?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Norman, with 129 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 Norman been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Norman, there have been 2 EF5 and 9 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 Norman?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Norman was an EF0 on June 6, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Norman?
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

More Cities in Oklahoma