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Oklahoma City, OK Tornado History — 346 Tornadoes Since 1950

Oklahoma · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Oklahoma City, OK had?

Oklahoma City has had 346 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 37 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Oklahoma City?

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

When is tornado season in Oklahoma City?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Oklahoma City, with 157 on record. April through June account for 249 of the 346 tornadoes on record near Oklahoma City.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
346
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
37
10.7% of total
Peak Month
May
157 on record
Per Year Avg
4.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Oklahoma City

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 141 total, averaging 7.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 5
2024 19
2023 15
2022 5
2021 7
2020 1
2019 12
2018 7
2017 1
2016 4
2015 13
2014 1
2013 14
2012 3
2011 8
2010 10
2009 4
2008 6
2007 6

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Oklahoma City since December 29, 2025

These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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)
Preliminary January 8, 2026
4 E Stella, Pottawatomie County, OK
Scattered damage from near the Cleveland-Pottawatomie County line to near the Shawnee Twin Lakes. (OUN)

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

What storm spotters reported near Oklahoma City

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City 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 49
1970s 44
1980s 29
1990s 35
2000s 35
2010s 73
2020s 52

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 120
EF1 124
EF2 61
EF3 25
EF4 9
EF5 3
Unrated 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 9
Mar 19
Apr 55
May 157
Jun 37
Jul 9
Aug 11
Sep 8
Oct 24
Nov 14
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Oklahoma City

95 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Oklahoma City since 1950, across 14 events. 1,762 injuries have been reported across all events. 1999 was the deadliest year on record near Oklahoma City.

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

Notable Tornadoes Near Oklahoma City

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 Oklahoma City

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Oklahoma City, with 73 of the 346 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 52 so far. The Oklahoma City record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Oklahoma City, 244 reached EF0 or EF1 and 98 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Oklahoma City is rated EF5, of which 3 are logged. A further 4 near Oklahoma City are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Oklahoma City has averaged 7.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 141 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 19, and 1 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Oklahoma City, OK had?
Since 1950, 346 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Oklahoma City. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Oklahoma City?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Oklahoma City was an F5 on May 3, 1999, which caused 36 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Oklahoma City?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Oklahoma City, with 157 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 Oklahoma City been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Oklahoma City, there have been 3 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 Oklahoma City?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Oklahoma City was an EF0 on July 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Oklahoma City?
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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