Ponca City, OK Tornado History — 159 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ponca City, OK had?
Ponca City has had 159 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 11 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ponca City?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ponca City was an EF0 on May 6, 2024.
When is tornado season in Ponca City?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ponca City, with 59 on record. April through June account for 120 of the 159 tornadoes on record near Ponca City.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ponca City
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 24 total, averaging 1.2 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ponca City 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Brief tornado. (OUN)
Tornado as well as a satellite tornado. (OUN)
A tornado uprooted numerous trees... damaged several homes... and snapped numerous large tree limbs in neighborhoods south of the dam. This damage was consistent with E (TSA)
(OUN)
Within 25 miles of Ponca City. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Ponca City
102 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ponca City since 1950, across 3 events. 614 injuries have been reported across all events. 1955 was the deadliest year on record near Ponca City.
The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 25, 1955, which caused 80 fatalities along a 56.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ponca City
What the record shows near Ponca City
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Ponca City, with 33 of the 159 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 6 so far. The Ponca City record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ponca City, 122 reached EF0 or EF1 and 35 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ponca City is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged. A further 2 near Ponca City are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Ponca City has averaged 1.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 24 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 6, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.