During the late afternoon hours of May 9,2016,a violent multi-vortex EF4 tornado struck southern Katie,Oklahoma. The tornado was extremely erratic and killed one person[1][2] while causing $1,000,000 (2016 USD) in damages. The tornado was extremely photogenic,and was heavily documented by storm chasers and civilians.
Although the tornado retained high-end EF3 intensity for large portions of its life,it produced a small pocket of intense and violent EF4 damage,[3] making it the first EF4 tornado in Oklahoma since 2013.[1] It was also the first EF4 tornado in 2016,[4] and the only violent tornado of the tornado outbreak of May 7–10,2016.
Tornado summary
The tornado first touched down on North County Road 3170,and the tornado immediately began to damage trees at EF0 and EF1 intensity. The tornado headed east-northeastward into a forested area,where further tree damage occurred. It then crossed North Private Drive,causing an unknown amount of damage. As the tornado began to track toward the intersection at East 1960 Road and North 3180 Road,it deroofed a farm and uprooted hardwood trees at EF1 intensity. As it continued to track alongside East 1690 Road,it rapidly strengthened to EF2 intensity,where multiple tree trunks were found to be snapped.[5]
The tornado then further strengthened to EF3 intensity,where two multi-story houses collapsed as a result of 140 mph winds generated by the tornado. It also continued to uproot and damage trees at EF1 and EF2 intensity along its path. A farm located off of eastern East 1690 Road sustained EF0 damage,and a manufactured home located off of a trail nearby sustained EF1 damage caused by 110 mph winds.[5][1]
The tornado then crossed the Wildhorse Creek Reservoir,causing an unknown amount of damage to trees or other structures. It continued tracking through relatively unpopulated areas of southern Katie,only hitting the far-south portions of North 3190 Road. The tornado then strengthened back up to EF2 intensity,snapping tree trunks and breaking windows in a home.[5]
The tornado then began to turn directly East,crossing multiple trails. It snapped more trees located off of North County Road 3210,where it strengthened to EF3 intensity. Multiple trees nearby were completely debarked,and a home was deroofed at EF2 intensity. The tornado continued to uproot,debark and damage large swaths of trees as it moved eastward.[5]
The tornado tracked through another forest,before striking the southern portions of North 3220 Road.and the Wildhorse Creek Site 59 Reservoir. It then hit Indian Meridian Road,uprooting trees at EF0 and EF1 intensity. A house located on East County Road 1680 sustained EF2 roof damage,and a vehicle was mangled. The tornado then abruptly became violent,reaching EF4 intensity as it destroyed a home with peak winds estimated to be at 170 mph.[1] It also debarked trees nearby at EF3 strength,before immediately weakening back down to EF1 intensity.[5]
As the tornado continued to move eastward,it again strengthened to EF2-level intensity,with the tornado downing power lines. It then briefly moved sharply to the south before tracking back up to the northeast,and then began to straighten out its path eastward. The tornado reached EF3 intensity for a final time on North Private 3246 Drive,where two separate homes were destroyed with their foundations left exposed.[5]
The tornado continued to move east,rapidly weakening EF0 and EF1 damage. A manufactured home located off of East County Road 1680 slid off of its foundation in 87 mph winds caused by the tornado. A short distance down the road,a house was partially deroofed by 79 mph winds. The tornado then crossed North County Road 3250,snapping tree trunks and uprooting trees at EF1 intensity before dissipating to the west of Interstate 25 at 3:27 p.m.,tracking a total of 9 miles[6] and reaching a maximum width of 400 yards.[1][6]
The tornado caused large and erratic swaths of EF0,EF1 and EF2-level damage to trees,where large trunks were snapped or,in some cases,completely debarked. Multiple manufactured homes were hit by the tornado,one of which was completely destroyed. Although the tornado retained mainly EF1-EF3 intensity,it did produce a pocket of EF4 damage to a home that was destroyed,and its foundation was left exposed and swept clean of debris. Economic losses from the tornado totaled an estimated ~$1,000,000 (2016 USD). Although the tornado was initially rated a high-end EF3,[8] it was later upgraded to an EF4.[9][3]
Fatalities
One person was killed by the tornado as they were inside of a modular home that was destroyed.[10] No other fatalities or injuries were reported. 76-year old Chester Barnes was found outside a home near the Interstate 35 service road,and was the sole fatality.[11]
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