Introduction

During the early morning hours of Monday, April 5, 1999 severe thunderstorms occurred over northwest and north central Oklahoma. Although there were many storms which occurred over the affected area between 1 AM CDT and 7 AM CDT, this post event summary report will concentrate on surveyed damage in Alfalfa and Grant Counties. One severe thunderstorm produced a sporadic path of damage across Alfalfa County including an F1 tornado from 6 miles west-southwest of Cherokee to 4.5 miles north of Cherokee. A separate storm produced a sporadic damage path from northeast Major County, across northwest Garfield County and across Grant County including an F0 tornado from 8 miles south-southwest of Wakita to 5 miles south of Wakita. A damage survey of these areas was conducted on Tuesday, April 6 by Norman National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Miller. Additional storm damage was observed in the area during the same time, but was not surveyed. A composite of the damage is shown in figure 1 below.

Excerpts from April 1999 Storm Data

A long line of thunderstorms moved east across most of western and central Oklahoma during the early morning of the 5th resulting in widespread straight-line damage and 5 tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms first developed in Magnum in Greer County where large tree limbs were blown down. In Woods County trees were downed 12 miles west of Alva near the intersection of Highway 64 and Highway 14.

In addition, power poles were snapped; house roofs and barns were damaged, and sheds were blown over. Power lines were also downed 7 miles west of Alva. In Washita County many house roofs were damaged in Dill City, and power lines were downed 5 miles southwest of Dill City. In Woodward County large tree limbs were downed in Belva, while in Mooreland a camper trailer was destroyed; fences and tree limbs were blown down, and numerous vehicles were damaged.

A survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that an F1 tornado touched down 6 miles west-southwest of Cherokee in Alfalfa County and tracked northeast for 7 miles before dissipating about 4 miles north of Cherokee. Two hay storage barns and another storage barn at a feedlot were destroyed, and a large irrigation system was destroyed. Also in Alfalfa County a haybarn was destroyed in Ingersoll; the roof was ripped off of a boat house, and another house received minor roof damage. Large power poles were blown down 5 miles northeast of Cherokee, and a barn was blown down in Amorita, also in Alfalfa County.

Another tornado was confirmed by a National Weather Service survey 4 miles north-northeast of Ames in Major County. This tornado, rated an F0, touched down in an open field with no known damage. The same thunderstorm that produced this tornado was also responsible for straight-line winds which blew a moving vehicle off the road 4 miles north of Ames.

A tornado also developed 2 miles north of Carrier in Garfield County, but no damage (F0) was observed as it touched down briefly in an open field.

Another tornado, 3rd of the day, touched down about 8 miles south-southwest of Wakita in Garfield County and tracked northeast to about 5 miles south of Wakita. One sheet metal/wood frame hay storage barn was destroyed, and another was damaged. A truck was damaged, and tree limbs were blown down. The weak nature of the structures damaged or destroyed by this tornado warranted an F0 intensity rating.

In addition to the tornado damage in Garfield County, straight-line wind damage was observed 2 miles north of Carrier where road signs were blown over, 7 miles south of Wakita where a shed was destroyed; a barn was blown over; a truck was damaged, and a few homes suffered roof and window damage, and 12 miles northwest of Medford where a semi was blown over, while in Grant County straight-line winds blew down power lines 6 miles west of Wakita.

As the line of thunderstorms continued to move east across portions of central Oklahoma, another tornado, an F1, developed in McClain County about 1 mile south of the intersection of Highway 59 and Highway 39, and moved northeast for 3 miles before dissipating. The most significant damage occurred near the intersection of Highway 39 and Youth Camp Road where the roof of a medium-sized house was severely damaged; 2 barns were destroyed, and a travel trailer was blown over onto a nearby car.

In Pottowatomie County 1 mile southwest of McLoud a gazebo was destroyed, and a metal barn was damaged. Large tree limbs and a chainlink fence were also blown down, while in Wynnewood in Garvin County a barn was destroyed, and the roof of a horse barn was blown off; numerous trees and power poles were downed, and many homes received minor roof and structural damage.

Severe thunderstorm winds also damaged a hangar and aircraft at the Ardmore Regional Airport in Ardmore in Carter County, while widespread damage occurred in Holdenville in Hughes County. Three homes received major damage, while 143 other homes received minor damage. Trees, power lines, and a radio tower were blown down, and at least one vehicle was damaged.

Map of Damage Locations

Damage Assessment

Tornado west of Cherokee

The tornado west of Cherokee began at approximately 415 AM CDT 6 miles west-southwest of Cherokee, moved northeast through the town of Ingersoll, and dissipated 4.5 miles north of Cherokee. The damage path was 7 miles long and ranged from 100 to 200 yards wide. Most of this tornado’s path was through open farmland. However, several farmsteads and a feedlot were affected along the 7 mile long path. From the damage surveyed, the tornado appeared to be at maximum intensity just south of Ingersoll, where F1 intensity damage was observed. A few pictures of the damage from this tornado are shown below in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Tornado south of Wakita

Another tornado path was surveyed south of Wakita. This tornado began at approximately 550 AM CDT 8 miles south-southwest of Wakita and dissipated 5 miles south of Wakita. The damage path was 3 miles long and 100 yards wide. This tornado also moved mainly through open farmland. One sheet metal/wood frame hay storage building was destroyed and another damaged, in addition to minor tree damage. The weak nature of the structures damaged/destroyed by this tornado warrants an F0 intensity rating. No pictures of this damage are available.

Other Damage Reports

In addition to the tornadoes detailed above, severe weather occurred at other locations also associated with these storms. Wind damage occurred at approximately 315 AM CDT 12 miles west of Alva at the junction of highways 64 and 14. This was associated with an earlier storm. Three other severe weather reports of significance were associated with the storm that produced the tornado south of Wakita. A brief tornado occurred at approximately 510 AM CDT 7 miles southwest of Lahoma and another brief tornado occurred at approximately 530 AM CDT 2 miles north of Carrier. Finally, this storm also produced wind damage 12 miles north-northwest of Medford at approximately 610 AM CDT.

Final Remarks

Post event analysis and verification on this event was very difficult owing mainly to the time of day when the storms occurred. There were relatively few spotter reports because of darkness and low visibility during the storms.

The National Weather Service would like to thank George Washburn, Alfalfa County Emergency Management, Charlie Conhagan, Kay County Emergency Management and Ron Schaefer, Alfalfa Electric Coop for their assistance in obtaining locations and times of storm damage reports.