Southern Tornadic Supercell

This cell first showed up on radar at approximately 6:30 PM in Collingsworth County, Texas around the town of Wellington. Over its life span, the thunderstorm moved roughly north-northeast at about 20 MPH.

The thunderstorm crossed into Beckham County, Oklahoma around 7:25 PM. It had intensified as it pushed through Collingsworth County, but the cyclic supercell had started to weaken as it crossed into Oklahoma. The supercell intensified rapidly as it passed Interstate 40 into the vicinity of Mayfield around 7:45 PM. By 8:04 PM it was producing a tornado. This tornado spun up about 12 miles north of Erick and then approached the town of Sweetwater on the Beckham and Roger Mills County border at about 8:12 PM. For more detailed information on the "Sweetwater Tornado" click here or use the navigation menu to the left. Below are radar images at 8:12 PM taken from the Frederick, Oklahoma radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 8:12PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 0.9º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 0.9º Storm Relative Velocity.

This EF-3 tornado, that hit Sweetwater, dissipated at 8:26 PM five miles north of Sweetwater. The supercell continued to move north-northeast through Roger Mills County, essentially following a course just to the east of the northern tornadic supercell. The supercell produced another tornado 1.5 miles southwest of Dempsey at 8:32 PM. A church about one mile north of Dempsey sustained some minor damage, and three outbuildings were destroyed near Dempsey. Trees, fences and utility poles were damaged or destroyed along the tornado path. The damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. The tornado then dissipated 8.5 miles west of Cheyenne at 8:51 PM.

As the supercell moved into Northern Roger Mills County, it produced a third tornado. This tornado spun up at 9:05 PM six miles southwest of Roll. Based on a damage survey, the tornado initially moved to the north-northwest, and then shifted its course to the northeast. Basically it moved in a broad arc around the town of Roll. A shed and a well house were destroyed near where the tornado developed. Once the tornado curved back to the northeast, it moved along the north side of a creek valley and damaged trees and fences. A mobile home sustained minor damage, and a barn was destroyed around this location as well (6 miles west-southwest of Roll). Once the tornado turned to the northeast, it caused major damage to one house south-southwest of Roll, and another that was about 2 miles west of Roll. The tornado lifted 2.5 miles northwest of Roll at 9:28 PM where the damage path ended. Below are radar images at 9:15 PM taken from the Frederick, Oklahoma radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 9:15PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 1.3º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 1.3º Storm Relative Velocity.

Around the time the third tornado lifted, the supercell began to shift from a north-northeast track to more of a true northeast track as it approached Ellis County. However, before exiting Roger Mills County, the supercell produced a fourth tornado. This tornado spun up very close to the Roger Mills and Ellis County borders at 9:34 PM, or about 6 minutes after the previous tornado had lifted. The exact location for the tornado spinup was 4.5 miles north-northeast of Roll. The tornado mainly caused tree damage before it crossed into Ellis County at 9:36 PM. Two houses and two mobile homes were destroyed in the "Packsaddle" area of southern Ellis County to the east of U.S. Highway 283. Another mobile home sustained roof damage. One of the homes had the roof completely removed and sustained some damage to exterior walls. Several cars were damaged or destroyed in addition to tree and power line damage along the entire tornado track. The damage was consistent with an EF-2 tornado. The tornado dissipated at about 9:58 PM seventeen miles south-southwest of Harmon. Below are radar images at 9:56 PM taken from the Frederick, Oklahoma radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 9:56PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 0.9º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 0.9º Storm Relative Velocity.

The supercell was then inactive in terms of producing tornadoes for about an hour as it moved over southeastern sections of Ellis County. At 10:50 PM, the fifth and final tornado associated with this supercell developed about 9 miles east-southeast of Harmon, or almost precisely on the Ellis and Dewey County border. It quickly entered Dewey County, but was not in that county for very long either. By 10:55 PM, the tornado was passing into Woodward County about 7.5 miles south of Sharon. The only reported damage up to that point was downed power lines in Dewey County. For a continued, more detailed summary, click here or use the navigation menu to the left. The tornado lifted at 11:30 PM about 6 miles east-northeast of Sharon. The worst damage along the track was consistent with an EF-2 tornado. Below are radar images at 11:00 PM taken from the Vance Air Force Base radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 11:00PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 0.9º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 0.9º Storm Relative Velocity.

The supercell weakened considerably after the final tornado dissipated at 11:30 PM. In fact, it had diminished to a moderate rain shower by about midnight as it passed off just southeast of Alabaster Caverns State Park. During its life span, this cyclic supercell produced three strong tornadoes (EF-2 or EF-3), and two tornadoes that had damage paths over 1/4 mile wide.

Northern Tornadic Supercell

This cell first showed up on radar at approximately 6:45 PM in Northwest Beckham County, Oklahoma around the town of Sweetwater. Over its life span, the thunderstorm moved roughly north-northeast at about 25 MPH.

This supercell quickly intensified as it approached the Reydon area in Roger Mills County around 7:30 PM. It produced its first tornado at 7:40 PM seven miles east-northeast of Reydon. This was a brief tornado that dissipated two minutes later at 7:42 PM. No damage was reported with this tornado, and it was rated an EF-0.

Continuing north-northeast the supercell produced another brief tornado in Roger Mills County at 8:03 PM one mile northeast of Crawford. No damage was reported with this tornado either, and likewise, it was rated an EF-0.

As the thunderstorm was nearing the border of Roger Mills and Ellis County, it produced its third tornado. This tornado spun up at approximately 8:16 PM four miles north of Crawford. No damage was reported with the tornado in Roger Mills County. Three minutes later it crossed into Ellis county about 16 miles south of Arnett. As the tornado moved through rural Ellis County, it was reported as a "wide tornado" at times. When it approached U.S. Highway 283, it was reported to be a "well developed cone shaped tornado". Tree limbs were downed near the highway and the tornado dissipated about a mile after crossing the road, or about 13 miles south of Arnett at 8:33 PM. Having done very little damage it was rated an EF-0. This was the longest tornado track associated with the northern supercell at 5 miles in length. It was also on the ground for 17 minutes. Below are radar images at 8:21 PM taken from the Vance Air Force Base radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 8:21PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 0.9º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 0.9º Storm Relative Velocity.

The storm continued north-northeast through Ellis County, producing two more tornadoes. The fourth tornado developed and dissipated very quickly around 8:39 PM ten miles south-southeast of Arnett. The supercell then moved toward Arnett. At 8:56 PM, the last tornado spun up 1.5 miles south-southeast of Arnett. This tornado tracked just to the east of the town, eventually dissipating at 9:07 PM two miles northeast of Arnett. Both of these tornadoes were rated EF-0, having caused no known damage. Below are radar images at 8:55 PM, or about when the final tornado was developing, taken from the Vance Air Force base radar.

4-Panel Radar Image at 8:55PM. Upper left: 0.5º Reflectivity. Upper Right: 0.5º Storm Relative Velocity. Lower Left: 1.8º Reflectivity. Lower Right: 1.8º Storm Relative Velocity.

The supercell then weakened quickly around 9:30 PM as it crossed from Ellis County into Woodward County near the town of Fargo. Cool outflow from earlier showers and thunderstorms around Fargo may have stabilized the area and contributed to the rapid weakening.