Damage Information for the
"Woodward County Tornado" on May 5, 2007

Fast Facts

• Rated an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
  
  
• This rating corresponds with 111 to 135 mph maximum wind speeds
  
  
• The tornado was on the ground for approximately 40 minutes as it tracked over portions of Ellis, Dewey and Woodward Counties.
  
  
• This tornado had the longest duration of any of the ten tornadoes that occurred over the WFO Norman County Warning Area during the May 5th outbreak.

Damage Summary and Photos

Note: Damage photos were taken by Woodward County Emergency Manager Matt Lehenbauer. The summary provided is taken from the Storm Data publication, with some minor additions.

A tornado developed in far southeastern Ellis County about 9 miles east-southeast of Harmon. There was no known damage in Ellis County. It moved east-northeast into Dewey County near U.S. Highway 60, and tracked across the extreme northwest tip of Dewey County west and northwest of Vici. The only reported damage in Dewey County was downed power lines.

After a short track through Ellis and Dewey Counties, the tornado then moved into Woodward County about 7.5 miles south of Sharon. Near the beginning of the path in Woodward County, substantial damage was noted along EW 57 Road, about two miles north of the county line, and about one mile west of Highway 34. At this location, much of the roof of a single story home was removed, and old rail car being used to store dry cement bags and animal feed was thrown and/or rolled about 140 feet south of the residence, trees and large limbs were snapped and a pickup truck was moved about 80 feet.

Damage to a house about 6 miles south of Sharon

Left: Damage to an outbuilding about 6 miles south of Sharon.
Right: Boxcar that was thrown and/or rolled about 140 feet.

Beyond this location, the tornado moved through very rural areas and damage was sparse through this portion of the tornado path. Damage to structures was once again noted around 4 miles east of Sharon. In this area, a barn was destroyed and an outbuilding had its windows blown out. Further northeast along the path, more outbuildings were damaged, at least two barns were destroyed, a recreational vehicle was destroyed, and a semi trailer overturned. Several large trees were also downed as the tornado continued northeast before dissipating about 6 miles east-northeast of Sharon, just south of Highway 183. In total, 56 utility poles were destroyed along the tornado's path. Monetary damages were estimated to be around $300,015 for the entire tornado path.

Left: Damaged silos east-northeast of Sharon.
Right: Destroyed outbuilding east-northeast of Sharon.

Account of the tornado from Woodward County Emergency Manager, Matt Lehenbauer

Several persons interviewed during the damage assessment process, who were in the path of the Woodward County storm Saturday night have credited NOAA Weather Alert Radios for literally saving their lives.

Damage assessment clearly shows that if at least two of the affected homes were occupied the residents would have been at high risk of serious injury or death, were it not for warnings issued. One resident interviewed said that she was awakened by the NWR alarm and took shelter. Her home was in the direct path and suffered damage, while a barn was destroyed about 200 feet from the residence. The Emergency Managment office has been working with local print and broadcast media since February educating the public on the importance of NOAA Weather Alert Radios, and credits those at the National Weather Service on duty Saturday night for lifesaving information disseminated over NWR for Saturday evening's severe weather event.

Here are the warnings and follow-up statements concerning Woodward County:

000
WFUS54 KOUN 060356
TOROUN
OKC153-060445-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0036.070506T0355Z-070506T0445Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1055 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN WOODWARD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 1145 PM CDT

* AT 1055 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES  
  SOUTHWEST OF MUTUAL... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MUTUAL.

IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF A TORNADO... THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF 
PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS OF 70 MPH.

TAKE COVER NOW. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE...MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. OTHERWISE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND OUTSIDE
WALLS.

LAT...LON 3617 9946 3617 9909 3622 9896 3644 9907

$$

000
WWUS54 KOUN 060400 CCA
SVSOUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1058 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKC043-060415-
/O.COR.KOUN.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-070506T0415Z/
DEWEY OK-
1058 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM CDT FOR DEWEY
COUNTY...

AT 1057 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS ARE REPORTING A TORNADO OCCURRING 
NEAR VICI. PEOPLE IN VICI SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

LAT...LON 3616 9938 3603 9938 3616 9913

$$

000
WWUS54 KOUN 060403
SVSOUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1102 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKC153-060445-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-070506T0445Z/
WOODWARD OK-
1102 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR WOODWARD
COUNTY...

AT 1102 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED A LARGE TORNADO 7 MILES 
SOUTH OF SHARON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. RESIDENTS OF SOUTHERN 
WOODWARD COUNTY IN THAT AREAS NEAR VICI... MUTUAL AND SHARON NEED TO 
TAKE SHELTER NOW!  THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MOORELAND...MUTUAL AND SHARON.

LAT...LON 3617 9946 3617 9914 3636 9896 3649 9919

$$

000
WWUS54 KOUN 060408
SVSOUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1107 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKC153-060445-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-070506T0445Z/
WOODWARD OK-
1107 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR WOODWARD
COUNTY...

AT 1107 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED A LARGE TORNADO 7 MILES 
SOUTH OF SHARON. THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.  THIS 
TORNADO WILL MOVE OVER STATE HIGHWAY 34 BETWEEN SHARON AND VICI.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MOORELAND...MUTUAL AND SHARON.

LAT...LON 3617 9946 3617 9914 3636 9896 3649 9919

$$

000
WWUS54 KOUN 060418
SVSOUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1117 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKC153-060445-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-070506T0445Z/
WOODWARD OK-
1117 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR WOODWARD
COUNTY...

AT 1117 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED A DAMAGING TORNADO 5 MILES 
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SHARON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STORM 
WILL MOVE VERY CLOSE TO THE TOWN OF MUTUAL. PEOPLE LIVING IN AND 
NEAR MUTUAL NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS.  SEEK 
SHELTER NOW!

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MUTUAL AND SHARON.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORANDO... THIS STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE HAIL 
LARGER THAN GOLF BALLS.

LAT...LON 3617 9946 3617 9896 3636 9896 3642 9925

$$

000
WWUS54 KOUN 060428
SVSOUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1126 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKC153-060445-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-070506T0445Z/
WOODWARD OK-
1126 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR WOODWARD
COUNTY...

AT 1126 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATES VERY 
STRONG ROTATION 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF MUTUAL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 
MPH. STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUE TO REPORT A TORNADO WITH THIS STORM. 
THIS TORNADO WILL CROSS OVER HIGHWAY 183 AND 270 NEAR OR NORTH OF 
MUTUAL AND SOUTH OF MOORELAND.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE MUTUAL.

LAT...LON 3625 9936 3620 9917 3636 9896 3642 9925

$$

000
WFUS54 KOUN 060441
TOROUN
OKC153-060530-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0037.070506T0439Z-070506T0530Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1139 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN WOODWARD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 1230 AM CDT

* AT 1139 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO 12 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF QUINLAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE QUINLAN.

PEOPLE NEAR QUINLAN OR HIGHWAY 412 EAST OF MOORELAND NEED TO SEEK 
SHELTER NOW!

TAKE COVER NOW. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE...MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. OTHERWISE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND OUTSIDE
WALLS.

LAT...LON 3635 9929 3625 9920 3639 9896 3660 9896

$$