Understanding our storms: Sooner State tornado statistics since 1950

Sam Royka

Managing Editor

Whether you live in Weatherford or Edmond, for Oklahoma residents tornados are a part of life. The National Weather Service reported 149 tornadoes across the state in 2019. When stats go as far back as 1950, this is the highest recorded amount of tornadoes in one year in Oklahoma.

As we approach spring, there have been 25 tornadoes in the winter of 2022-23. This is the most tornadoes ever recorded in stats from 1950-now in Oklahoma. Winter is defined as Dec-Feb while spring is defined as MarMay for the Weather Service.

Winter tornadoes are historically less common than their spring counterparts, according to the Weather Service’s statistics.

In the same pile of statistics, the highest recorded amount of spring tornadoes was 127 in 2019. The spring of 1999 took second place with 115 twisters.

Winter tornadoes are more likely to occur in places with a mixture of both cold, dry air and warm, humid air during these months. These are places like New Orleans, Memphis, and Pensacola.

Since Oklahoma has historically had mostly cold, dry air Dec-Feb, the risk has been lower.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a subdivision dedicated to large weather events called the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

This organization reports that peak tornado season for Oklahoma begins in May and stays until early June.

The NSSL also states that tornadoes are most likely to occur from 4-9 p.m.