Washington-Goldsby tornado
During the early evening hours of May 24, 2011, an extremely violent EF4 tornado, known as the Washington–Goldsby tornado, struck around the towns of Bradley, Washington, and Goldsby in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was one of several violent tornadoes of a massive tornado outbreak sequence in late May. The tornado remained on the ground for a total of 39 minutes, traveled 23.0 miles (37.0 km), and resulted in 61 injuries, but no fatalities.
What was the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
The Washington–Goldsby tornado was an extremely violent EF4 storm that struck central Oklahoma on May 24, 2011. It formed as part of a massive tornado outbreak sequence during the late afternoon. The vortex impacted rural areas and towns including Bradley, Washington, and Goldsby. It remained on the ground for 39 minutes during its life cycle. Surveyors officially rated the storm EF4 based on the extensive structural damage observed along the path.
What was the Washington–Goldsby tornado wind speed?
The National Weather Service estimated the maximum wind speed of the Washington–Goldsby tornado at 200 mph. This velocity falls just below the threshold of 201 mph required for an EF5 classification. Surveyors noted that while some damage appeared consistent with higher ratings, other factors prevented an EF5 determination. The high winds destroyed well-built homes and lofted heavy vehicles hundreds of yards from their original locations. Professional researchers later debated the intensity, with some suggesting a lower wind speed requirement for EF5.
What was the Washington–Goldsby tornado path?
The Washington–Goldsby tornado touched down northwest of Bradley at 5:26 p.m. CDT. It tracked 23.0 miles in a northeast direction across rural areas of Grady and McClain counties. The vortex crossed SH-19 early in its lifecycle and passed through locations near Washington and Goldsby. The tornado finally dissipated just north of Goldsby at 6:05 p.m. CDT. During its progression, the storm varied in width, eventually reaching a peak of 880 yards.
How many people died in the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
The Washington–Goldsby tornado resulted in zero fatalities. However, the event left 61 individuals injured according to reports from emergency services. First responders searched for residents trapped within the wreckage of their homes in the hours following the storm. This high injury count occurred despite the severe damage inflicted on residential properties. No deaths were confirmed throughout the entire 23.0 mile path.
What did the Washington–Goldsby tornado destroy?
The Washington–Goldsby tornado severely damaged or destroyed 104 homes along its track. It swept multiple structures completely off their foundations and mangled vehicles, including one car thrown 0.25 miles and split into three pieces. In one area, the tornado ripped an oil rig well from the ground and rolled it repeatedly. It also downed numerous trees, debarking many hardwood species along the path. Infrastructure including electrical poles and barns sustained significant damage as well.
What caused the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
A strong upper-level trough advancing from the southwestern United States triggered the atmospheric conditions for the storm. Moisture moved north from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in dew points between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. These conditions provided significant instability, with CAPE values reaching 2500–4000 J/kg. Strong wind shear and storm-relative helicity values exceeding 500 m2s−2 further fueled the supercell. The convergence of these factors created the intense environment necessary for the development of the tornado.
What happened after the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
Emergency crews initiated search and rescue operations immediately after the tornado moved through the Washington and Goldsby areas. Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for 68 counties, later requesting federal aid which President Barack Obama approved on June 6. State officials also launched the Sooner-Safe Room Rebate Program to provide cash incentives for building storm shelters. Victims of the May 24 outbreak received priority consideration for these funds during the recovery process.
Washington-Goldsby Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Washington-Goldsby tornado traveled 23.0 miles across Grady County, McClain County, Bradley, Washington, Goldsby, Oklahoma. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
What was the maximum width of the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
The Washington–Goldsby tornado reached a peak width of 880 yards.
Did the Washington–Goldsby tornado receive an EF5 rating?
No, the National Weather Service officially capped the rating at EF4 due to minor anchoring issues and the presence of debris that complicated damage assessment.
At what time did the Washington–Goldsby tornado dissipate?
The tornado dissipated at 6:05 p.m. CDT.
How many homes were destroyed by the Washington–Goldsby tornado?
The tornado severely damaged or destroyed 104 homes in total.