El Reno tornado
{{Short description|2013 EF3 tornado in Oklahoma, U.S.}}
What was the El Reno tornado?
The El Reno tornado was an extremely large and intense multiple vortex tornado that struck central Oklahoma on May 31, 2013. This storm reached a record-breaking width of 2.6 miles during its duration. Although it displayed wind speeds capable of EF5 damage, the National Weather Service officially rated it as an EF3 based on observed damage. It represents one of the most studied and infamous tornadoes in meteorological history.
What was the El Reno tornado wind speed?
Mobile weather radars recorded extreme instantaneous wind speeds in excess of 313 mph within the storm sub-vortices. These measurements rank among the highest ever observed on Earth, trailing only the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado. While these speeds align with EF5 intensity, the National Weather Service excluded radar data from the official rating. Damage surveys determined the final classification because wind speeds were not disclosed in the official damage assessment.
What was the El Reno tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 6:03 p.m. CDT about 8.3 miles west-southwest of El Reno, Oklahoma. It tracked through central Canadian County for a total distance of 16.2 miles. The vortex moved northeastward while expanding to a record width of 2.6 miles. The storm dissipated near Interstate 40 at 6:43 p.m. CDT after remaining mostly over open rural terrain.
How many people died in the El Reno tornado?
Eight people died as a direct result of the storm, including four storm chasers. The fatalities included TWISTEX scientist Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and research partner Carl Young. Local resident Richard Henderson also died while attempting to follow the storm. Additionally, the event resulted in 151 injuries as the tornado caught many observers off-guard due to its size and erratic movement.
What did the El Reno tornado destroy?
Because the tornado moved primarily over open, rural terrain, it impacted relatively few residential structures. One home served as the highest rated damage indicator after the storm collapsed all of its walls. The tornado also destroyed vehicles belonging to professional storm chasing teams, including those of Tim Samaras and Mike Bettes. Infrastructure damage remained limited, although the storm forced thousands of commuters into dangerous traffic situations near major highways.
What caused the El Reno tornado?
A mid-level trough and closed low pressure system moved over the southern Great Plains on May 31, 2013. Atmospheric instability reached high levels with CAPE values ranging from 3500 to 5000 J/kg. Deep layer wind shear between 45 and 55 knots enhanced storm organization, facilitating the development of discrete supercells. A cold front and dry line provided the necessary lift for violent tornadic activity in central Oklahoma.
What happened after the El Reno tornado?
The aftermath highlighted significant risks for storm observers, marking the first known fatalities in the history of storm chasing. The event spurred extensive research into multiple-vortex structures and their role in researcher deaths. Thousands of residents attempted to evacuate via congested traffic, prompting discussions about the dangers of trying to outrun tornadoes by vehicle. The National Weather Service subsequently labeled this event the most dangerous tornado in storm observing history.
El Reno Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The El Reno tornado traveled 16.2 mi across Canadian County, Oklahoma. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
What was the width of the 2013 El Reno tornado?
The 2013 El Reno tornado reached a record-breaking width of 2.6 miles.
Why was the El Reno tornado downgraded to EF3?
The National Weather Service rated the tornado EF3 because damage surveys took precedence over radar-estimated wind speeds.
Who died in the 2013 El Reno tornado?
Eight people died, including three professional storm chasers from the TWISTEX project and one amateur chaser.
How long did the El Reno tornado last?
The tornado lasted for a duration of 40 minutes, forming at 6:03 p.m. and dissipating at 6:43 p.m. CDT.