El Reno Tornado Map
The 2013 El Reno tornado was an extremely large, intense, and erratic tornado that occurred and hit a rural part of Central Oklahoma during the early evening of May 31, 2013. This rain-wrapped, multiple-vortex tornado was the widest tornado ever recorded, peaking at 2.6 miles across. It was part of a larger weather system that produced dozens of tornadoes over the preceding days. The tornado initially formed at 6:03 p.m. CDT (23:03 UTC) about 8.3 miles (13.4 km) west-southwest of El Reno, rapidly growing in size and becoming more violent as it tracked through central Canadian County. Remaining over mostly open terrain, the tornado did not impact many structures; however, measurements from mobile weather radars revealed extreme instantaneous winds in excess of 313 mph (504 km/h) within sub-vortices. These are among the highest recorded wind speeds, just slightly lower than the wind speeds of the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado. As it crossed U.S. 81, it had grown to a record-breaking width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km), beating the previous width record set in 2004. Turning northeastward, the tornado soon weakened. Upon crossing Interstate 40, the tornado dissipated around 6:43 p.m. CDT (23:43 UTC), after tracking for 16.2 miles (26.1 km). It avoided affecting more densely populated areas near and within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
The path of the El Reno tornado
On the evening of Friday, May 31, 2013, a tornado touched down 7 miles southwest of El Reno. Over the next 16.2 miles it traveled east before lifting 6 miles southeast of El Reno.
At its widest the damage path was 4,576 yards (2.6 miles) across. It was rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a strong tornado. It killed 8 people and injured 26.
The track, widths and figures on this map come from the Storm Prediction Center's survey record, so they can differ slightly from totals published elsewhere.
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.
