EF1 Tornado — Pittsburg, Oklahoma

2025-06-07 · near Arpelar, Pittsburg, Oklahoma

Event narrative

A line of thunderstorms approaching McAlester rapidly organized and developed a strong push of wind as it approached Pyle Mountain. Those winds contributed to the development of a large squall line circulation (QLCS), and resulted in the development of a tornado near Pyle Mountain. The tornado traveled east-southeast, crossing the Indian Nation Turnpike, and moved into the area around the State Penitentiary. Minor damage occurred at the McAlester-Pittsburg County Emergency Operations Center. The strong push of wind, which initially contributed to the development of the tornado, strengthened further and became the dominate feature. The tornado dissipated in north McAlester after crossing north Main Street. It uprooted numerous trees, and damaged homes, buildings and businesses. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 95 mph.

Wider weather episode

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the evening of the 6th over southeast Colorado, southwest Kansas, and the western Oklahoma Panhandle. The storms moved southeast through the early morning hours of the 7th, evolving into a well-organized squall line by the time they moved into eastern Oklahoma. The line of strong to severe thunderstorms produced a couple tornadoes and damaging wind across eastern Oklahoma.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.9666, -95.9090)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1279674. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.