EF3 Tornado — Cleveland, Oklahoma

2013-05-19 · near Lake Thunderbird Dam, Cleveland, Oklahoma

Event narrative

A long track tornado began in Cleveland County in east Norman to the north of Lake Thunderbird along 96th Avenue to the south of Tecumseh Road. The tornado moved northeast, crossing the eastern arm of Lake Thunderbird. A number of homes were significantly damaged as the tornado moved east-northeast through neighborhoods from near Indian Hills Road and 168th Avenue SE to the Pottawatomie County line. The tornado then moved into Pottawatomie County.

Wider weather episode

A moist and very unstable airmass was in place over the eastern two thirds of Oklahoma, to the east of a dryline. Additionally, strong wind shear was present as a mid-level jet streak carved into the southern Plains. Several supercells developed along the dryline during the mid and late afternoon hours, producing large hail. Two supercells in central Oklahoma also produced tornadoes, including a few significant, damaging tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2531, -97.3001)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 451505. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.