EF2 Tornado — Ottawa, Oklahoma

2014-04-27 · near Commerce, Ottawa, Oklahoma

Event narrative

A tornado damaged or destroyed about 50 homes and businesses in and around Quapaw, destroyed several metal-framed buildings, destroyed barns and outbuildings, blew over several vehicles, snapped or uprooted numerous trees, and blew down numerous power poles. At least twelve people were injured in Quapaw from the tornado and one fatality occurred when a brick wall fell onto a vehicle that was parked along side it. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 115 to 125 mph. The tornado continued into Cherokee County, Kansas, where it destroyed homes and businesses in Baxter Springs and injured about two dozen people there.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms developed along a dry line as it moved into eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon hours of April 27th. These storms produced large hail up to golfball size, damaging wind gusts, and two tornadoes. Additional severe thunderstorm development occurred as a cold front moved into the region during the late evening hours.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.9120, -94.8215)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 505204. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.