EF2 tornado in McCurtain County, Oklahoma

An NWS Storm Survey team determined that the damage west of Valliant, Oklahoma was consistent with that of tornado damage. The tornado first touched down near U.S. Hwy. 70 and traveled in a northeast direction before lifting near Tommy Taylor Road or just south of Pine Creek Reservoir. Numerous trees were uprooted and/or snapped along the damage path. Sixteen homes suffered significant damage and 4 mobile homes were completely destroyed. Two persons were injured when their mobile home was destroyed. Another person was injured when their mobile home was rolled by the tornado.

A strong upper level trough moved into the Central and Southern Plains during the morning and afternoon hours of December 12th. This trough ejected into the plains with a slight negative tilt which was indicative of strong jet dynamics in association with this trough. Likewise, low level and deep level shear was quite strong with this trough across Southeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 12th as well as the morning hours of the 13th. While instability was very weak, the strong shear made up for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms, some of which produced tornadoes across Southeast Oklahoma. Training of storm echoes also occurred which resulted in widespread flash flooding across the region as well.