EF1 tornado in Pawnee County, Oklahoma

This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. In Pawnee County, this tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees and damaged homes. A large tree fell onto two cars, destroying them. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.

Thunderstorms developed over northeastern Oklahoma during the late morning and early afternoon hours of the 26th, as a weak upper level disturbance passed through the area. The storms produced small hail over portions of northeastern Oklahoma.

By late afternoon, the atmosphere over central and eastern Oklahoma had become very unstable. Thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a dry line that had moved into western Oklahoma. These storms quickly became severe as they moved eastward during the late afternoon and evening hours. The storms formed into a very organized squall line over central Oklahoma during the evening. Ahead of this squall line over eastern Oklahoma, very strong low level wind shear had developed as the low level jet strengthened across the area. As a result of this strong wind shear, coupled with moderately strong instability that persisted well into the overnight hours, this squall line was able to produced numerous tornadoes and widespread damaging wind as it moved across eastern Oklahoma.