Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
52
Tornado reports
276
Hail reports
132
Floods since 1996
926
All events
9
Deaths
$30.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Cherokee County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 51 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
A strong tornado, rated an F3, touched down in far western Cherokee County, possibly as a waterspout on Fort Gibson Lake. The tornado moved south onshore and through the rural Amber Hills housing area, crossing OK Hwy 51, and lifting after tracking through much of the Sequoyah St…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto a camper on the east side of the Illinois River. Two occupants of the trailer were trapped. One of the two occupants died from injuries sustained in the event, and the other was rescued by first responders.
Heavy rain caused Highway 82 to be flooded at Peggs and several rural roads to be flooded across the northern part of Cherokee County. A woman drove a vehicle into a flooded low water crossing and the vehicle became stranded. A two year old girl was washed downstream and drowned …
Lightning struck a 32 year old woman and her 14 year old daughter while they were standing under a tree. They were in Wildwood Park on the shores of Ft. Gibson Lake near Hulbert. Both were taken by Lifeflight helicopter to Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. The daughter fully rec…
This is the second segment of a six segment tornado. This long-track tornado moved into Cherokee County near an inlet of Lake Tenkiller, where boat docks, lake homes, boats, and outbuildings were destroyed, and trees and power poles were snapped. The tornado moved north-northeast…
Up to one half inch of ice accumulated on trees, power lines, and other exposed surfaces.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 70 mph in Tahlequah.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees and snapped numerous large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured to 83 mph, and multiple trees were uprooted in the area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several streets in downtown Tahlequah were flooded and closed.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A camp ground was inundated and isolated by flood waters, necessitating the swift water rescue of fifteen campers.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 65 mph.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind snapped numerous large tree limbs.
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado developed west of the S 490 Road and south of the W 830 Road. It moved northeast toward Park Hill, crossed Highway 82 and Murrel Road. The tornado uprooted numerous trees, damaged outbuildings, snapped numerous large tree limbs, and blew down power poles. A few trees…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This is the first segment of a three-segment tornado. The tornado developed south of Highway 51, southeast of Eldon, where numerous large tree limbs were snapped. It moved northeast into Adair County, south of the 754 Road. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this seg…
Drought Drought
Wildfire Wildfire
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Highway 82.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Highway 10.
Wildfire Wildfire
Drought Drought
Wildfire Wildfire
Drought Drought
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Drought Drought
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado developed north of Highway 62 and west of the 742 Road. It moved east through the 580 Road, and then turned more southeast, crossing Highway 62, and then moved into Adair County. The tornado uprooted and snapped nume…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto a house.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado developed west of Baker Road and south of Grandview Road. It moved east-northeast, uprooting numerous trees and damaging an outbuilding. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado developed north of Burchett Road and west of Bryant Road. It moved east-southeast across the northern portion of Tahlequah, and then crossed Highway 10 and the Illinois River east of town. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees along its path, some of which …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado developed near Highway 10, west of the Cherokee Nation Child Development Center, and traveled east-southeast for approximately 9 miles before dissipating just east of where the Illinois River widens into Tenkiller Lake. The tornado produced minor damage to some homes…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This is the second segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado moved into Cherokee County near the E635 Road, and moved east-northeast crossing Highway 82 and the N440 Road before dissipating. The tornado uprooted trees and snapped numerous large tree limbs. Based on this damag…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado developed east of Highway 10, near Scraper, and moved east. It snapped and uprooted numerous trees and destroyed an outbuilding west of the Illinois River. It crossed the Illinois River near the E 732 Road, continuing to snap and uproot trees until it dissipated nort…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Oklahoma Mesonet station near Cookson measured 64 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down multiple large trees and power lines.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained storm spotter measured thunderstorm wind gusts to 82 mph.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado developed south of the 920 Road, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a couple homes were damaged, an outbuilding was destroyed, and power poles were snapped. The tornado moved northeast snapping and uproo…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado developed over Lake Tenkiller southwest of Cherokee Landing State Park, and moved northeast. It snapped and uprooted numerous trees at the park, then crossed Highway 82 and Highway 100, where trees were uprooted. The…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Oklahoma Mesonet station near Tahlequah measured 62 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 | 2 |
| 2025 | 19 | 8 |
| 2024 | 28 | 2 |
| 2023 | 24 | 0 |
| 2022 | 23 | 1 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 18 | 1 |
| 2019 | 20 | 2 |
| 2018 | 13 | 2 |
| 2017 | 34 | 2 |
| 2016 | 16 | 1 |
| 2015 | 32 | 1 |
| 2014 | 15 | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 2 |
| 2011 | 38 | 4 |
| 2010 | 11 | 2 |
| 2009 | 21 | 0 |
| 2008 | 49 | 2 |
| 2007 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006 | 42 | 1 |
| 2005 | 19 | 0 |
| 2004 | 39 | 0 |
| 2003 | 31 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 0 |
| 2001 | 19 | 0 |
| 2000 | 27 | 0 |
| 1999 | 46 | 3 |
| 1998 | 27 | 0 |
| 1997 | 17 | 0 |
| 1996 | 29 | 0 |
| 1995 | 43 | 4 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 | 15 | 1 |
| 1992 | 20 | 0 |
| 1991 | 12 | 0 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 | 14 | 0 |
| 1988 | 7 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 |
| 1984 | 4 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 4 | 2 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 1 |
| 1960 | 2 | 2 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Cherokee County, measured to its path.
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